One of the most exciting aspects of traveling is the ability to, for a short time, experience what life is like in a different part of the world. Whether traveling fifty miles away from home or to another continent, cultures, landscapes, and the many nuances of day-to-day life change. The beauty of travel comes from curiosity, exploration, and discovery. It’s that moment when your heart skips a beat and your mind fills with pure delight because you’ve just discovered something new about the world that you never knew before. Another part of the traveling experience is having a place to stay at night. While there are many options, over the past decade, the boutique hotel has grown in popularity. Boutique hotels are known for being small and they distinguish themselves as luxurious and unique in addition to providing premium services and amenities for their guests. This thesis begs the question; can design be used in such a way that an establishment, such as a boutique hotel, can begin to signify more than just a collection decorated rooms so that it contributes to the story being told with respect to place? Through research and personal experience I have found that most small hotels that fit the definition of a boutique hotel do not market themselves as such while large, chain hotels that do not fit the same definition, do. This can be misleading. Many boutique hotels can offer a unique experience for their guests by differentiating room decor so that every room is different or by creating an elegant and intimate lobby or dining experience, however, none have demonstrated a direct connection between the hotel and the context in which it resides. The Power Plant at Lucky Strike, located at 2700 East Cary Street, will serve as the building for this project. The building was originally constructed in 1930 for the purpose of providing power to the neighboring Lucky Strike building which was used as a cigarette factory. The building is in a prime location and situated at the end of the historic and popular Shockoe Bottom strip with Church Hill to the north and the James River just south. With the building’s original shell still intact, my goal is to create a hotel experience that is unique in the sense that it too, will help to continue to tell Richmond’s story.

The Diploma thesis "Boutique Hotels Analysis" is focused on tourism and hotel industry in the Czech Republic. The theoretical part encompasses essential terms and pieces of knowledge in both sectors; the practical part is based on boutique hotel Buddha-Bar Hotel Prague. Provided services, position among competitive subjects in hotel industry market and satisfaction of staff are analyzed. Based on results, strategy for further development and suggestions for increasing competitiveness are recommended.

El objetivo principal de esta investigación es analizar de forma académica dos características principales de hoteles boutique que obtuvieron reconocimiento internacional, enfocándose en el estudio de la infraestructura y los estándares de servicio. Los hoteles boutique cuentan con un estándar de servicio personalizado para sus clientes, con pocas habitaciones y con una infraestructura de un estilo y carácter propio. Esta investigación sirve como fuente confiable a cualquier estudio con fines académicos, que aporte al rubro de hoteles boutique. La metodología utilizada fue la revisión bibliográfica descriptiva y sistemática. Adicional a ello, se recopilaron diversas fuentes de información publicadas en los últimos 8 años relacionadas al sector hotelero en diversas partes del mundo en donde fueron aplicadas y evaluadas las variables de estudio. Adicional a ello, se realizó un análisis de los 6 criterios que evalúa la “Boutique Hotel Awards” en comparación con las reseñas de huéspedes que se exponen online en plataformas intermediarias de hospedaje. Los resultados se obtuvieron siguiendo la rúbrica de dicho certamen antes mencionado y demostraron que el hotel que mejor cumple con las variables de servicio e infraestructura y que es más valorado por los clientes es el hotel Riad Kheirredine, Marrakech ubicado en Marruecos. Finalmente, la conclusión principal es que para que un hotel boutique logre un reconocimiento internacional tiene que poner énfasis en cumplir los caracteres analizados de infraestructura y servicio, ya que ambos factores son apreciados por los clientes y logran posicionar óptimamente a los hoteles boutique. / The main objective of this research is to conduct an academic analyze academically of two main characteristics of the boutique hotels that they presented to be internationally recognized, focusing on the study of infrastructure and service standards. Boutique hotels have a personalized service standard for their clients, they have few rooms and each of these hotels has an infrastructure with its own style and character. This research serves as a reliable source for any study for academic purposes that contributes to the category of boutique hotels. The methodology used was the descriptive and systematic bibliographic review. In addition, various sources of information published in the last 7 years related to the hotel sector were collected in various parts of the world where the study variables were applied and evaluated. Furthermore, an analysis of the 6 criteria that the “Boutique Hotel Awards” evaluates in comparison with the guest reviews that are exposed online in intermediary hosting platforms was carried out. The results obtained were obtained following the rubric of the aforementioned event and were able to demonstrate that the hotel that best meets the service and infrastructure variables and that is most valued by customers is the Riad Kheirredine hotel, Marrakech located in Morocco. Finally, the main conclusion is that in order for a boutique hotel to achieve international recognition, it must place emphasis on meeting the analyzed characteristics of infrastructure and service, since both factors are appreciated by customers and manage to optimally position boutique hotels. / Trabajo de investigación

<p>This study explored the role of idiosyncratic service experience by redefining the wow experience in the context of boutique hotels. Despite the expansion of the boutique hotel segment, which seeks to provide a unique and singular experience, in the lodging industry and the growing popularity of pursuing novel experiences among Millennial consumers, the role of idiosyncratic experience in consumer behavior has not been explored. This left the potential antecedents and consequents of idiosyncratic hotel stay experience—and its role in consumer’s decision-making process—unknown. In this study, a consumer’s perception of a hotel stay experience, which is unusual in an interesting and surprising way, is coined as the perceived quirky experience (PQE). Utilizing the Mehrabian-Russel model, the relationship among boutique hotel service quality aspects, motives and barriers, PQE, and behavior intentions were examined. The consumer decision-making process is expected to be influenced by the optimal stimulation level (OSL); thus, the group differences between stimulation avoiders and seekers were also explored. </p> <p>Methodologically, the current study also seeks to provide a novel approach to amalgamate qualitative and quantitative data. By integrating qualitative analysis of 175,407 TripAdvisor reviews and quantitative analysis of field data (n = 498), topic modeling using an unsupervised machine learning process was performed. Identified keywords were used for aspect-based sentiment analysis and to construct measurement items for the quantitative study stage. Statistical tests were performed using logistic regression and path analysis—and multi-group analysis. The results of this study suggested that boutique hotel-specific service quality aspects have a stronger effect on PQE, and this internal state leads to strong behavioral intentions regardless of temporal differences. The consumer’s stimulation-seeking tendency influenced multiple paths in the consumer’s decision-making process. </p> <p>This study is the first to explore the role of idiosyncratic service experience in the boutique hotel setting and makes theoretical contributions to understanding consumer behaviors involving the perception of uncommon and interesting experiences. The findings of this study provide practical contributions to boutique hotel developers regarding the relative importance of service quality aspects to create a unique and singular stay experience and also provide hotel and brand managers with insightful marketing implications.</p>

Traditional dwellings have been exposed to environmental factors due to the increasing concentration in urban areas or reusing the dwellings for a different function that brings more profit. Tourism is one of the most important reasons for this transformation. Cappadocia is one of the regions where the transformation of historical structures into tourism facilities is common. In the last 5-10 years the concept of tourism and hotel management has changed and dwellings themselves were transformed to hotels and were called Boutique Hotels. And this transformation is mostly seen in &Uuml / rg&uuml / p. However, some problems are encountered in the transformation of traditional dwellings into Boutique Hotels. These problems are concerned with the difficulties experienced in interventions to the dwellings, positive and negative affects on environment and the legal problems pertaining the project, implementation and certification procedures. This thesis aims to question the harmony between the transformation in &Uuml / rg&uuml / p and the functional, physical, social and cultural aspects of the traditionaldwellings in &Uuml / rg&uuml / p, to assess the the implementations and their relations with environment relationships. In addition to this, taking the example of &Uuml / rg&uuml / p as a starting point, this thesis aims to discuss the relations between cultural identity and tourism, the positive and negative effects of tourism on traditional structure, and the balance between conservation and tourism. Taking into consideration the deficiencies in the legal definition and management criteria of Boutique Hotels, which are gradually becoming common, the discussion of the definition of Boutique Hotel is one of the important aims of this thesis.

The constant growth of hotels worldwide is due to the increase of tourists every year. The hospitality industry is one of the most stable industries. Boutique Hotels, however, are starting to emerge more and more in every country and is a somewhat new concept in developing countries. In El Salvador the hospitality industry has a steady economic growth. Therefore, service and hospitality companies are born every year. With the concept of “Boutique Hotel” relatively new in El Salvador and occupancy rates increasing every year, it is the right time to open a Boutique Hotel with personalized services and unique features to attract customers, locals and foreigners. This is how the idea of Casa de Piedra Boutique Hotel was born. It is located in the capital of El Salvador, with a colonial style and offering a variety of services that will be relevant to our customers. It will rely on personalized customer services, unique features, décor and design, and trained personnel as key success factors. The target market will be mostly business people, conference and meeting attendees, and private companies outbound employees. The owner’s knowledge of the hospitality industry in El Salvador and the know how to run a company will play key parts in the success of the company. The financial plans and a five year expansion plan demonstrates the venture’s profit potential.

Text in both English and Afrikaans / Since the early 2000s, the tourism industry in South Africa has experienced phenomenal change and, concomitantly, the hospitality industry has also seen significant growth. This growth has been driven by factors such as the increased demand for hospitality in both the leisure and the business markets. The hotel industry has immensely been benefited. The Tourism Business Index’s report released quarterly by the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, indicating that the revenue received from each available room in the hotel sector increased significantly from 2009. Tourism research has revealed that, globally, the hospitality industry is among the largest employers of labour. The hospitality industry, especially the hotel sector, works hand in hand with tourism. Tourists traveling to a destination require accommodation which is generally provided by hotels. If the tourist is to have a good experience, it is vital that the tourist organisation and the hotel communicate so as to exchange information. Integrated marketing communication (IMC) has been described as a concept that many organisations adopt in order both to coordinate the operation of the organisation effectively and to increase the bottom line. In IMC, also creates synergy within an organisation and paves the way for consistent messages to be sent out to the organisation’s target audience. The aim of this study was to analyse the use of IMC by the View Boutique Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa. To analyse the IMC at the hotel, in-depth interviews were conducted with both marketing staff and guests. In the aspect of planned messages, the outcome of the study revealed that the hotel uses marketing communication tools on a limited scale and, that to ensure message consistency the manager handles all external communication activities. However, the study also showed that ensuring message consistency should be the responsibility of everyone employed in the hotel. With regard to the product messages, the study showed that guests were negatively disposed towards the food, beverages, entertainment and recreation offered by the hotel. However, the service messages of the study indicated that the hotel’s service quality was good and that the staff were responsive to the needs of the guests. In respect of unplanned messages, the study showed that the hotel was receiving limited coverage from the media and that word of mouth communication was an effective tool in the hotel’s communication toolbox. On the whole, thus, it may be said that the study underscores the centrality of IMC as an instrument for creating and nurturing the relations between the hotel and its quests. It is anticipated that the outcome of this study should provide hotels such as the View Boutique Hotel with guidance in regard to utilising IMC to its full potential to make sure that there is message consistency and also to optimise communication impact. / Sedert die vroeë 2000's het die toerismebedryf in Suid-Afrika 'n merkwaardige verandering ondergaan, en daarmee saam het die gasvryheidsbedryf aansienlike groei getoon. Hierdie groei is aangevuur deur faktore soos die toenemende vraag na gasvryheid in die ontspannings- en sakemark. Die hotelbedryf het baie hierby gebaat. Volgens die besigheidsindeks vir toerisme wat kwartaalliks deur die Toerismebesigheidsraad van Suid-Afrika vrygestel word, het die inkomste uit elke beskikbare kamer in die hotelbedryf sedert 2009 aansienlik toegeneem. Navorsing oor toerisme het getoon dat die gasvryheidsbedryf wêreldwyd die meeste werk verskaf. Die gasvryheidsbedryf, en veral die hotelbedryf, gaan hand aan hand met toerisme. Toeriste wat na 'n bestemming reis het akkommodasie nodig wat oor die algemeen deur hotelle gebied word. Om te verseker dat toeriste positiewe belewenisse het, is dit kritiek dat toeriste-organisasies en hotelle kommunikeer om inligting uit te ruil. Geïntegreerde bemarkingskommunikasie word beskryf as 'n konsep wat baie organisasies aanneem om die bedryf van die organisasie effektief te koördineer en die netto wins te verhoog. Geïntegreerde bemarkingskommunikasie skep medewerking in 'n organisasie en baan die weg vir konsekwente boodskappe wat aan die organisasie se teikengehoor uitgedra word. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die gebruik van geïntegreerde bemarkingskommunikasie by die View Boutique Hotel in Johannesburg, Suid-Afrika, te ondersoek. In die ondersoek van die geïntegreerde bemarkingskommunikasie by die hotel is diepgaande onderhoude met bemarkingspersoneel en gaste gevoer. Ten opsigte van beplande kommunikasie het die studie bevind dat die hotel bemarkingskommunikasie-instrumente op beperkte skaal gebruik, en om te verseker dat die kommunikasie konsekwent is, hanteer die bestuurder alle eksterne kommunikasie-aktiwiteite. Die studie het egter ook getoon dat dit elke werknemer by die hotel se verantwoordelikheid is om konsekwente kommunikasie te verseker. Met verwysing na produkkommunikasie het die studie getoon dat die gaste negatief ingestel was oor die kos, drankies, vermaaklikheid en ontspanning wat by die hotel aangebied is. Die studie het egter bevind dat die diens by die hotel goed was en dat die personeel goed op die gaste se behoeftes gereageer het. Met betrekking tot ix onbeplande kommunikasie het die studie getoon dat die hotel beperkte dekking in die media geniet en dat mondelinge kommunikasie 'n doeltreffende instrument in die hotel se arsenaal is. Oor die algemeen kan daar gesê word dat die studie die sentraliteit van geïntegreerde bemarkingskommunikasie onderskryf as instrument vir die skep en uitbou van verhoudings tussen die hotel en sy gaste. Die resultate van hierdie studie behoort aan hotelle soos die View Boutique Hotel riglyne te bied oor hoe geïntegreerde bemarkingskommunikasie ten volle benut kan word om konsekwente kommunikasie te verseker, en om die impak van kommunikasie te optimeer. / Communication Science / M.A.(Psychology)