Kimpton CEO: Business, Leisure Travelers Bullish on Boutiques

Business and leisure travelers alike are willing to pay a premium for the unique experience of staying in a Kimpton Hotel, said the company's CEO Michael Depatie. Depatie said Kimpton's boutiques hold their ground against larger chain rivals through the use of technology and innovation. He said each hotel hires a different designer to keep its brand "cool". Depatie said Airbnb is a disruptor but not a true competitor because of the nature of its business. Finally, Depatie said the company currently has 61 hotels in 27 major US markets with 15 projects under development, which "says a lot about the US hotel market".