Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants
Corporate brand
UnclaimedAn upscale boutique hotel and restaurant brand founded in San Francisco and owned by IHG Hotels & Resorts.
Last updated August 26, 2026
Overview
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is a San Francisco-founded hospitality brand established in 1981 by Bill Kimpton. It developed around the idea that hotels could offer a more individual, design-led and locally connected experience than standardized lodging chains. Kimpton properties are generally operated as boutique hotels, with distinctive identities, personalized service and an associated restaurant or bar. The brand’s properties are commonly presented under individual hotel names rather than a uniform architectural format, allowing each location to reflect its city, neighborhood or building. Kimpton’s business spans hotel accommodation, food and beverage, events and the management of hotels owned by third parties. Its restaurants and bars are an important part of the proposition: properties are positioned not only as places to stay, but also as social and dining destinations. The group has historically emphasized upscale design, service personalization and a lifestyle-oriented guest experience. In the United States, the company became one of the most prominent boutique-hotel operators and was described as the country’s largest boutique hotel chain in 2011. The company introduced the Hotel Palomar and Hotel Monaco concepts as sub-brands in 2005. These names expanded Kimpton’s boutique portfolio while retaining the group’s emphasis on individually characterized hotels and integrated food-and-beverage operations. The broader Kimpton portfolio has included both wholly controlled brand operations and hotels managed under contract for other owners. A major turning point came in December 2014, when InterContinental Hotels Group announced an agreement to acquire Kimpton for $430 million in cash. The transaction was completed in 2015, after which Kimpton became part of IHG Hotels & Resorts. IHG retained the Kimpton name in the United States and used the acquisition as a platform for expanding the brand internationally. As part of the transition, seven of Kimpton’s nine San Francisco hotels left the brand in July 2015. Under IHG ownership, Kimpton continued to operate as a distinct boutique brand rather than being absorbed into one of IHG’s standardized hotel flags. By January 2024, the brand operated 81 hotels worldwide, with additional properties announced or forthcoming in markets including the United States, Canada, France, Spain, Germany, Grenada, Indonesia, Japan, China, Hong Kong, the Netherlands and mainland China. Announced destinations included Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Paris, Barcelona, Charlottesville, Frankfurt, Bali, Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Rotterdam and Sanya. Kimpton’s present identity therefore combines a founder-led boutique-hotel heritage with the development resources and international distribution of a major global hotel group. Its core offer remains upscale lodging supported by restaurants, bars, meetings and events, while its international growth reflects IHG’s strategy of taking a differentiated lifestyle brand into additional urban, resort and destination markets. In 2020, Fortune placed Kimpton at number 10 on its list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, based on an employee survey, giving the brand additional recognition as an employer as well as a hospitality operator.
History
Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants began in San Francisco in 1981, when Bill Kimpton founded a hospitality group centered on boutique hotels and restaurants. At a time when large hotel companies often emphasized consistency and standardized formats, Kimpton differentiated itself through properties with individual design identities, more personal service and a stronger connection to local dining and culture. The model treated the hotel restaurant or bar as part of the property’s public identity rather than merely as an ancillary amenity. The group expanded its portfolio while preserving the concept that each hotel could have its own name, atmosphere and physical character. This approach helped Kimpton become a major force in the development of the United States boutique-hotel sector. By 2011, it was described as the largest boutique hotel chain in the country. In addition to operating hotels under the Kimpton name, the company managed properties for other owners under contractual arrangements, giving it a business model that combined brand operations with third-party hotel management. In 2005, Kimpton launched the Hotel Palomar and Hotel Monaco concepts as sub-brands. These additions broadened the company’s boutique portfolio while continuing to emphasize design, upscale accommodation and integrated restaurants or bars. The portfolio was not defined by a single standardized building template; instead, its hotels generally used their locations and buildings to create differentiated guest experiences. The next major stage began in December 2014, when InterContinental Hotels Group announced its agreement to purchase Kimpton for $430 million in cash. The acquisition was completed in 2015 and brought Kimpton into the IHG Hotels & Resorts family. IHG retained the Kimpton name in the United States and sought to extend the brand into international markets through its development network and operating infrastructure. The change also affected the brand’s original San Francisco footprint: seven of its nine hotels in the city left the Kimpton system in July 2015. After joining IHG, Kimpton continued to operate as a separate upscale boutique brand. Its scope remained centered on hotel rooms and suites, destination restaurants and bars, meetings, events and hotel management. The IHG relationship gave the brand access to a wider international platform while allowing it to maintain a more distinctive positioning than conventional full-service chain hotels. By January 2024, Kimpton operated 81 hotels around the world. Further properties had been announced or were forthcoming in cities and resort destinations including Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Paris, Barcelona, Charlottesville, Frankfurt, Grenada, Bali, Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Rotterdam and Sanya. These announcements illustrated the brand’s movement from a primarily U.S. boutique operator toward an international lifestyle-hospitality portfolio. Kimpton has also been recognized for its workplace culture. Fortune placed it tenth on its 2020 list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, using employee survey results. The recognition complemented the brand’s consumer-facing emphasis on personal service and hospitality culture. Its current identity is consequently shaped by two elements: the independent, design-conscious boutique tradition established by Bill Kimpton and the scale, capital and global development reach provided by IHG Hotels & Resorts.
- 2024
Worldwide portfolio reaches 81 hotels
[1]The brand is reported to operate 81 hotels worldwide, with additional properties announced.
- 2020
Fortune workplace recognition
[1]Kimpton ranks tenth on Fortune’s 2020 list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For.
- 2015
Kimpton joins IHG Hotels & Resorts
[1]The acquisition is completed, with IHG retaining the Kimpton name and pursuing international expansion.
- 2015
Seven San Francisco properties leave the brand
[1]Seven of Kimpton’s nine San Francisco hotels leave the brand in July after the ownership transition.
- 2014
IHG announces the acquisition of Kimpton
[1]InterContinental Hotels Group announces a $430 million cash acquisition of Kimpton.
- 2011
Kimpton is described as the largest U.S. boutique hotel chain
[1]The group is identified as the largest chain of boutique hotels in the United States.
- 2005
Hotel Palomar and Hotel Monaco sub-brands launch
[1]Kimpton introduces Hotel Palomar and Hotel Monaco as additional boutique-hotel concepts.
- 1981
Kimpton is founded in San Francisco
[1]Bill Kimpton establishes the hotel and restaurant group that becomes Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants.
Products and positioning
An upscale, design-led boutique hotel brand focused on individualized properties, personalized hospitality, local character and integrated dining.
Hotel accommodation · 1981
Kimpton boutique hotels
Kimpton’s core offering is a portfolio of upscale boutique hotels, generally marketed under individual property names. Hotels are designed to have distinctive identities influenced by their buildings, neighborhoods and destinations rather than following one rigid architectural template. The guest proposition combines accommodation with personalized service and lifestyle-oriented public spaces.
Food and beverage · 1981
Kimpton restaurants and bars
Restaurants and bars are integral to the Kimpton hotel model. Properties typically include an upscale or trend-oriented dining venue intended to serve both hotel guests and local customers. These venues support the brand’s emphasis on local character, social spaces and a broader destination experience.
Hospitality events
Meetings and events
Kimpton properties provide spaces and operating services for meetings, private functions and other events. These capabilities extend the brand beyond overnight accommodation and make its hotels venues for social, corporate and destination-oriented gatherings.
Hotel operations
Hotel management services
In addition to operating its branded portfolio, Kimpton manages and operates hotels owned by other entities under contract. This management activity allows the brand to expand through operating agreements as well as through properties directly associated with the wider IHG platform.
Sub-brand · 2005
Hotel Palomar
Hotel Palomar was one of the two boutique sub-brands introduced by Kimpton in 2005. It extended the group’s portfolio of individually characterized hotels while retaining the broader Kimpton approach to upscale accommodation and integrated food-and-beverage operations.
Sub-brand · 2005
Hotel Monaco
Hotel Monaco was launched alongside Hotel Palomar in 2005 as an additional Kimpton boutique-hotel concept. It formed part of the group’s effort to expand its range of distinctively designed properties and boutique hospitality formats.
Brand decisions
2015
IHG retains Kimpton as a distinct brand and begins international expansionStrategyBackground
After the acquisition, IHG had to determine how to integrate Kimpton without removing the boutique characteristics that differentiated it from standardized hotel flags.
Action taken
IHG retained the Kimpton name in the United States and expanded the brand through its international development and operating network.
Aftermath
Kimpton continued as a separate upscale boutique brand and reached an 81-hotel worldwide portfolio by January 2024, with further properties announced.
2014
IHG agrees to acquire KimptonM&ABackground
Kimpton had established a significant position in the U.S. boutique-hotel sector, while IHG sought to strengthen its presence in differentiated lifestyle hospitality.
Action taken
IHG announced a cash acquisition valued at $430 million and subsequently retained the Kimpton brand identity within its hotel portfolio.
Aftermath
The transaction was completed in 2015. IHG used its international platform to support Kimpton’s global expansion, while seven of Kimpton’s nine San Francisco hotels left the brand in July 2015.
Acquisition consideration. $430 million cash purchase price (Announced December 2014; completed in 2015)
Recent events
- 2024
Kimpton reports an 81-hotel worldwide portfolio[1]
Other
As of January 2024, Kimpton operated 81 hotels worldwide and had additional properties announced for destinations across North America, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean.
- 2020
Kimpton ranks among Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For[1]
Other
Fortune ranked Kimpton number 10 on its 2020 list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, based on an employee satisfaction survey.
- 2015
Kimpton becomes part of IHG and expands under retained brand identity[1]
M&A
Following the acquisition, IHG retained the Kimpton name in the United States and began using its global platform to develop the brand internationally.
- 2015
Seven San Francisco hotels leave the Kimpton brand[1]
Other
Seven of Kimpton’s nine San Francisco hotels departed the brand in July following the ownership transition.
- 2014
IHG announces agreement to acquire Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants[1]
M&A
InterContinental Hotels Group announced that it would acquire Kimpton for $430 million in cash, expanding its presence in the boutique and lifestyle-hotel segment.
Sources2 sources
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