Phê Vé
April 13, 2026 • 3 min read
Do boutique hotels still hold any significance today? Join us as we explore the definition and fundamental criteria that qualify a hotel as boutique.
What is a Boutique Hotel?
It’s undeniable that many hotels excel at promoting their image. There’s no global authority that decides if a hotel is five-star or if it qualifies as boutique. Today, I want to share some thoughts on the concept of boutique hotels — does this term still carry any weight?
Characteristics of Boutique Hotels
In my opinion, a boutique hotel must possess certain non-negotiable characteristics. First and foremost is its size — a hotel that is too large simply cannot be called boutique. Next is design — a hotel that looks identical to others cannot be considered boutique, even if it’s small. Lastly, a boutique hotel must exude luxury or high-end appeal — I simply cannot classify a run-down two-star hotel as boutique.
Additional Features of Boutique Hotels
Ideally, a boutique hotel should be independent and not part of a chain, as this adds to its unique charm (though there are some smaller chains with distinctive hotels, like Aman or Capella). Another point I believe is that boutique hotels typically don’t have much space for meetings or events, as this often detracts from their intimate atmosphere.
Can Large Hotels Be Boutique?
Interestingly, many large chain hotels are now branding themselves as boutique, and this trend seems to be growing. For instance, lifestyle brands like Marriott’s EDITION or Hyatt’s Thompson often fall into this category. For example, the Thompson Denver, with 216 rooms, is marketed as a "luxury boutique hotel," while the Miami Beach EDITION, with 294 rooms, is described as a "boutique hotel featuring modern design and luxurious amenities."
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Size of Boutique Hotels
While these hotels may be relatively luxurious and visually appealing, I don’t think they can be labeled as boutique merely due to their size. Of course, one could argue that their size is small compared to the Marriott Marquis New York with 1,966 rooms or the Hyatt Regency Chicago with 2,032 rooms. However, I don’t think this is a reasonable criterion for comparing hotel sizes.
Size Boundaries
I’m not sure where I would draw the line on size: personally, a hotel with more than 200 rooms definitely isn’t boutique; for me, boutique hotels typically have fewer than 100 rooms, ideally under 50. Sometimes, the hotel’s location also needs to be taken into account — I might consider a 150-room hotel in New York as boutique, but I’m not so sure about a 150-room hotel in the Maldives.
Why Do Hotels Market Themselves This Way?
Of course, I understand why many hotels choose this marketing approach. Large hotel corporations are thriving, and they love to use terms they think customers want to hear — like authentic, unique, boutique, etc. To me, the Thompson Chicago does not appear boutique at all.
Conclusion
Many hotels love to advertise themselves as boutique. In my opinion, a boutique hotel needs to be small, have unique design elements, and at least be of high quality. Personally, I find it hard to consider a hotel with hundreds of rooms as boutique, but perhaps that’s just my personal view. What about you? How do you define a boutique hotel? Is there a size limitation? And bonus points to whoever finds the hotel with the most rooms that calls itself "boutique!"
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