An independent mind: Authenticity guides a new generation of hotels that did it their way
Hotels Magazine June 2023
Suites at The Manchester include clawfoot tubs and other homey amenities. Photo credit: Matt Kisiday
For the traveler who wants to “live like a local,” a particularly potent form of destination travel is taking root at independent, locally driven hotels around the country. Guided by a love of their surroundings, these boutique accommodations are free to create immersive guest experiences.
Developing independent hotels affords the freedom for hoteliers and designers to fast-track their visions for a one-of-a-kind stay—something that can be difficult with hard brands that have more guardrails.
For hotelier Hank Morris, co-creator of The Manchester in Lexington, Ky., that meant the difference between an 18-month development process or a multi-year one.
“Being a truly independent hotel with [only] local partners, we were able to move very quickly and make every key decision amongst a small group,” said Morris “While soft brands and franchises handle those functions and take this massive task away from hoteliers, the result in doing it yourself is far more authentic and creates a deeper connection with the guest. The result is a hotel that connects emotionally with everyone who walks in the door.”
That connection extends beyond guest experiences, too. Designing The Manchester was enough to convince the UK-raised Morris to move to Kentucky, enabling the international hospitality veteran to add one more title to his resume—local. And he’s not alone.
A HISTORIC REDUX
Once known as “America’s Oldest Inn,” Canoe Place Inn & Cottages updates a historic waterfront property for the modern age with a mix of meticulously landscaped outdoor spaces, cozy interiors and large event venues.
Built in the Southampton neighborhood of Hampton Bays, N.Y., by Brooklyn-based design firm Workstead, the 20-suite, five-cottage property is an escape in more ways than one.
“The overarching theme of the hotel design is ‘Garden by the Sea,’ which captures the unique sitting within Hampton Bays, near the beach and interconnecting waterways,” said Workstead’s creative director, Ryan Mahoney. “The concept for the design as a garden also reflects the desire to create a strong sense of place and to cement a destination that appeals to both locals and weekenders, alike.”
A mix of garden motifs, seaside views and the owner’s private art collection adorn the colonial property first built in 1697 and renovated over more than three centuries. Partnerships with East End farmers, artisans and fishermen provide the hotel’s Good Ground Tavern with local cuisine with seasonal ingredients, while a brick-fireplaced study doubles as a cocktail lounge with waterfront views.
Canoe Place is also well-suited for the kind of grand events the Hamptons are known for, featuring a soaring, 330-seat grand ballroom and several artfully cultivated garden spaces. The emphasis on design was a major driver in the identity of the hotel, said Mahoney.
“Ferebee Lane was responsible for the branding, and I think everyone was dialed in on the specificity of this place and project,” he said. “From the postcards in the room, to the hair dryer-bag fabric, to the styling and accessories in the public spaces, we were all in lockstep about how we wanted the guests to feel as they experienced each unique room of the property.”
The lobby at Canoe Place. The hotel was designed by Brooklyn-based Workstead.
MY OLD KENTUCKY HOME
A love letter to the Bluegrass region of Kentucky, The Manchester blends historic architecture and authentic culture to celebrate the land of horse racing and bourbon. Built inside the venerated Ashland Distillery, the 125-room property blends the brick masonry of the original bourbon rickhouse with modern touches that celebrate the region.
Hoteliers Nik Feldman and the aforementioned Hank Morris partnered with interior designer Jenny Bukovec to craft an experience that embodies authentic Bluegrass culture in inventive new ways.
“Hank and I worked closely together on the interiors to create a contemporary, soulful homage to Lexington’s equestrian roots and industrial rickhouse-revival architecture,” said Bukovec. “When we began the creative process of developing The Manchester, we spent a lot of time researching to ensure we deeply understood the roots of the Distillery District. With the local history as the basis for our concept, we developed a completely bespoke design language that celebrates the dichotomy of the distillery industry with the spirit of Lexington’s deep equestrian roots.”
The hotel’s 140-seat restaurant and lobby bar Granddam—inspired by 1915 Kentucky Derby winner Regret—features stable-inspired décor and Appalachian cuisine. Rooftop bar Lost Palm is an Art Deco-tribute to the 1960s South Florida horseracing scene, with drinks adapted from a 1963 racing program from Hialeah Park in Miami. An in-house bottle store offers a selection of local bourbons and whiskies, including The Manchester’s own private label, Castle & Key.
For Feldman, who grew up spending his summers in Lexington, it’s an opportunity to introduce the region like never before.
“It was bewildering that this unique travel destination—steeped in horse racing, bourbon and Kentucky basketball—didn’t have an equally special, unique and exciting hotel at the center of it,” said Feldman. “In terms of building out our concept, all design, food and beverage and experiences were done with Lexington in mind. What we’ve created thus far has exceeded our expectations. [The hotel] will do a lot for this community.”
Guestrooms at The Georgian look out on both the surrounding city or ocean. Photo credit: Douglas Friedman
CALI FLAIR
Evoking the bygone days of Old Hollywood, The Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica, Calif., harkens to a time when hotels were destinations unto themselves. First built in 1933, the ocean-facing property underwent a full restoration by hoteliers Jon Blanchard and Nicolo Rusconi of BLVD Hospitality to recapture the original’s glitz and glamor with a modern edge.
“The Georgian was the place to be from 1933 to the 1960s,” said Blanchard, the hotel’s developer and owner. “The plan was simple—bring the rich history of the hotel to life and create a wonderful space for stories to be told again. We spent years meticulously combing over every detail of the restoration and repositioning to make sure The Georgian would remain worthy of her moniker, ‘The First Lady.’”
London-based design studio Fettle leaned into the hotel’s classic West Coast American Art Deco style to recapture The Georgian’s 1930s heyday, outfitting 84 rooms, an art gallery and a full-service gym inside the iconic eight-story turquoise tower.
The Georgian also depended on local cultural institutions for input on design and décor. Arcana: Books on the Arts helped curate the literary selections in its public spaces and vinyl collections sourced from Ubiquity Records are paired with working Victrola record players in all 28 suites.
Built with “magic moments” like secret 1930s phone conversations hidden in antique phones to suite bars, champagne and dessert carts, Blanchard is excited to provide guests a Santa Monica stay like no other.
“The most special part of The Georgian to me is that every little unique detail and feature comes together so cohesively throughout the entire hospitality experience,” said Blanchard. “Nothing feels out of place, and even the special details that stand out only do so until you see the next, even more special experience.”