Travelers today want to steep themselves in the destinations they visit and get to know the culture through the local customs and people.
This week, Canopy, Hilton’s upper-upscale lifestyle hotel brand, announced that they are developing its new hotels in partnership with local owners to help immerse travelers in the authentic side of wherever they visit.
From a locally sourced welcome gift (such as an artisanal chocolate) upon arrival to the thoughtful, custom interior design and tastings of local craft beers, wines and spirits every evening, each Canopy hotel tells the neighborhood’s story through the experiences it creates for guests. Canopy also helps travelers explore the local culture outside the hotel through recommendations from Team Members (who are excited to share their passion for the community), complimentary Canopy bikes and even curated guides of where four-legged guests can hang out with locals.
“More and more, we’re seeing that people want to be part of the places they visit, and we created Canopy for this exact type of traveler,” said Gary Steffen, global head, Canopy by Hilton. “Our hotels make connections to the local life, and we also provide amenities and local know-how that enable travelers to connect with the neighborhood’s culture on their own terms.”
InterContinental Hotel Group’s Hotel Indigo® today launches Clues to the Neighbourhood, offering travellers an exciting new way to discover the best experiences in the area where they’re staying. Clues to the Neighbourhood is a collection of items and artefacts that have been curated in partnership with historians, creative directors and artists, which are brought to life through artfully presented installations integrated into the hotel’s design. The clues allow travellers to explore a neighbourhood’s off-the-beaten-path experiences, whether a local museum, great view, music venue, local boutique or a place to eat and drink.
Mercury Prize-nominated singer and songwriter Laura Mvula and Berlin–based digital creative and tastemaker Cloudy Zakrocki spent months working closely with Hotel Indigo to curate Clues to the Neighbourhood. The curators selected a series of items that tell a hyper local story or offer a unique perspective on a well-trodden landmark. From an antique decanter to represent the award winning Welcombe Hills vineyard in Stratford-Upon-Avon, to a toy dinosaur to represent Spree Park Berlin, the clues they have chosen inspire guests to get under the skin of the neighbourhood and discover its most surprising secrets.
Cloudy Zakrocki notes: “Have you ever done something that is so unique that it’s hard to explain to your friends? Well, trust me, my Clues to the Neighbourhood for Berlin are most definitely something few people know about. For example, one of my clues which can be found in Berlin’s Schöneberg district, reveals that you can climb the world’s only open-air gasometer to an altitude of almost 80 meters. It truly is a one of a kind: as you watch the sunset whilst feeling free as a bird and having an eye-opening view of one of the world’s most loved cities.”
Laura Mvula, who composed the music for Anthony and Cleopatra for the Royal Shakespeare Company while in Stratford-upon-Avon, said: “My Clues to the Neighbourhood aren’t things that you’ll find in the guide book – which is exactly what I look for when I travel. My clues capture the pace of the town and that real sense of calm and pensiveness, as well as some of its most unique experiences. I love how the clues, which range from antique coins to contemporary art prints help guests to discover Stratford-upon-Avon in a multi-dimensional way.”
Meredith Latham, Vice President, Global Hotel Indigo at IHG® commented: “It is the neighbourhood that inspires the features of each Hotel Indigo. From the design of the space to the flavours of our restaurant menus, we bring local stories to our guests in a unique way. Our hotels provide a gateway to discover some of the most vivid locations in the world. With this project, our guests have a new way to unlock curiosity in the local area.”
