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Luxury Hotels Are Becoming Retail Destinations-Here Are 5 With Must-Have merchandise
NEW YORK, NY – Forget mini-bar pretzels. The world’s most luxurious hotels are increasingly curating high-end boutiques, offering guests-adn locals-exclusive access to unique, often handcrafted goods. This trend isn’t just about convenience; it’s a strategic move to enhance the guest experience,support local artisans,and generate new revenue streams in a competitive hospitality landscape.
Traditionally a place for a comfortable stay, hotels are now transforming into retail destinations, showcasing everything from bespoke fashion to museum-quality art. These aren’t your typical gift shops. They’re carefully curated spaces featuring one-of-a-kind items, often exclusive to the property, that reflect the destination’s culture and artistry. This shift caters to a growing demand for experiential travel and mindful consumption, where travelers seek authentic souvenirs and connections to the places they visit. here are five hotels leading the charge, with the perfect gifts to prove it.
1. The Peninsula Beverly Hills, California: Sita 1910
Launched as a pop-up in 2022, fashion veteran Cio Soler’s Sita 1910, showcasing lesser-known designers “for women who don’t want to look like everyone else,” proved so popular with hotel guests that The Peninsula offered it a permanent home. A second outpost recently opened at the Beverly Hills Hotel. “We spoil our clients with an edit of one-of-a-kind pieces,” Soler adds.
Exclusive: Fringed metallic knit jackets by Tim Ryan. “We’re his only retail partner,” Soler says. “He makes every cardigan and jacket by hand, some with 5,000 silk ribbons.”
2. Rosewood São Paulo, brazil: Art Libary boutique
occupying a landmark building, the Rosewood São Paulo’s Art Library functions as both a museum-quality gallery-with 50 site-specific works by Brazilian artists-and a boutique offering rare handcrafted objects. Art concierge Vinicius Romancini highlights wooden stools carved in the shape of jaguars, tapirs, and othre native creatures as favorites.
Buy Local: An ashtray by Patrícia Bianco. “the frog holds deep symbolic meaning for many Brazilian Indigenous communities,” Romancini says.
3. The Carlyle,A Belmond Hotel,New York: Bergdorf Goodman Pop-Up
In a recent collaboration,Bergdorf Goodman opened a pop-up shop within The Carlyle,offering a curated selection of ready-to-wear,accessories,and jewelry. This partnership brought a taste of Fifth Avenue luxury directly to the hotel’s discerning clientele.
4. Hotel Emma, San Antonio, Texas: The Hotel Emma Shop
Housed in a former pearl Brewery, Hotel Emma’s shop reflects the building’s industrial heritage and the surrounding neighborhood’s artistic spirit. Guests can find locally made leather goods, artisanal soaps, and vintage-inspired home décor.
5. Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, Italy: Boutique
The Four Seasons Hotel Firenze boasts a boutique showcasing Italian craftsmanship. Guests can purchase bespoke leather accessories, hand-painted ceramics, and luxurious linens, all made in Florence and Tuscany.
