INDIANAPOLIS—For more than 30 years after its founding in London, Gilchrist & Soames, whose global headquarters is based here, has provided bath and body amenities to more than 6,000 properties in over 90 countries. Its products can be found at properties flying the Mandarin Oriental, Peninsula Hotels and Montage Hotels & Resorts flags, as well as numerous independent hotels and resorts worldwide.
With success came the desire to offer new products to the hotel industry. At HX: The Hotel Experience this past November, the company introduced a collection of bath linens, as well as bath accessories and bed linens.
“Our unwavering passion for creating bespoke solutions for the world’s most prestigious hotels and our comprehensive understanding of the luxury traveler inspired us to enter into [these]markets,” said Ian Koehler, VP of luxury independent sales. “Our objective with these collections is to offer hoteliers new and differentiated in-room amenities, in addition to our current toiletries collections, that support their vision of offering guests a truly unparalleled, unique experience.”
Koehler also noted that the addition of the three lines are also an effort to make the company a one-stop shop for everything in the bathroom, and on the bed, too.
“We’ve always prided ourselves on creating and nurturing long-term relationships with the hoteliers that we work with,” he said. “Being able to offer a complete selection of the items that truly enhance a hotel stay for the guest was a natural progression for us. The properties that we work with appreciate having one trusted source for truly luxurious offerings.”
Koehler said the design of the bath linens was inspired by the brand’s British heritage and its world travels, adding that the collection was “influenced by the fine ateliers of Europe and the idea that true luxury often comes in the simplest forms.”
The collection consists of three lines of bath linens and three bathrobe designs. “They are crafted from some of the world’s finest fibers including modal, microcotton and cotton terry velour,” he said.
Each of the three lines are available in an “understatedly elegant crisp white palette,” noted Koehler. Each of the three lines offer bath sheets and towels, hand towels, washcloths and bath mats. Regarding the robes, Koehler said, “Our cotton terry and cotton terry velour robes are available in a 16oz. shawl-collar style, while our waffle weave robes will be available in both the shawl-collar and kimono-style designs.”
According to the VP, Gilchrist & Soames will be sampling the bath linen collection to luxury hoteliers in this month. “We will be targeting upscale and luxury properties who are passionate about providing the modern traveler with the finest amenities in the world,” he added.
The bath accessories collection that was also introduced at HX includes bath trays, tissue box covers, soap dishes, cotton ball holders and wastebaskets. “We currently have ten unique collections that are hand curated to sit flawlessly inside of the world’s most beautiful and exclusive hotel bathrooms,” Koehler said.
The company also introduced new bath amenity collections at HX to complete the bathroom experience. Among the eight new partners are famed European fashion and accessories houses Salvatore Ferragamo and Bulgari; skincare brand Refinery; and celebrity hair stylist Tara Smith. The other partners are Hong Kong luxury fashion house Shanghai Tang; fragrance and body care brand Acca Kappa; 100-year-old Italian perfumer Acqua di Parma; and aromatherapy firm Aromatherapy Associates.
Outside the bathroom, the company’s bed linen collection was “designed to bring unmatched beauty, comfort and performance to the well-considered hotel room,” said Koehler. HB
