Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants has launched a new global amenity program that is sure to boost guests’ moods and increase productivity.
The Kimpton Plant Pals program provides regionally sourced plants for guests to enjoy in their room. Guests request their complimentary plant pal from a plant menu by calling the front desk. The plant and care tips are then placed in their room prior to check-in.
In honor of Earth Day last month and as part of the brand’s ESG commitments, Kimpton partnered with Christopher Griffin, aka Plant Kween, a Brooklyn-based Black, queer and nonbinary influencer specializing in plants, to curate the selections of region-based, native plants.
Kimpton guests can enjoy local plants In their room.
“We know that plants can improve wellness and mental health, and these have always been part of our core values at Kimpton,” said Kathleen Reidenbach, chief commercial officer, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ luxury & lifestyle portfolio. “We take pride in our creative and innovative guest amenities and are always thinking of new ways to continue to meet the evolving needs of guests.”
Each Kimpton property works with a local vendor to source the plants, as per Plant Kween’s expertise and recommendation.
“Many of us know the joy that can come from owning houseplants, and the Kimpton Plant Pals Program offers our guests a touch of home while also introducing them to indigenous plant species local to the region they are staying in,” Reidenbach said.
The Kimpton Plant Pals Program is available at more than 70 Kimpton hotels globally. For example, guests at Kimpton Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara and Kimpton Alton Hotel in San Francisco can request a range of native plants, including White Sage and Prickly Pear Cactus, from women-owned nursery Idyll Mercantile in Santa Barbara and Blk Girls Green House, a female-owned plant and home goods shop in Oakland, CA.
Also, Kimpton Alton Hotel is now offering a plant-themed specialty room, the Sanctuary Suite. The hotel transformed one of its rooms into an oasis filled with lush greenery and art, home goods and wellness products from local artisans.
Guests traveling internationally can enjoy English Ivy and Baby’s Tears at European locations like Kimpton Vividora Hotel in Barcelona, or Pothos, Ficus Audrey and Chinese Evergreen plants in the Asia-Pacific region at properties like Kimpton Shinjuku Tokyo.
“We’ve leaned into Plant Kween’s expertise to choose the perfect plant menu for each region and create the right energy in each space,” Reidenbach said. “Plant Kween’s deep knowledge has been invaluable, and we’re thrilled to have them amplify this program to bring the wonderful world of plants and their benefits to guests on a global scale.”
The program is in line with Kimpton’s ESG efforts, as sourcing native plants keep the program sustainable and supportive of local businesses.
“At Kimpton, we believe that heartfelt human connections make peoples’ lives better,” Reidenbach said. “Our commitment to social and environmental responsibility provides a higher sense of purpose—radiating to our guests, our employees and the communities we inhabit.”
The program also supports Kimpton’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) commitments.
“We welcome varying perspectives, honor different backgrounds, learn from differing beliefs and grow from the multitude of talents, contributions and experiences of all people who walk through our doors,” Reidenbach said. “Kimpton’s partnership with Plant Kween also aligns with our commitment to work with like-minded brands and creators who celebrate individuality and fiercely embrace diversity. Plant Kween enthusiastically shares our goal of creating spaces where every person can feel welcome and is free to be their true selves.”
Reidenbach said that since rolling out Plant Pals in mid-April, the reception of the program has been positive from both its guests and employees.
“We’re thrilled to see Plant Pals resonating with people and their excitement to try out the offering during their next stay at a Kimpton,” she said. “We’ve especially seen positive feedback on social media, including Plant Kween’s Instagram.”
Kimpton, Reidenbach said, is committed to making people’s life better through travel, and the plant program is just one of the ways guests can better both their stay and their lives.
“Our purpose is to empower our guests, employees and the communities we serve to feel good in the spaces we’re creating and to be comfortable no matter what Kimpton hotel they join us in,” she said. “The Kimpton Plant Pals program is just one way that allows us to connect with our guests and create an experience that makes Kimpton feel like home.”
