Your Stylish, Well-Traveled Friend in the World of Boutique Hotels

At Hotels Above Par, we believe that where you stay shapes how you experience a destination.

Photo Credit: Matt Rzepecki

Photo Credit: Matt Rzepecki

About Us

We're a media platform run by passionate travelers, journalists, and insiders who personally visit, review, and hand-select the properties we feature. If it's in our Hotel Database, you can trust it's something special, from design-forward city stays to off-the-grid escapes, we only cover hotels that inspire and impress.

But we're not just about the rooms. Our editorial dives deeper: think curated destination guides, trusted restaurant reviews, and expert roundups that help you plan your next adventure with confidence and style. Plus, with most of our featured hotels bookable directly through our site, many offering exclusive VIP perks, your boutique journey starts right here.

We're proud to be the cool, discerning friend you turn to for travel tips, the one who's always got the inside scoop, the hidden gem, the place you'll be telling everyone about when you get home.

Founded In

2020

Team Members

45+

Press Features

20+

Hotel Reviews

300+

Restaurant Reviews

30+

Owner of Hotels Above Par

Meet Our Founder

Hotels Above Par was conceptualized by boutique hotel enthusiast and travel pundit Brandon Berkson, who set out to create an expert-curated guide highlighting the world’s coolest boutique-style hotels and travel experiences

Since launching in April 2020, right at the start of the pandemic, Brandon has built a devoted community of travelers who seek authentic, design-forward stays — the kind that connect you to the heart of a destination, not just another cookie-cutter hotel.What began as a hotel-focused platform has quickly expanded to cover restaurants, destinations, and other curated travel topics. Every story on Hotels Above Par reflects Brandon’s original vision: to showcase boutique-oriented experiences through quick, engaging reads designed for the modern traveler.

With rapid growth and a team of top-tier travel journalists now on board, Brandon often says, “This is just the beginning.” We invite you to explore the world of boutique hotels and insider travel with us.

We’ve only scratched the surface — there’s a whole world of boutique stays and unforgettable experiences waiting to be uncovered, and we’re just getting started.

Meet The Team

Our passionate writers and contributors who bring you the best hotel experiences.

Alex Catarinella

Alex Catarinella

Contributing Writer

Alexandra Owens

Alexandra Owens

Contributing Writer

Amber Gibson

Amber Gibson

Contributing Writer

AnaMaria Glavan

AnaMaria Glavan

Contributing Writer

Becca Hensley

Becca Hensley

Contributing Writer

Briona Lamback

Briona Lamback

Contributing Writer

Britney Eschelman

Britney Eschelman

Senior Editor & Creative Content Strategist

Carrie Bell

Carrie Bell

Contributing Writer

Chelsea Davis

Chelsea Davis

Contributing Writer

Chloe Frost-Smith

Chloe Frost-Smith

Contributing Writer

Chris Dong

Chris Dong

Contributing Writer

Devorah Lev-Tov

Devorah Lev-Tov

Contributing Writer

Emily Gerard

Emily Gerard

Contributing Writer

Emma Reynolds

Emma Reynolds

Contributing Writer

Hannah Huber

Hannah Huber

Contributing Writer

Hannah Selinger

Hannah Selinger

Contributing Writer

Jillian Dara

Jillian Dara

Contributing Writer

Joey Skladany

Joey Skladany

Contributing Writer

Jordi Lippe-McGraw

Jordi Lippe-McGraw

Family Travel Columnist & Contributing Editor

Juliet Izon

Juliet Izon

Contributing Writer

Kaitlyn McInnis

Kaitlyn McInnis

Contributing Writer

Katherine Parker Magyar

Katherine Parker Magyar

Contributing Writer

Katie Lockhart

Katie Lockhart

Contributing Writer

Katie Mok

Katie Mok

Media Coordinator & Contributing Editor

Kelsey Ogletree

Kelsey Ogletree

Contributing Writer

Kristine Hansen

Kristine Hansen

Contributing Writer

Kyle Beechey

Kyle Beechey

Contributing Writer

Kyra Shapurji

Kyra Shapurji

Contributing Writer

Laura Itzkowitz

Laura Itzkowitz

Contributing Writer

Lauren Harano

Lauren Harano

Contributing Writer

Leya Kaufman

Leya Kaufman

Contributing Editor

Lindsay Cohn

Lindsay Cohn

Contributing Writer

Luke Abrahams

Luke Abrahams

‘Happening’ Newsletter Editor & Contributing Editor

Lulu Chang

Lulu Chang

Contributing Writer

Madeline Weinfield

Madeline Weinfield

Contributing Writer

Megan Shelton

Megan Shelton

Boutique Hotel Deals + Social Media Editor

Michelle Gross

Michelle Gross

Contributing Writer

Morgan Hines

Morgan Hines

Contributing Writer

Nicole Kliest

Nicole Kliest

Contributing Writer

Noël Burgess

Noël Burgess

Contributing Writer

Olivia Liveng

Olivia Liveng

Contributing Writer

Paul Jebara

Paul Jebara

Contributing Writer

Rachel Chang

Rachel Chang

Contributing Writer

Rachel Dube

Rachel Dube

Contributing Writer

Stacey Lastoe

Stacey Lastoe

Contributing Writer

Stacey Leasca

Stacey Leasca

Contributing Writer

Travis Levius

Travis Levius

Contributing Writer

Tyler Zielinski

Tyler Zielinski

Contributing Writer

Vicki Denig

Vicki Denig

Contributing Writer

Press

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