When you spot a flagged hotel under a big-name brand, you know what you’re getting. But much of the charm of an independent hotel is in its mystery, and it often results in unique and distinctive stays. Sometimes, the reason a small hotel has character is because of its owner’s background. In particular, when a boutique hotel comes from someone outside the hospitality industry, it allows for fresh eyes and new ideas. First-time hoteliers who are also winemakers, cosmetic gurus, and even former members of government bring their one-of-a-kind viewpoints to breathe new life into the industry.
When winemaker Susana Balbo and her daughter Ana Balbo decided to open a small hotel inside Ana’s former home in Mendoza, Argentina, they knew their winemaking backgrounds would play a part—but not be the entire focus. Susana, the most renowned female winemaker in Argentina, is credited with revolutionizing the country’s white wine and bringing Argentinian wines beyond Malbec to the world.
The SB Winemakers House & Spa Suites is a romantic art and wellness haven with a side of delicious wine. The seven spacious spa suites include fully integrated in-room spa features like a dry sauna, steam room, deep soaking tub, and one-of-a-kind art. Sculptures, woodwork, and mixed media by twenty local artists are found around the property, curated by Ana. Restaurant LaVidA, a lounge bar, a wine cellar with top Argentine and global wines, a heated swimming pool, and a shop with local artisanal products complete the experience. The pair will open SB Mountain Eco Lodge & Spa in the Uco Valley next year.
The design immediately stands out when guests enter the Inn of the Five Graces in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Rich, colorful textiles with bold patterns used for rugs, wall hangings, and canopies; intricate tile mosaics; carved wooden furniture; and hanging glass lanterns call to mind Central and South Asia.
When you learn that husband-and-wife team Ira and Sylvia Seret started importing fabrics from that part of the world more than 25 years ago after living in Afghanistan in the ’70s, it all makes sense. They first opened their store Seret & Sons in 1979, selling imported fabrics and furnishings, and then the beloved hotel in 1996. Initially called “Serets’ 1001 Nights,” the 24-suite hotel is an enchanting retreat in the heart of the city, with a gorgeous spa and restaurant.
In 2020, Fresh brand beauty co-founders Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg opened The Maker, an 11-room bolthole spread across three restored historical buildings in Hudson, New York. The distinct rooms feature decor sourced by Glazman from around the world, drawing from the Belle Epoque, Art Deco, and mid-century modern periods. Bathrooms are spacious, some with deep soaking tubs, and all with full-size Fresh bath products.
The hotel also has a European-style café, a full-service restaurant inside a plant-filled glass conservatory, and a cocktail lounge in an old carriage house near the pool. The fragrance room, featuring over 500 perfumes from Glazman’s personal collection, is hidden in an alcove on the second floor.
The mansion of Casa Gangotena, a Relais & Châteaux member hotel in Quito, Ecuador, is situated on the stunning Plaza San Francisco and dates back to 1600. Through the years, it was owned by several wealthy families, including the Gangotenas, who took it over in the 1800s until it was sold in severe disrepair to a foundation. In 2007, Roque Sevilla, the former mayor of Quito, purchased the building, which he had visited for tea parties as a child, intending to turn it into a hotel.
He carefully restored it to its former glory, opening Casa Gangotena as a luxury hotel in 2010. Today, it has 31 lavish rooms, a restaurant, and a third-floor terrace with panoramic city and mountain views. Details like a spiral staircase, ornate columns, and original frescoes depicting the Gangotena family communicate the fascinating history of this iconic building.
San Canzian Hotel & Residences is nestled in a picturesque olive grove in Croatia’s Istria region. This is part of why co-owner Leopold Botteri, an olive oil producer, was attracted to the 14th-century estate. Originally, it was meant to be a vacation home for Botteri and co-owner Sinisa Sare and their friends.
Sare is a serial entrepreneur with a career in marketing and public relations. Botteri is most well-known for his involvement in Uje, a chain of shops that sell traditional Croatian food products like jams, wine, truffle products, salt, and olive oil. Botteri and Sare have turned the ancient stone houses of San Canzian into 24 luxurious rooms and suites, plus an excellent restaurant and plush spa. The outdoor pool is surrounded by olive and other fruit trees, and the nightly sunsets are divine.
