Vision Hospitality Group unveiled plans for its newest boutique hospitality brand, Kinley. Kinley will be part of the company’s new Humanist lifestyle portfolio, debuting in Cincinnati in late 2019, followed by Chattanooga, Tenn., in 2020.
Humanist also will be comprised of The Grady Hotel, set to open next year in downtown Louisville, Ky., in additional to other lifestyle properties.
Launching in November, the mission of Humanist is to "foster meaningful human interactions, memorable experiences and vibrant communities." The new boutique hospitality company will specialize in concepting, designing, developing and managing lifestyle hotels and restaurants in America’s most up-and-coming cities and neighborhoods.
“Humanist is bringing the hotel experience back to the root of what makes traveling such a desirable pastime—connecting with other travelers, connecting with the community you’ve come to explore and connecting with yourself,” Mitch Patel, CEO of Vision Hospitality Group, said in a statement. “Whether staying for a night, indulging in a drink or exploring a destination, we welcome you to come as you are, and experience what true hospitality is all about. From Cincinnati to Chattanooga and beyond, we are excited to welcome visitors to America’s most captivating small cities and neighborhoods.”
Kinley
Derived from the word kinship and based around the brand’s mantra of “Sincerely Yours,” Kinley hotels will channel the energy of the surrounding community in which it resides, all with a small-city sensibility and charm.
The brand will make use of a variety of touchpoints, adopted in unique ways depending on a property’s location. The "uncheck-in" desk provides a place for guests to touch down without the formality of a standard desk, and items from regional artisans will be on display and available for purchase. Arts and crafts from local purveyors will be on display in both indoor and outdoor public spaces.
Kinley’s first property will debut in Cincinnati in late 2019. Offering 94 guestrooms and suites, Kinley Cincinnati will be the home base for journeys both within and beyond the hotel’s doors. Built in 1910, the property is located between downtown and the popular Over The Rhine neighborhood, providing a central location in the heart of the Queen City.
As part of its debut, the property will also offer a three-meal restaurant entitled Watercress. Developed in partnership with James Beard Award finalist and PBS’ "Mind of a Chef" host Edward Lee, the new concept will launch alongside the hotel and will be led by Cincinnati-born chef Kevin Ashworth. The restaurant will reflect its context within the Kinley while utilizing industrial materials and natural elements that add playfulness to the space.
Kinley’s second location will offer 64 guestrooms, launching in Chattanooga, Tenn.'s, Southside entertainment district in 2020.
The Grady Hotel
The Grady Hotel is a 51-room luxury boutique hotel in downtown Louisville, created to honor its hometown. Named for the late Grady Clay, local journalist and contributor to the New Urbanism movement, each of The Grady's guestrooms provide pops of navy, copper and maroon, wood-paneled floors, tufted headboards and locally inspired art. Similarly, the hotel’s public spaces include a library area and central fireplace for guests to gather. Located in the city’s downtown area, the property is steps away from the Frazier History Museum, the Louisville Slugger Museum and many of the area’s restaurants and bars.
The hotel will also be home to Wild Swann, a speakeasy steeped in Louisville history. The concept takes its name from Swann-Abram Hat Co., one of the original residents of the building beginning in the 1920s and designer of the first hats worn at the Kentucky Derby.