What “boutique” means here—and what it does not

A useful word only if the criteria are visible.

Not a room-count contest

Small scale matters, but a strict room threshold can hide hotels with real individuality while admitting tiny properties with little sense of place. We therefore look at scale alongside design, local character, service and independence of experience.

Five signals

The strongest candidates are distinctive in architecture or interiors, rooted in their destination, offer a personal service model, have a coherent point of view and create reasons to stay beyond the bedroom.

Exceptions are labelled

A larger design hotel may appear as a “boutique spirit” exception. We label that rather than quietly stretching the definition. The goal is usefulness, not a badge.