Monday Mashups: Human Nature at Kimpton Hotel

Event planners have long understood the power of human connections and shared experiences—and now hotels are getting on board, too. Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants has launched what it's calling a “social experiment” to create meaningful interactions and authentic connections between guests.

Dubbed “Room 301,” the program is taking place mainly at the Kimpton Everly Hotel in Los Angeles, with additional activations at select hotels around the country. Guests who choose to book the experience will encounter a variety of interactive, thought-provoking in-room activities for the length of their stay.

So, what can guests expect in Room 301? First of all, the room has a special design, with a photo-friendly mural and neon signage. There’s also a Spotify-driven playlist, where guests can add their favorite songs; a Polaroid camera, where guests are encouraged to take selfies and write down their moods at various times of the day; and a “community confessions” wall, where guests can grab a marker and write down their secrets—anonymously—on a wall of the suite. There’s also an activity where guests write down their biggest vice and bring it to the bartender at the hotel’s Ever Bar. The bartender will then create a cocktail that reflects that vice.

Another aspect of the suite aims to study human nature: Guests will be given a certificate for 10,000 IGH Rewards Club points, which can be redeemed for hotel stays, experiences, merchandise, or other perks. They can then choose to keep the gift for themselves or give it to someone else.

The experiment is an extension of the brand’s ongoing “Stay Human” campaign, which focuses on the need for authenticity in a technology-driven world. It opened on September 6 and runs through November 30. Guests who choose to stay in the room get 15 percent off the normal rate with a complimentary upgrade to a Hollywood Hills King Room and a view of the Hollywood sign. Also, $10 per night is donated to a nonprofit; guests can choose between either the Trevor Project or No Kid Hungry.

Beyond Los Angeles, the project will have smaller extensions at hotels in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Portland, Nashville, and Chicago. Activities in those hotels include postcard-writing stations, where guests can send hand-written notes home to loved ones, as well as guest-curated playlists and a greenery-filled suite designed for relaxation. At the end of the three-month run, Kimpton will assess and share results of the experiment.

What an interesting concept! We can't wait to see the results. Devour the details of sharing your human side and spend the night at Kimpton Hotel!