Hotels: What makes them special

MANILA, Philippines - While the word “boutique” is commonly associated with high-fashion stores or specialty shops, it was reinvented during the ’80s in North America and the United Kingdom to describe small, intimate hotels that boast of luxurious and unique amenities, interiors and design. Patronized by musicians, poets and the elite, these small, quirky hotels featured such exquisite details as 19th-century antique furniture, designer rugs, nouvelle interiors and even an Art Deco-like ambience. Each room, each space and each piece of furniture is designed and handpicked to give the hotel more personality and intimacy. This keen attention to details is what sets boutique hotels apart from the larger chains, much like how a bespoke suit speaks volumes about one’s own personal style and individuality.

Out-of-the-Box

Believed to be the first boutique hotels in the world, The Blakes Hotel in South Kensington, London, the Morgans Hotel in New York and The Bedform in Union Square, San Francisco offer their distinct clientele a mixture of sophistication, privacy, exquisite interiors and personalized service that one would be hard-pressed to find in the more popular hotels around the world. 

Though not as large as the more popular hotel chains (some boutique hotels feature only about 30 rooms), these extraordinary hotels feature a lot of things you wouldn’t normally find in bigger chains, such as different graphic designs and themes in each room, Rennaisance-style interiors, or even mini patio gardens. It isn’t surprising, therefore, that these unique hotels have become favorite homes (albeit temporarily) for actors, actresses, designers, musicians and many world-weary travelers who want something fabulously ungeneric, new and exciting.

In the same vein, boutique stores nowadays are known for offering one-of-a-kind, hard-to-find clothes, accessories and items, such as antique designer bags, special edition haute couture shoes and branded items. Boutique stores also refer to shops that cater to a distinct clientele. Far from just being synonymous to “store” or “shop,” the word “boutique” has now come to mean special and one-of-a-kind or even intimate and personal.

Life in the Fab Lane

Alveo Land brings the unique concept of boutique hotels to Ametta Place, a rising urban residential community located in the bustling city of Pasig. Strategically located near entertainment and leisure centers (Eastwood and Tiendesitas), hospitals (Medical City), business centers (Ortigas Business District) as well as schools, banks and churches, Ametta Place is the first boutique townhouse community in Pasig and is proudly redefining city living.

Drawing inspiration from the remarkable uniqueness of the boutique hotels in London, San Francisco and New York, Ametta Place features a sprawling landscape of green grass and well-manicured gardens and trees, which provide a relaxing backdrop for an intimate community. With just less than 300 townhouse units housed within an expansive 6.5-hectare development, Ametta Place maintains the warm, personal feel that many people adore about the boutique concept.

Tree-lined roads and walkways lead to generous open spaces, pocket parks and small, private clusters of two to three-story townhouses that feature sleek, warm and contemporary designs. A modern clubhouse, with two spacious multi-purpose function rooms and a game room, provides you and your family with the perfect venue to enjoy weekends together. Three main parks, several mini pocket gardens and gazebos offer tranquil spots to relax, meditate or unwind after a busy day at the office. Jogging and bike trails, an outdoor basketball court and a lap pool provide you and your family with everything you need to stay fit and healthy, while a kiddie pool, playgrounds and a tree house give your children the chance to enjoy the sun, the wind and the company of other neighborhood kids. Truly, this is a place that you and your family will be glad to come home to every single day.

The Frenchmen of yore may have used the word “boutique” to connote a small store, but it has now come to mean something even more special. And just as The Blakes Hotel and The Bedform have redefined hotels and resorts, Alveo Land is redefining city living with Ametta Place – a boutique community that makes going home quite a unique and special experience.