What 3 of the World’s Smartest Hoteliers Have to Say About the Future of Hotels


Skift Take

By investing in Austin's super hip Bunkhouse hospitality group, The Standard Hotels can now bring its global gateway grooviness to trendy second tier cities in North America.

When The Standard Hotels invested a 51% stake in the Austin-based Bunkhouse Group last month, it was as much a meeting of hospitality hearts as it was minds for two of the world's most attuned hotel brands. Speaking with Amar Lalvani, managing partner of The Standard Hotels, and Liz Lambert, owner of Bunkhouse Group, it's clear there's a mutual admiration for the hotel design and guest experiences that each has developed over the years, above and beyond the success of their business models. For those not familiar with the Bunkhouse Group, it's a collection of three boutique hotels in Austin and San Antonio, and a funky vintage trailer/teepee camp in Marfa, Texas. They are the very personification of local and independent hospitality, and they're a catalyst that helps attract other creative businesses and residents to the area. The cash infusion from The Standard allows Lambert to grow her Bunkhouse brand more robustly and tap into the innovative digital platforms tha