New Boutique Hotel Looks to Amplify the Vibe of Montgomery, Alabama

When Trilogy Hotel Montgomery, Autograph Collection, opened this spring in Montgomery, Alabama, it claimed to be the city's first boutique hotel. The property is attempting to cater to what local tourism officials call "purposeful travel," suggesting an approach that might inspire hoteliers in other small cities with similarly rich histories.

The new hotel — part of the Marriott soft-branded Autograph Collection of boutique-style hotels — may be boosted by a rising wave of visitation to the state's capital. The number of international travelers to Montgomery in the first half of 2023 was already about twice as much as during all of last year, according to Americantours International, one of the country’s top tour operators for foreign travelers.

“We’re seeing large corporations interested in coming here,” said Ron Simmons, the chief officer of destination and community development at Experience Montgomery. “Some