If you know me well, or you read my book, it will become clear that I have a penchant for hip hotels. Accordingly, it is with great excitement that I reveal this year's countdown of the top 50 hip hotels. These hotels represent the most innovative, unique and viral hotels that popped up during the year.
If you need more, cruise to our hip hotels database, which has over 1,700 hip hotels.
If you are looking for professional trend research, check out Trend Hunter PRO our 2010 Trend Reports, or our FREE Video of the Top 20 Trends in 2010.
Top 50 Hip Hotels in 2009
50
Droplet Architecture
Hi-Tech Resort Design Especially for Humid Coastlines
49
Bizarre Themed Hotel Rooms
Sleep in Coffins and Lion Cages At Berlin's Propeller Island
48
Hotels on Stilts
Angsana's InOcean Villas are Island-Free Vacations in the Maldives
47
Rockin' Hotel Rooms
The Vegas Hard Rock Hotel Paradise Tower is a Rock 'n' Roll Haven
46
Mobile Hotel Pods
The SLEEPBOX Could Make Hotel Reservations Obsolete
45
Lavish Lavatories
The Upper House Luxurious Bathrooms Impress on Many Levels
44
Self-Service Hotels
Base2stay in London is Budget-Friendly, Looks like a Dorm
43
Shipping Container Hotels
$20 Rooms at 41 Berangan Hotel for Credit Crunch Travel
42
Ice-Age Superstructures
Herzog & De Meuron's Elbe Philharmonic Hall
41
Luxury Bunk Bed Hotels
The Pod Hotel Offers Cute Manhattan Rooms Under $100
40
Billion Dollar Hotels
The Mardan Palace Luxury Surpasses Larger Than Life Status
39
Singing Disco Showers
Retro-Chic Butlins Ocean Hotel Features a Fun Party Vibe
38
Indian Princess Baths
The Alva Park Resort & Spa Features 6-Star Luxury in Costa Brava
37
Stellar Fantasy Suites
Sin City's The Palms Hotel Houses Sizzling Themed Rooms
36
Tree House Resorts
Club Med in Senegal Looks Like Peanuts, Costs Many Sheckels
35
Hoax Hotelicopters
Faux Flying Hotel Sends Bloggers Who Don't Fact Check Into a Frenzy
34
British-American Boutique Hotels
Firmdale Opens the Crosby Street Hotel in NYC
33
Self Serve Nightclubs
Amsterdam's Bartenderless MiniBar is World's First
32
Recycled Aircraft Suites
Costa Verde Hotel's Boeing 727 Airframe Room
31
Stone House Hotels
Amanresorts Villa Milocer Montenegro is a Modern Escape in Historic Setting
30
Drug Themed Nightclubs
Miami's "Opium" is Designed to be a Modern Day Opium Den
29
Vibrant Rainbow Hotels
The G Hotel in Ireland is a Contemporary Design Lover's Pot of Gold
28
Black & White Boutique Hotels
Habita Monterrey Delivers Affordable Luxury
27
Oil Rig Resorts
Sustainable Developments to Beautify Floating Gulf Coast Eyesores
26
Zero Star Hotels
The Null Stern Hotel in Switzerland Is In An Old Bomb Shelter
25
Tacky Travel Destinations
Madonna Inn Shares Name, Age + Gaudy Style With the Material Girl
24
Floating Swedish Hotels
The Salt & Sill is Sweden's First
23
Teeny Boutique Hotels
David Carter Designs the Interior of London's Smallest Hotel
22
Recession Worthy Hotels
The Ace Hotel in NYC Offers Bunkbed Rooms Starting at $99
21
Desert Skyscraper Hotels
The Stone Towers in Cairo, Egypt by Zaha Hadid Are a Cool Oasis
20
Candy-Colored Spas
Rogner's Bad Blumau in Austria is Swank and Sweet
19
Pennies as Floor Tiles
The Standard Hotel New York Uses Currency as Interior Decor
18
Hotels That Inspire Creativity
Groovy Retro-Themed '25Hours Hotel' in Hamburg
17
Docked Cruise Ship Hotels
Vancouver 2010 Olympics Opt For Floating Tourism Solution
16
In-Room Coffee Bars
Viceroy Miami Brings Hollywood Sensibilities to the East Coast
15
Hip Hotel Recession Marketing
Luxury Hotspots Offer Travelers a One Night Stand
14
California Eco-Resorts
Monterey Bay Shores Will Be World's Greenest Getaway
13
Salt Hotels
Please Do Not Lick The Walls in This Bolivian Inn Made Entirely of Salt
12
Competitive Ice Hoteling
Designers Sculpt Their Way to Sweden's Heart
11
Scattered Accommodation
The Pixel Hotel of Linz Has Random Rooms Around the City
10
Artistic Hotel Promos
Eden Rock in St. Barts Offers Free Painting Lesson for Kids
9
Greek Luxury Resorts
La Marquise Rhodes Has Views, a Lagoon Pool. Fitness Suites
8
Seychelles Sanctuaries
Maia Hotel Luxury Villas Offer Pristine Views & Personal Butlers
7
Romantic African Hideaways
Bilila Lodge Kempinski in Serengeti National Park
6
Urban Beekeeping
Rooftop of Toronto's Fairmont Royal York Hotel Is A Hive Heaven
5
Fairy Tale Themed Hotels
Grand Daddy's Goldilocks Trailer in South Africa
4
Eco-Friendly Hotels for Oenophiles
Fall Asleep Inside a Wine Cask at De Vrouwe van Stavoren
3
Seaside Coworking Campuses
The 'Healthy HouZe of Work and Rest Ithaca' For Freelancers
2
Holidays with Monks
The Augustine Hotel Prague Envelops A Historic Monastery
1
Beachside Casino Hotels
The Westin Dawn Beach Resort & Spa in St. Maarten
Related Ideas
Anniversary-Honoring Archival Homeware
Habitat Introduces its 60th Anniversary Collection
Themed Celebrity Activations
Sheraton Centre Toronto will Host Numerous Taylor Swift Experiences
Tennis-Ball-Themed Hotel Suites
IHG Presents the ‘IHG Rally Room' for Tennis Fans
Exotically Refurbished Hotels
The Pelican Hotel Displays Unique Room Aesthetics
Modernized West Hollywood Hotels
Short Stories Hotel Blends Californian and European Elements
Y2K Jewelry Collabs
Claire's x Sliving Brings Paris Hilton's Style to a New Generation
Parisian Airport Pop-Ups
Moët Hennessy's Paris Concept Event Featured Travel Exclusives
Festival-Ready Fashion Rentals
The Festival Closet by IHG x Pickle Lets Guests Rent Looks for Free
Traveling Luxury Retail Events
The Bal Harbour Shops Access Pop-Up Tour is a Unique Concept
AI Post-Apocalyptic Cities
Top10Casinos Explores the Future, Inspired by the Dune Universe
Cinema-Inspired Hotel Packages
The St. Regis Hotel Boasts the Cinematic Experience Room Package
Luxurious Rapper-Backed Getaways
Booking.com and Ludacris Partner to Offer a VIP Experience
Individually Designed Suites
The Palma Riad Boutique Hotel Features Unique Accents and Foliage
Enchanted Film-Inspired Hotel Stays
The Hilton Debuts Whimsical Elphaba and Glinda-Themed Suites
Stationery-Themed Hotel Rooms
The Villa Fontaine Haneda Airport Garden Hotel Boasts Unique Stays
Refreshing Streetwear Collabs
Lipton Iced Tea x Cruel Pancake Dropped 90s-Inspired Summer Styles
Hotel-Approved Sustainable Flip Flops
Feelgoodz Has Teamed Up with the Iconic Beverly Hills Hotel
Icon-Led Travel Experiences
Airbnb Icons Offers Experiences Hosted by Icons in Music, Film, & More
Luxurious All-Inclusive Resorts
Marriott Hotels Launched Its First All-Inclusive Resort in Cancun
Exclusive Travel Promotions
Expedia Group is Offering Black Friday and Travel Tuesday Deals
Shapeshifting Outer Space Hotels
The Acromnia Orbital Hotel Imagines Life in Space
Creative Play Pop-Ups
The Sharpie Studio Offered Opportunities for Creativity at SXSW
QSR Hotel Pop-Ups
This KFC Staycation is an Exclusive Limited-Time Experience
Insightful AI Travel Planners
Tripadvisor's 'Trips' Platform Unveiled Themed Itineraries
Ultra-Chic Vintage-Inspired Swimwear
Rumored's Vintage Swim Collection is Head-Turning
Retro Nightlife-Inspired Hotels
Necchi Architecture Designs the Hôtel Château d'Eau
AI-Powered Travel Assistants
Instahop Creates Personalized Digital Itineraries
Colorful Dog Bed Collections
HAY Dogs and Holly Golightly Join Forces on New Designs
Film-Inspired Whimsical Rental Homes
Airbnb Adds the Latest Addition to its Icons Program
Tourist Destination Predictions
BonusFinder Canada Used Technology to Predict the Future
Wellness-Inclusive Boutique Hotels
The Bellyard Hotel in Atlanta Provides In-Room IV Therapy
Globalized Spooky Destinations
Intrepid Travel Presents a Curated Selection of Spooky Adventures
Intimate Italian Palatial Hotels
The Palazzo Daniele Features Exclusive Curated Experiences
Solo Dining Guides
OpenTable and Kayak Created Resources for Traveling & Eating Alone
Invasive Wood Hotel Interiors
Policronica Transforms the Hotel Elysée Montmartre Interiors
Festively Decorated Hotel Suites
The New York Marriott Marquis is Decked Out for the Holidays
Iconic Vacation Itineraries
Intrepid Travel Launches Epic Vacays Inspired by Blockbuster Films
Hospitality-Inspired Pajama Capsules
Four Seasons Unveils its 'Hotel Pajamas Collection'
Scenic Poolside Studios
Wayfinder Waikiki Boasts Modernized Tropical Elements
Immersive Hotel Sound Suites
'W Toronto Hotel's Sound Suite' is Reimagined
Sleep-Monitoring Capsule Hotels
NTT Data is Foraying into Sleep Technology with Sleep Monitoring
Local Material-Elevated Californian Hotels
Home Studios Renovates the Lodge at Marconi Hotel
Vacation-Inspired Clothing Lines
Saint Holiday Emphasizes Sustainability & Ethical Manufacturing
Virtual Pub Museums
Heineken Pub Museums Spotlight Important Cultural Locations
Singer-Songwriter-Inspired Hotel Stays
The Bisha Hotel Presents a Unique Taylor Swift Experience
Refined Japanese Serene Homes
The Six Senses Kyoto Home Offers a Relaxed Space for Visitors
Music-Legend-Inspired Overnight Stays
Airbnb Presents Prince’s Purple Rain House Experience
Shoppable Travel Storefronts
Expedia Travel Shops Make It Easy to Book Recommended Getaways
Zero-Waste Hotel Menus
Hilton's The Taste of Zero Waste Aims to Cut Landfill Contrubitions by 50%
Eco-Friendly Hotel-Home Hybrids
SH Hotels & Resorts Debuts 1 Hotel & Homes San Miguel De Allende
Traveler-Focused Pet Hubs
Mars Unveils a New Pet-Focused Hub in Collaboration with TripAdvisor
Pet-Inspired Hotel Services
Hotel X Has Expanded Its VIP (Very Important Pet) Program
Trend Prediction Services
Tagwalk Revolutionizes Fashion Forecasting with a New AI Dashboard
Prison-Transformed Luxe Hotels
Hoshino Resorts Plans to Alter the Nara Prison into a Resort
Stylish Soda Pop-Ups
Poppi World Enticed Health-Conscious, Fashionable Visitors During NYFW
AI Property Maintenance Systems
MyHotel AI Optimizes Hotel Management for Profitability
Celebrity-Inspired Cocktail Menus
The Quote Book by Velvet Bar Shares Drinks Based on Icons
Anniversary-Honoring Bright Hotels
The HÔTEL Onitsuka Tiger Arrives in Paris for the Olympics
Sporty Resort Capsules
Paper x Four Seasons Hampshire Host a Soft Pastel Pop-Up
Pet-Friendly Travel Hubs
Mars and Tripadvisor Launched a Helpful Hub for Pet Parents
Legacy Luxurious Resorts
Raffles Hotels & Resorts Announces Three New Global Properties in 2024
Vibrant Independent Hotels
The Memphian Hotel Features a Low-Pressure Environment for Workouts
Re-Released Fashion Collabs
H&M is Sharing Pre-Loved Styles from Guest Designer Collaborations
AI-Powered Trip Planners
Guide Uses AI to Help with Hotel Selection, Itineraries, and More
Pop Culture-Inspired Rentals
Airbnb Unveils the New 'Icons' Experiences for Short-Term Guests
Self-Service Contemporary Hotels
MM:NT Berlin Lab is a Beta Hotel Operated by Adina Hotels
Sustainable Luxury Hotels
Hotel Juana's Sustainable Transformation: Upcycling Luxury in Antibes
Branded Bathroom Guides
The Cashmere UltraLuxe Bathroom Guide Ranks Toronto Restaurant Restrooms
New-Generation Artful Urban Hubs
IED and CampusX Join Forces on the Pixel Project
Hospitality Loyalty Programs
Millennium Hotels and Resorts Revamps Its Reward Program
Time-Traveling Internet Searches
'Search a Year' Helps You Explore Web History with Precision
Ultra Luxury Hotel Expansions
The 'Rocco Forte House' Concept in Milan is Private and Intimate
Collaborative Travel Planning Tools
Hollihopper Offers Live Collaboration to Organize Itineraries
17th-Century Converted Hotels
Post Company Designs the Locke de Santa Joana Interiors
In-Hotel AI-Driven Workouts
Hyatt Regency Has Partnered with Future for a Unique Service
Elegant Global Travel Publications
Agape Destinations Guides Readers Through Elegant Global Travel
Co-Branded Digital Travel Hubs
The Corona Global Hub Spotlights Experiences Rooted in Nature
Album-Inspired Clothing Capsules
Pacsun x Paris Hilton Present the Infinite Icon Collection
Cutting-Edge Lighting Collections
Roll & Hill Presents its Latest Handcrafted Light Collection
Hospitality-Focused Cultural Initiatives
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts Debuts 'Behind the Journey'
Collaborative Hotel Canvas Totes
W Hotels x Thomas Lélu Debut a Collection of Playful Accessories
Affordable Luxury Vacations
Sunwing Vacations and Hyatt Partner for the Benefit of Canadians
Pillow Fort Hotel Retreats
Emma Unveils a New Sleep Retreat for Guests Driven by Nostalgia
Global Digital Marketplaces
Renaissance Hotels' R FINDS Shares Goods from Local Artisans
Nostalgic Nantucket Hotels
Parts and Labor Design and Brad Guidi Design the Beachside Hotel
Hospitality-Focused Tattoo Services
The Standard Hotel Offers the Inked Out Package to Guests
Miami-Themed Anniversary Celebrations
Alchemysts Inc. Recently Marked Its Five-Year Milestone
Chinese Youth Search Reports
Xiaohongshu Has Released Report on Search Habits Among Youth in China
Artist-Collaborative Travel Accessories
Jaden Smith and Harper Collective Join on a New Capsule
Highly Sought-After Restaurant Features
OpenTable Announces Its Icons Program for Major Cities
Budget Vacation Rental Platforms
VacayHub is a Centralized Space to Complete the Perfect Holiday
Collaborative Auction Experiences
Hospitality Meets Collectible Art Through This Auction Event
Unique Destination Initiatives
Intrepid Travel Unveiled its 'Not Hot List' for 2025
Curated Holiday Experiences
The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort Boasts Unique Programming
Travel-Themed Book Recommendations
Belletrist Curated The Reading Route for Trainline
Centralized Metropolitan Hotels
The New York Hilton Midtown Offers Sweeping Views
Award-Winning Toronto Hotels
Forbes Travel Guide Recognizes the Ritz-Carlton, Toronto
Whimsical Urban Hotel Extensions
Neri&Hu Complete the Artyzen New Bund 31 Hotel Design
Crafted Holiday Activations
Loews Hotels & Co will Offer Festive Pop-Ups and Seasonal Sips
Contemporary Sleek Boutique Hotels
Vermilion Zhou Design Group Created the NI HAO Hotel
Hotel Sleep Experiences
Hilton Launches a New Sleep Retreat Experience for Sleep-Driven Consumers
Captivating Winter Travel Initiatives
Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo Boasts a Series of Winter Festivities
Private Investigator Curated Trips
Go2Africa Unveiled ‘The Designer Honeymoon’ Package
Historical Mining Hotels
The Mining Exchange Hotel Fuses Old and New Charm
Whimsical Tranquil Holiday Hotels
The Two Bunch Palms Hotel is a Homey Oasis in the Desert
Sustainable Earthy-Toned Hotels
Delek Tulum in Mexico Features Mayan-Rooted Wellness Rituals
Design District Boutique Hotels
Studio Collective Designs the Hotel at the Moore in Miami
NYC-Hotel Holiday Programs
Thompson Central Park Announced a Lineup of Festive Offerings
Harajuku-Inspired Slip-Ons
Vans Taps Guest Designers on the Harajuku Punk Design Series
All-Suite Luxurious Hotels
The Emory Hotel Opens with Designs by Richard Rogers
Fashion-Forward Hotel Transformations
SO/Paris Gets a New Design with Annual Lobby Activations
Classically Inspired Localized Hotels
Hotel Henrietta Features Warm Interiors and Vintage Art
Personalized Honeymoon Booking Platforms
Honeymoons.com Streamlines Romantic Getaway Planning
Exclusive Lake Front Stays
Lakehouse Hotel and Resort Offers a Variety of Unique Water Activities
Harmonized Luxury Japanese Hotels
HOTEL THE MITSUI HAKONE Maintains Standards of Tradition
Global Ice Bath Directories
IceBathList.com Helps People Find Cold Plunges Wherever They Are
Hotel Art Openings
Perrotin Gallery Will Open an Outpost in London's Claridge’s Hotel
Slumber-Inducing Hotel Collections
Sleep Glow Launches its Newest Sleep Collection for Hotels
Miniature Artful Hip-Hop Landmarks
Danny Cortes Captures Iconic Hip-Hop Moments Through Art
Relaxed Luxurious Dynamic Hotels
The Riviera Maya EDITION at Kanai is Sustainably Designed
Hotel Wellness Campaigns
Hyatt Hotels Launches 'Wellness at Hyatt' for International Yoga Day
Mobile Dorm-Designing Features
Pottery Barn Teen Unveils a New Dorm Shop and Expanded Features
Streamlined Hotel Management Solutions
Venus Software Enhances Hospitality with Cloud Platform
Elevated Hospitality Rewards Programs
Al Khoory Hotels Implements a Premium Loyalty Program
Custom Hospitality Solutions
Hudini Implements a Digital Interface for Royal Mansour Marrakech
Instant Accommodation Bookings
Travly Debuts its New Online Travel Agent
Connective Economic Travel
Swapper Helps Business Travelers Use Hotel Budgets to Stay with Friends
Wabi Sabi-Inspired Wellness Hotels
Gry Space and M Royce Architecture Create the kodō hotel
Playfully Color-Blocked Seaside Hotels
FDA Designs the Bright Hotel Haway Along the Adriatic Coast
Coverted Monastery Boutique Hotels
Archiloop Transforms a Monastery into the Vocabolo Moscatelli
GHG-Reducing Hotels
Choice Hotels is Committed to Reducing its Eco Footprint through Various Means
Repurposed Metropolitan Landmarks
The Great Scotland Yard Hotel is a Former Police Headquarters
Serene Luxurious Hotel Spas
Patricia Urquiola Designs the Luxurious Six Senses Rome Hotel
Modernized Landmark Hotels
Kozmo Hotel Suites & Spa Captures the Unique Charms of Budapest
Renovated Luxe Resort Hotels
Tara Bernerd & Partners Redesigns the Tranquil Maroma Hotel
Engaging Rap Trivia Games
Rap Trivia is a Fun Hip Hop Trivia Game
Unique Urban Event Hires
London is Renting Tube Stations, Cable Cars, and Piers for Private Hire
Sustainable Hotel-Supporting Airlines
Jet2Holidays Offers a Certified Sustainable Hotel Package
Greek Island Tranquil Resorts
Block 722 Designs the Gundari Resort Along the Cliffside
Viral Baby Hotel Partnerships
The Four Seasons Hotel Partners a Viral Baby for a Weekend