The Kimpton Hotel brand seeks to give each of its hotels a unique personality and story for visitors to enjoy. Hotel Palomar in particular focuses on “Art in Motion” by providing rooms with sleek sophisticated, artsy design, kids’ art supplies and games to awaken creativity and nightly wine receptions at which artists often speak arranged through a partnership with the Smithsonian and Phillips Collection. In fact, the hotel staff has been trained by the Washington DC ballet “to serve you with the utmost grace.”

Talk about an infusion of art. But is that what visitors to the nation’s captial really want? Made up of mostly tourists, perhaps a more historical experience like that of The Westin Embassy Row or a family-friendly stay might be more appropriate. Personally, I found mornings where I craved my Holiday Inn “continential breakfast” and the challenge of cramming donuts into an ice bucket. Maybe visitors want to spend their time exploring art out in the city rather than in the hotel.

No doubt, art is an egaging way of marketing hotels with a unique selling point and seems to hold much possiblity both nationally and locally. Have you had an artful stay lately?

Made popular by the movie “Night at the Museum” starring Ben Stiller, a hot trend is sweeping the country in which museums are opening up their doors for visitors to spend the night among relics, robots and live animals. The IMA manages to stay open until 9:00 pm on Thursdays and Fridays, which doesn’t exactly allow for a gallery slumber party among the priceless works of art, but does give visitors the unique opportunity to stick around after most museums are closed to enjoy art, music and people.

The Indianapolis Marriott Downtown now offers the experience of sleeping with art in its King Guest Rooms, featuring beds with headboards that are reproductions of an IMA work of art titled Smoke Signals, by American Michael James. The hotel reopened on February 10, after a $9.5 million makeover by Dallas-based interior architectural design firm Vivian Nichols Associates. The firm found inspiration for the redesign at the Indianapolis Museum of Art (many thanks to Ruth Roberts, rights and reproductions coordinator at the IMA) and at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, using checkered carpet that mimics the Speedway’s victory flag. Queen-sized beds feature a companion work of art by the same artist.

I was full of pride for our city when I read the recent list of trendy “Art Hotels” in the March issue of Frommer’s Budget Travel magazine. Though not yet on the list, Indy has joined the ranks of some very forward thinking cities. Each hotel creates a unique and interactive experience by surrounding guests with art and design (We’ll see if I can squeeze one of these into next year’s Marketing travel budget!).

Top on the list are:

• Amsterdam – The Winston
• Singapore – The New Majestic
• Berlin – Arte Luise Kunsthotel
• Cape Town, South Africa – Daddy Long Legs
• Nice, France – The Windsor
• Toronto – The Gladstone
• Copenhagen – Hotel Fox
• Paris – Hotel Amour
• San Francisco – Hotel des Arts

What a novelty to have an art hotel right here in our city. So book a room, and drink in the modern, creative ambiance. Or visit the IMA. You never know what we’ve dreamed up for you next. Just don’t touch the art.