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Downtown Colorado Springs will soon be home to KINSHIP LANDING, a brand new hotel concept that will offer what today’s travelers demand: authentic and engaging travel experiences that connect them to the local community. The timing couldn’t be better. Travel to the Colorado Springs area has seen unpreceded growth in recent years, welcoming over 23 million visitors in 2017, according to VISIT COLORADO SPRINGS.
Kinship Landing, a boutique-style hotel will offer shared dorm accommodations, private rooms and luxury suites, something for travelers in every price point. Located in a growing section of southeast Downtown, Kinship Landing broke ground on January 31, 2019, at 421 South Nevada Avenue. This prime location has seen an influx of new businesses in the last few years, located just across the street from THE BENCH, BLUE DOT PLACE apartments, and LOYAL COFFEE.
The experience-driven concept began with husband and wife team, Brooke and Bobby Mikulas, inspired by a year of global travel across seventeen countries. During their travels, the couple connected to local communities through food, family, and experiences. “We jumped on every opportunity to immerse ourselves in local cultures,” said Bobby. From Italy to New Zealand, Thailand and Zambia, the Mikulas’ found “unsolicited hospitality, undeserved generosity” and formed authentic relationships with locals through shared experiences. “A loose acquaintance in Thailand gifted us an apartment, a phone and meals at no cost for three months. A pizza shop owner in Italy closed his shop, pulled out four bottles of Prosecco and five meters of pizza and sat with us all evening,” Bobby explained.
“Kinship Travels” as they came to be called, lead the Mikulas’ to corners of the world where the couple was embraced as family and offered kindness and generosity beyond measure. From this “outrageous hospitality” as they call it, came the idea for Kinship Landing, a space where visitors are warmly welcomed and connected to the local community through organic interaction.
Upon returning from their travels, the Mikulas’ partnered with longtime friends Nate Grimm (Chief Business Officer) and Jason Phillips (Chief Relations Officer) who had accompanied them abroad in 2016. Together, the young professionals began to explore how they might bring an experience-driven hotel concept to Colorado Springs. “We were convinced we were the only ones in the world thinking about the model we came up with. It turns out we were just on the front of the wave of a huge shift in hospitality,” Bobby said.
In fact, a REPORT BY AMERICAN EXPRESS found that consumers illustrated their demand for more enriched lives and personal fulfillment through experience and learning. Over 72% of respondents said they would rather spend money on experiences than things.
Travelers are asking for packages beyond packaged travel. Visitors seek immersive experiences in local culture including art-themed walking tours, food tours, connections to local history and outdoor adventure. Perfectly situated Downtown – in the cultural and historic heart of the city at the foot of America’s Mountain – Kinship Landing plans to offer personalized concierge service connecting guests to first-rate cultural and outdoor offerings.
Pictured: from left Jason Phillips, Brooke Mikulas, Bobby Mikulas, Nate Grimm. Photo courtesy Kris Peters.
Brooke and Bobby envision themselves gathering with guests at the elongated bar or around the community table enjoying fresh, local food and drink with guests, “One thing we love to do with visitors to our area is to sit around the table, grab a map and give them a lay of the land.” In addition to outdoor adventure, the Mikulas’ hope to unite guests with the thriving urban Downtown area. Bobby explained, “Downtown is a great place to be. While people want to spend the day exploring the mountains and trails, at night they want to connect to the energy of the city. Locally-owned craft breweries, distilleries, coffee houses and dozens of restaurants will be within walking (or biking) distance. With the (COLORADO SPRINGS) PHILHARMONIC, PIKES PEAK CENTER, the FINE ARTS CENTER (AT COLORADO COLLEGE) and FIRST FRIDAY art-walks each month, our guests will have ample opportunity to engage in the vibrant cultural scene Downtown. Live music, local events, and experiences lie just beneath the surface, and we are excited to connect both locals and travelers to these wonderful things that add to the cultural heartbeat of our city.”
With thoughtful design by the Kinship Landing team and Downtown firm ECHO ARCHITECTURE, the hotel will feature a Discovery Platform: a community space for events and meetings, or a place to talk about the day’s adventure with fellow guests. Lockers equipped with charging stations will be available for gear storage, an inviting bar area to share a brew or cocktail, and a variety of accommodations to fit the preferences and budget of every traveler. “Kinship Landing is designed with the demands of the modern traveler in mind. We really want to make sure that people who are traveling and choose to allocate their budget towards experiences still have a really rad place to stay,” said Bobby. He continued, “We also realize that there are those that want something with a bit more grit and texture, that’s why we also have luxury suites and private rooms.”
Pictured: architectural rendering of Kinship Landing, courtesy Echo Architecture
A uniquely collaborative startup community exists in Downtown Colorado Springs. Kinship Landing was embraced by local support and financing. In addition to TIF funding provided by the DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, local investors rallied behind the concept. “Our investors are absolute rockstars…we are proud to have raised the majority of our equity capital from investors here in town who see the vision behind the project and were willing to take a risk in order to see something new and innovative come to the city,” Bobby said.
Even before they broke ground, the team was given a warm Downtown welcome. “From professional contractors and service providers to neighboring business owners, we have felt supported along this non-traditional journey from the very beginning. It was a lot of hard work and hustle, it’s been incredibly humbling. We are grateful to have the right people with the right hearts at the table helping us to make this a reality.”
Pictured: Susan Edmondson (Downtown Partnership), Brooke Mikulas, Bobby Mikulas, Mayor John Suthers, Nate Grimm, Jason Phillips. Photo courtesy Kris Peters.
