Kimpton Hotels is tapping into the growing trend of 'tattourism' through a new partnership with micro-tattoo studio Tiny Zaps. As of this month, the collaboration is bringing pop-up tattoo residencies to five Kimpton properties across the United States, allowing guests to commemorate their travels with permanent souvenirs inked directly onto their skin.
The residencies will rotate through hotels in Nashville, New Orleans, Los Angeles, New York and Washington, DC, with designs created to reflect each destination's unique character — think a trumpet or a shrimp tail in New Orleans, a water tower or theater ticket in New York, etc. Each location will host monthly tattoo events through June 2025, where hotel guests can receive free tiny tattoos placed by a local artist from Tiny Zaps' network.
Leveraging the intersection of travel and self-expression, the collaborative perk provides an alternative to conventional souvenirs while building on the historical practice of marking journeys through tattoos. A sailors' tradition dating back centuries, travel tattoos have found new traction among consumers seeking fun ways to document and share their adventures.
