In a bid to 'combine travel, art and self-expression', Kimpton is tapping into the 'tattourism' trend by offering hotel guests tattoos during their stay. Jenny Southan reports

Travel meets ink in a bold new collaboration between Kimpton Hotels & Resorts and Tiny Zaps, a cutting-edge tattoo studio known for its intricate, minimalist “tiny tattoos”. Together, they’re bringing the rising trend of “tattourism” – commemorating travel through meaningful tattoos – directly to guests across the US

Starting this spring, five Kimpton hotels will host monthly pop-up events offering complimentary tattoos designed in collaboration with Tiny Zaps. Each location will feature a city-specific tattoo collection, drawing inspiration from local landmarks and cultural references. Guests aged 18 and over can choose from exclusive flash sheets featuring motifs like Broadway-inspired icons in New York or Bourbon Street-themed designs in New Orleans.

The events will run monthly until the end of June at the following properties:

• Kimpton Theta New York – Times Square, NY: Apr 18, May 23, Jun 20

• Kimpton Hotel Monaco, Washington, D.C.: Apr 5, May 17, Jun 7

• Kimpton Everly Hotel, Los Angeles, CA: Apr 23, May 29, Jun 26

• Kimpton Hotel Fontenot, New Orleans, LA: Apr 10, May 15, Jun 12

• Kimpton Aertson Hotel, Nashville, TN: Apr 12, May 2, Jun 28

“We’re combining travel, art and self-expression to offer a one-of-a-kind way for people to connect with the cities they visit,” says Vicki Poulos, head of luxury and lifestyle brands, Americas and global Kimpton. “The Kimpton x Tiny Zaps collection represents the ultimate travel souvenir: meaningful, personal, and lasting.”

Once the domain of sailors and nomads, tattourism has been reimagined for the millennial and Gen Z traveller, many of whom now prefer permanent ink over postcards when it comes to remembering a trip.

“People get tattoos for the same reasons they travel – to create and commemorate life experiences,” says Sam Kelly, Co-Founder of Tiny Zaps. “This partnership lets us blend those worlds in a fun and memorable way.”

Tiny Zaps will tap into its network of creative, city-based tattoo artists to deliver the designs on-site, reinforcing a sense of local authenticity and artistic flair.

Ahead of the curve, Virgin Voyages debuted "Squid Ink" tattoo parlours on its cruise ships a few years ago.