The travel world changed in 2023. Not because of a new airline or a fancy luggage brand, but because Hyatt dropped $53 million to buy a club they didn't even start. That club is Mr & Mrs Smith. If you’ve spent any time looking for a place to stay that doesn't feel like a corporate beige box, you’ve probably seen their name. It started as a "travel club for lovers" back in 2003. James and Tamara Lohan (no relation to Lindsay) were tired of staying in hotels that looked great in brochures but felt like a dentist's waiting room in person. So, they started a curated collection.
It’s basically a massive, global "best-of" list.
What Actually Makes a Hotel a Mr & Mrs Smith Property?
Most people think Mr & Mrs Smith is a hotel chain. It isn't. They don't own the buildings. They don't manage the staff. They are a booking platform and a curation engine. Honestly, they are more like a massive filter for the internet’s noise. You won't find a Marriott Courtyard here. Instead, you find places like Chewton Glen in the UK or The Postcard in Goa.
The criteria are weirdly specific but also totally vibe-based. They look at the "Smith factors." Can you get a drink at 2 AM? Is the lighting in the bathroom actually flattering or does it make you look like a ghost? Does the staff treat you like a human or a confirmation number? To get into the collection, a hotel has to be visited by "tastemakers." We’re talking about chefs, designers, and editors who go undercover. They aren't there for a freebie; they are there to see if the place actually lives up to the hype.
I remember reading about one of their early reviewers who checked the dust on top of the picture frames. That’s the level of obsession we’re talking about. If a hotel slips, they get booted. It’s brutal, but it keeps the quality high.
The Hyatt Integration: What’s Different Now?
Since Hyatt closed the deal, things have gotten a bit... complicated. For years, Mr & Mrs Smith had a partnership with IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group). That’s dead now. If you have IHG One Rewards points, you can't use them for Smith hotels anymore.
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Now, it’s all about World of Hyatt.
You can now book hundreds of Mr & Mrs Smith properties directly through the Hyatt website. This is a massive deal for "points people." Usually, boutique hotels are a nightmare for earning rewards because they are independent. But now, you can stay at a treehouse in the Cotswolds and earn points that you can later use for a stay at a Park Hyatt in Tokyo. It bridges the gap between the "cool, quirky" traveler and the "corporate road warrior."
But there’s a catch. Not every hotel in the Smith collection is available via Hyatt. Some owners opted out. Some are still being "onboarded." It’s a slow rollout. You’ve gotta check the specific listing.
Why Do People Still Pay for the Membership?
You don’t have to be a member to book. But there are tiers.
The basic "BlackSmith" tier is free. You get a "Smith Extra" at every stay. This isn't usually something life-changing like a free helicopter ride. It’s usually a bottle of local wine, a 30-minute massage, or maybe a picnic hamper. It’s a nice touch. It makes you feel like you aren't just another booking from a discount site.
Then there’s "SilverSmith" and "GoldSmith." This is where it gets pricey—and where the real perks live. GoldSmith gives you access to a 24/7 "Travel Curator" team. Basically, a group of people in London or New York who will handle your entire itinerary. They can find you a villa in Tuscany that isn't even listed on the main site.
Is it worth it? If you travel once a year, no. If you’re someone who spends 30 nights a year in high-end boutiques and hates the research process, it’s a lifesaver.
The "Anti-Chain" Philosophy
The reason Mr & Mrs Smith hotels stay relevant is that they lean into the "anti-chain" aesthetic. Look at a place like Ett Hem in Stockholm. It’s an old townhouse. You eat in the kitchen. There is no formal "check-in" desk. It feels like staying at the house of a very wealthy, very tasteful friend.
Contrast that with a standard luxury chain. You know exactly what the carpet will look like. You know the "club sandwich" will be exactly the same in Dubai as it is in Dallas.
Smith hotels go the other way. They want localism. They want the soap to be from a shop down the street. They want the art to be weird. This "boutique" movement has been copied by everyone now—think Marriott’s Edition or Hilton’s Canopy—but Smith was doing it when those brands were still stuck in the 90s.
The Problem With "Boutique" Everything
We have to be honest: the word "boutique" has been ruined. Every 10-room motel with a neon sign and a velvet chair calls itself a boutique hotel now. This is where Mr & Mrs Smith actually provides value. They act as a gatekeeper.
Because they've been doing this for over 20 years, they have the leverage to tell a hotel owner: "Change your linens or you're out." That’s a lot of power. It prevents the brand from becoming diluted.
However, the Hyatt acquisition does bring up some concerns. When a giant corporation buys a niche, "cool" brand, the niche brand often loses its soul. Will the curation stay sharp? Or will they start letting in any hotel that fits the Hyatt bottom line? So far, the Lohans are still involved, which is a good sign. They seem protective of the "Smith" vibe.
Finding the Best Value in the Collection
Not every Smith hotel is $1,000 a night. That’s a common misconception.
If you look at the "Under £150" or "Under $200" sections of their site, you find some absolute gems. These are often smaller, family-run guesthouses in places like Portugal, Greece, or the rolling hills of Vietnam. They might not have a Michelin-star restaurant, but they have soul.
- The Pig Hotels (UK): These are legendary. They are basically "restaurants with rooms." Very rustic, very garden-to-table.
- UXUA Casa (Brazil): It’s in Trancoso. It’s basically built into the local village. It’s sustainable without being annoying about it.
- Uxua Casa Hotel & Spa: Seriously, look this one up if you want to see what peak curation looks like.
How to Book Like an Expert
If you want to get the most out of the Mr & Mrs Smith ecosystem, don't just click "book" on the first thing you see.
First, check if the hotel is part of the Hyatt partnership. If it is, use the Hyatt site to earn your points. If you are a Hyatt Globalist, you might get extra perks that the Smith membership doesn't offer.
Second, look for the "Smith Exclusive" offers. These are often "stay 3, pay 2" or "stay 4, pay 3" deals. They don't advertise these heavily on the homepage, but they are tucked away in the "Offers" tab.
Third, read the "Smith Review" for the hotel. Don't just look at the photos. The reviews are written by actual people—not AI and not corporate copywriters. They will tell you if the stairs are too steep or if the neighborhood is a bit loud on Friday nights.
The Future of Independent Travel
In 2026, travel is becoming more fragmented. People are tired of the "Instagram-trap" hotels where the pool looks great but the service is non-existent. Mr & Mrs Smith is betting on the idea that human curation is worth more than a search engine algorithm.
They’ve also expanded into "Sidecar," which is their foray into private villas. This is a direct shot at Airbnb’s Luxe tier. The difference? Every villa is vetted with the same intensity as the hotels. No more "the host didn't show up with the key" horror stories.
The travel landscape is crowded. But if you want a hotel that actually has a personality, Mr & Mrs Smith remains the gold standard for finding it. They’ve survived the shift from physical guidebooks to apps, and now they are surviving the shift into the world of corporate mega-loyalty programs.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Trip
- Check Your Loyalty Status: If you have Hyatt points, search the Mr & Mrs Smith collection via the Hyatt app first to see if you can book with points. The redemption rates vary wildly, so look for "Sweet Spots" in Europe and SE Asia.
- Verify the "Smith Extra": Before booking, look at the specific "Extra" for that hotel. If it's just "a glass of water," maybe look elsewhere. If it's a "private cooking class," that’s huge value.
- Read the Tastemaker Review: Don't trust the hotel's own description. Search for the specific reviewer's name on the Smith site to see if their taste matches yours.
- Compare Prices: While Smith offers a price match guarantee, it’s always worth checking the hotel’s direct site. Sometimes independent hotels offer "local resident" rates or "early bird" specials that haven't synced with the Smith system yet.
- Use the "Curator" Feature: If you’re planning a multi-stop honeymoon or a big anniversary, actually use the chat feature. The people on the other end are surprisingly knowledgeable and can often suggest hotels in the collection that don't have high SEO visibility but are incredible.