Tips to Create 
a Hotel Gift Shop



October 10th, 2025
Oblisque Team



Forget the dusty postcards and sad keychains. The modern hotel gift shop isn’t an afterthought wedged between the elevators and the ice machine, it’s a considered space that can both elevate your brand and drive meaningful revenue. It’s a living extension of your property’s story, a touchpoint guests can remember long after they checkout.

At Oblisque, we think about what makes people stop, touch, and buy, and how hotels can turn that moment of curiosity into connection. If you’re ready to create a gift shop that feels more like your favorite boutique, this is where to start.


THE NEW ERA OF HOSPITALITY RETAIL
Once upon a time, hotel gift shops were stocked with aspirin, sunscreen, and logo tees that no one actually wore. Those days are over.

Today’s travelers expect more: they want a slice of the hotel’s world they can take home: the scent of the lobby candle, the hand-thrown ceramic from the restaurant, the blanket they didn’t want to leave behind.

Done right, a hotel shop isn’t just retail; it’s storytelling. It’s hospitality with a hang tag.




STEP ONE: START WITH THE STORY
Before sourcing a single product, ask yourself one question: What story are we selling?

If your property is minimalist and design-forward, your shop shouldn’t feel like a souvenir stand on the interstate. If it’s a mountain lodge, skip the glossy tech gear and opt for wool, wood, and warmth instead.

Your shop should feel like the physical echo of your brand, from the scent that greets guests when they walk in, to the patterns on the blankets. Think of it as your hotel, distilled.





STEP TWO: CURATE

There’s a world of difference between filling shelves and curating a collection.

Start with a simple framework:

  • The Essentials: yes, people still forget toothpaste and chargers, but choose versions that feel elevated.

  • The Exclusives: branded or co-branded goods that exist nowhere else, such as robes, ceramics, local honey, or scent diffusers made for your property.

  • The Local Touch: partnerships with nearby artisans and makers. Guests want something they can’t find at the airport.

  • The Impulse Indulgences: small, giftable, photogenic items, the kind of thing someone buys “for a friend” and keeps for themselves.

Your shop should be 50% practicality, 50% fantasy. The kind of place where guests come for sunscreen and leave with a candle.





STEP THREE: SUPPLIERS

A beautifully stocked shop starts with the right partners. Look for suppliers that understand hospitality’s pace: small-batch flexibility, low minimum order quantities, fast shipping, and an eye for trends.

Some names & events worth knowing:

  • NY NOW — a multi-day wholesale event in NYC where thousands of legacy and emerging brands showcase their newest homewares, gifts and jewelry.

    • WGSN — a trend forecasting agency, useful for getting an overview of the direction merchandising in general is going.

    • Match — pewter is having a moment again and Match produce some great photo frames and goods for the table.

    • Local Artisans & Makers — the soul of your shop. Reach out directly within your community or source via small-batch wholesale platforms such as Faire.


    Remember: it’s not about having everything. It’s about having the right things, pieces that feel thoughtful, intentional, and aspirational.





    STEP FOUR: THE EXPERIENCE

    Layout matters. Place high-margin impulse buys near the checkout. Use lighting the way a jeweler does, to make every object look like it belongs in a magazine spread. Add a touch of theater: branded tissue, a scent diffuser, a handwritten tag.

    Consider:

    • Zoning (essentials, local, luxury, grab-and-go)

    • Display storytelling (“Made three blocks away by a craftsperson who…”)

    • POS integration (let guests charge to their room; frictionless is luxury)


    And if your hotel has a signature look, terracotta walls, woven textures, a scent you can’t quite name, weave it into the shop’s design language. Consistency reads as care.





    STEP FIVE: PRICE WITH INTENTION

    Guests don’t mind paying a premium, but they resent being gouged. The sweet spot? “Luxury convenience” — the sense that they’re buying something worth its price and their time.

    Bundle small items into sets (“Poolside Kit,” “Late Checkout Essentials”), or offer complimentary gift wrapping for purchases over a certain threshold. It’s not about discounts, it’s about perceived value.





    STEP SIX: TELL THE WORLD (AND THE LOBBY)

    No one can shop a store they don’t know exists.

    Feature your boutique in welcome materials, guest emails, and social media. Create small moments: local artisan pop-ups, limited-edition runs, or a “Take the Hotel Home” campaign that highlights your signature products.

    The most profitable gift shops are the ones guests talk about, not the ones they stumble into.





    THE FUTURE OF HOTEL RETAIL

    Hospitality retail is moving toward the micro-luxury model: compact, intentional, emotionally resonant. The best shops are as curated as the rooms themselves, thoughtful, tactile, and infused with the brand story.

    A gift shop is no longer a shelf with snacks, it’s a seamless extension of your brand to live beyond guest checkout.



    THINKING OF CREATING ONE FOR YOUR HOTEL?

    At Oblisque we partner with boutique and luxury hotels to design, source, and launch retail programs that feel effortless, from concept to shelf. Whether you’re building a new shop or reimagining an existing one, we handle sourcing, merchandising, warehousing and e-commerce, so your team can focus on the guest experience.

    Find out more about our work here.