One of the most charmingly odd things Kimpton does is the secret password.
If you’ve stayed at a Kimpton before—or you’ve spent too much time reading about hotel quirks—you probably know how it works: you quietly say a password at check-in, and in return, the hotel gives you a little surprise.
Not always the same thing.
Not always guaranteed.
But usually… something fun.
That’s why we keep doing it whenever the promotion is running. Because when it hits, it’s a small, low-stakes perk that feels very Kimpton.
This stay, though?
We got something we’d never received before.
And it was… memorable. Just not in the way Kimpton probably intended.
How the Kimpton Secret Password Works (When It Works)
Kimpton periodically runs its secret password promotion, typically tied to a limited-time campaign. When it’s active, the idea is simple:
- Find the current password (typically revealed on Instagram, but you can always look on Reddit or Google)
- Say it at check-in
- Receive a surprise perk
There’s no single published prize list, and not every hotel participates the same way. Sometimes the “surprise” is something small and practical. Sometimes it’s something genuinely fun. And sometimes you’ll be politely told the property isn’t offering anything this time.
That unpredictability is part of the appeal.
AwardWallet lays out how the promotion works and gives examples of what different Kimpton properties have offered in the past:
https://awardwallet.com/news/ihg-one-rewards/kimpton-secret-password/
The whole vibe is: say the secret thing, unlock a secret-ish perk.
Our Past Password Experiences (AKA: This Usually Goes Better)
This wasn’t our first time using the Kimpton password. Which is why we were pretty comfortable setting our expectations at “small but enjoyable.”
In the past, we’ve gotten perks like:
- A “run the minibar” award, which is exactly as fun as it sounds
- A free drink at the hotel bar, which is very on-brand for Kimpton
We’ve also heard of other guests getting snacks, small credits, or quirky one-off items, depending on the property. Nothing that changes your trip—but something that makes you smile and think, “Okay, that’s cute.”
So no, we weren’t expecting a suite upgrade or a bottle of champagne.
But we were expecting something that felt like a perk.
The Reveal
So there we are, checking in. We give the password. The front desk agent smiles… and reaches for the “reward.”
And we’re thinking:
Maybe it’s a drink voucher.
Maybe it’s a snack.
Maybe it’s one of those small, weird Kimpton-only things that make no sense but are still kind of fun.
Instead, we received… a notepad.
A branded notepad.
With lined pages.
And a pen.
Presumably for journaling our stay.
Or writing poetry.
Or composing song lyrics about how we thought the secret password meant something cooler.
To be clear: it’s a perfectly fine notepad. Nice design. Functional. I’m sure it does an excellent job of being a notepad.
But as a “secret password” surprise?
It felt less like a perk and more like something you’d find in a conference tote bag.
This wasn’t quirky.
This was office supplies.
Final Thought
The Kimpton secret password is still a fun idea—and when it lands, it really lands. We’ve had genuinely enjoyable perks from it before, and we’ll probably keep doing it whenever it’s active.
But if the goal is to make guests feel like they unlocked something special, handing over a notepad is… certainly a choice.
On the bright side, it did give us somewhere to write down our feelings about receiving a notepad.
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1 comment
how dare you slander the adult joy of office supplies