A New Model
21c combines a multi-venue contemporary art museum, boutique hotels, and chef-driven restaurants to create a new kind of travel experience.
21c combines a multi-venue contemporary art museum, boutique hotels, and chef-driven restaurants to create a new kind of travel experience.
Art can anchor and energize a community, be used as an agent for positive change, be a part of everyday life. Art can provide insights and start conversations. It can enrich the travel experience, and coexist harmoniously with commerce.
For more than 10 years now, the 21c Museum Hotel experience has seamlessly blended art and hospitality. Our multi-venue contemporary art museum, unique boutique hotels and chef-driven restaurants together create a new kind of travel and cultural experience, globally connected yet rooted in the local community.
21c Museum Hotel was founded by preservationists and contemporary art collectors Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson. The couple wanted to take an active role in the preservation and revitalization of downtown Louisville motivated by changes happening in and around their hometown.
With the belief that art can be a vital part of daily life and a spark to ignite new energy and ideas, they created 21c Museum Hotel in Louisville. Their innovative idea developed into a center for culture, community, genuine hospitality, and artistic expression.
While it was never their intent to open more than one 21c Museum Hotel, the couple’s vision inspired others to consider bringing the unique blend of culture and hospitality to their communities. In 2007, Brown and Wilson formed 21c Museum Hotels and assembled a team to develop and manage additional 21c Museum Hotel properties and farm-to-table Food & Beverage outlets.
Today, 21c pushes the boundaries of both the museum and hospitality worlds, employing a team of more than 1000 employees to operate a multi-venue contemporary art museum, 8 hotels, 9 food & beverage outlets, and develop more to come.
American Made Honoree, 2016
Best Hotel Brand
Global Vision Award, Culture, 2014
Global Award for Excellence, 2013
Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies, 2013
Customer Experience Champion Award for Innovation
