“It’s practically my elixir…my beneficial elixir,” says Marcia Kimpton regarding her passion for traveling. “Interacting with new individuals, exploring different cultures, and realizing how kind people can be around the globe.”
Kimpton – whose late father Bill was the groundbreaking visionary behind the Kimpton Hotels & Restaurant chain founded in 1981 – has traversed the world seeking adventure and human connection for most of her life. Her experiences informed a plethora of creative projects, from films to books; her 2019 memoir,
Escaping the Hollywood Bardo
, outlines the psychological challenges she faced while attempting to succeed in the entertainment industry, which led her to depart from the country and forge her path independently. She has also initiated an
app
that cherishes her passion for cinema and travel adventures.
Kimpton says she grew up with the idea that hospitality environments should be art-driven and that the people representing them are important – something conveyed by her dad. Though she could stay in luxury hotels while traveling at this phase in her life, she prefers to visit boutique properties, like the destinations for which her family is known.
Her advice for traveling includes, “Hire a tour guide,” she emphasizes. “Even though I often journey solo, I make sure to spend at least one day with a guide as they can reveal all aspects of the local culture.”
She recommends linking up with artists in every country to gain their distinct viewpoint. She also mentions that insufficient finances should not hinder your progress. Prior to inheriting wealth, Kimpton explains that she had limited resources, yet this did not constrain her: “As long as you manage to purchase the flight ticket and conduct thorough research, you’ll discover incredible treasures and transform traveling into something budget-friendly and thrilling. However, one must exercise caution when visiting certain foreign nations.”
Her app, Kimpton Travels and Films, offers recommendations based on her worldly experiences, but it also features curated lists of independent films that represent the best of global cinema.
Despite being a hotel heiress, Kimpton is humble and full of humor – two qualities that come across in her filmmaking. Her mockumentary
An American Abroad
, which she directed, wrote and stars in, hits the festival circuit soon; while its follow-up,
An American in Amsterdam
,
was released on May 1st. Each blurs the boundary between documentary and narrative genres; Kimpton shares some of her preferred places to both explore and call home.
She states, ‘My aim is to amuse others and reveal the world to them,’ adding that this is her purpose. Additionally, she wants to demonstrate that one should persist… never surrender, as better times might be imminent. This is precisely why traveling appeals to me greatly.’
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