Drift Palm Springs evokes the spirit and soul of the city

Prepare to get carried away at Drift Palm Springs.

This new boutique hotel from TMC Hospitality offers a relaxing escape in a sleek, inviting space. “Aesthetically, Drift has an industrial chic design style that is rooted in Baja desert minimalism,” Philip Bates, founder of TMC Hospitality, says. “Experientially, Drift is laid-back, free spirited, iconoclastic, and generous. Our design experience is always immersive and collaborative.”

This is the third Drift hotel, with other properties in Baja and Santa Barbara (a Nashville outpost is opening soon). For each project, Drift works to “understand the spirit and soul of the city and get to know the personality of the property we are building on,” Bates says. “Once we establish a direction, we obsess over every detail of the personality, look, and feel of that theme. We then spend many hours with our creatives and traveling to the various regions from which our products originate to understand them and our offering in more depth.”

Every aspect of Drift Palm Springs was created with the guest experience in mind. There are studios and one-bedroom suites for solo travelers and couples, and two-to-four bedroom suites with full kitchens, living rooms, and balconies for larger groups. All accommodations have streaming TV and WiFi and curated bath amenities, while certain suites have a sweet bonus.

Philip Bates is the general manager at Drift Palm Springs.

“One thing that we really love and are proud of is our in-unit pantry for our larger two-to-four bedrooms,” Bates says. “These pantries offer everything you would ever need during your stay, from gourmet chips, candies, and pastas to great French wines, craft sodas, and a do-it-yourself craft cocktail offering. We think guests will love it and there isn’t anything like this in the market.”

Outside, there’s a resort-style pool surrounded by day beds and cabanas, with stunning views of the San Jacinto Mountains, and guests looking for a wellness experience are invited to borrow a yoga mat and yoga block from the hotel (the lovely Cacti Desert Lawn is the perfect spot for a session). The property is anchored by Maleza, a Baja-inspired eatery serving rustic yet elevated food and cocktails.

The pool and restaurant “interact with each other,” Bates says. “This space will enable guests to spend longer periods of time relaxing in the sun in a very free flowing, easy, and organic manner.”

Drift is able to effortlessly evoke the essence of Palm Springs because the hotel is so tuned into the city. “It features a modern yet timeless desert-inspired architecture style with interior design and appointments done almost exclusively by makers from the region,” Bates says. “All of this is delivered by a local team who love and are experts in their craft. The hotel is welcoming, tasteful, and classy, and guests will feel it the moment they set foot on property.”

All of the tiny details add up to one bold statement, and Bates is sure that the hotel will “intrigue and inspire guests because they will very much sense the curation, craftsmanship, and consideration that went into every fiber of this hotel.” The Drift team strives to be “masters of our craft,” Bates adds, and “we hope guests have a truly soulful and memorable experience when they stay with us.”