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IHG opens first Hotel Indigo outside North America and signs three more hotels in London

By: Hotel Indigo |  0 Shares     132 Reads

January 21, 2009 // Franchising.com // IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) opened the doors of Hotel Indigo London Paddington today - the first Hotel Indigo outside North America - and announced a deal to open three more Hotel Indigo properties in the city.

Hotel Indigo is IHG's boutique hotel brand. With 21 hotels open in North America, and 56 hotels in the global development pipeline, the opening of the Hotel Indigo London Paddington marks the start of the global brand roll-out.

The 64-room Hotel Indigo London Paddington, owned by London Town Hotels, is a row of nine converted Georgian townhouses in London Street just minutes from the station with views over Norfolk Gardens.

Speaking at the opening Andy Cosslett, chief executive, IHG, said: "Hotel Indigo combines the feel of a boutique hotel with the benefits of a large hotel group, including our reservation systems and loyalty programme. The brand has been a success in the Americas and we are confident we can grow it around the world."

He continued: "Hotel Indigo suits converting existing buildings as each hotel is designed to be different. Conversions generally require less financing and can be up and running more quickly than new build hotels, which is an attractive option for owners given the current economic conditions."

Koolesh Shah, managing director, London Town Hotels, said: "Over the last few years new businesses have put down roots in Paddington and we've seen a surge in the number of people looking for a place to stay. Our hotel will attract a new type of guest who is looking for something a little bit different."

IHG also announced that it has signed a contract with City Site Estates to open three more Hotel Indigo properties in London by 2012:

• Cannon Street - A 38 room, five storey townhouse with a 70 square metre roof garden, a gym and a restaurant.
• Philpot Lane - A 43 room, five floor conversion with a street front restaurant, bar and gym.
• Kensington Church Street - A 51 room, four storey conversion with a restaurant and gym.

Jim McCain, group property director, City Site Estates, said: "There's a gap in the market for a boutique hotel for business and leisure travellers who want to stay in the heart of the City. We plan to have all three Hotel Indigo hotels open and ready for business by 2012."

Hotel Indigo appeals to both business and leisure travellers who want to stay in a contemporary, unpretentious boutique hotel. Hotel Indigo properties are best suited to capital cities and cultural centres, they tend to be small and have a strong focus on delivering personalised customer service.

In November 2008, IHG announced plans to open Hotel Indigo Shanghai on the Bund in Shanghai, China. The 180-room hotel will open in time for the Shanghai Expo in 2010.

Notes to Editors:

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms. IHG owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, over 4,100 hotels and more than 600,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world. The Group owns a portfolio of well recognised and respected hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites®, and also manages the world's largest hotel loyalty programme, Priority Club® Rewards with 40 million members worldwide.

IHG has more than 1,700 hotels in its development pipeline, which will create 200,000 jobs worldwide over the next few years.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group's holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales.

IHG offers information and online reservations for all its hotel brands at www.ihg.com and information for the Priority Club Rewards programme at www.priorityclub.com.

About London Town Hotels:

London Town Hotels is one of London's fastest developing hotel groups and now manages hotels in the most sought after London areas, spanning central London from Paddington, through Hyde Park and Kensington.

About City Site Estates:

City Site Estates is a property investment, development and construction company which has grown, over the past 25 years, into one of the largest private property companies in Scotland. They have interests in Express by Holiday Inn hotels.

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