IHG expands Hotel Indigo network with two new UK hotels

By: Hotel Indigo | 0 Shares 111 Reads

October 09, 2009 // Franchising.com // InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed two new Hotel Indigo properties in Glasgow and Liverpool.

Hotel Indigo is IHG's newest hotel brand and offers guests boutique hotel design as well as the peace of mind they get from staying with a large hotel group. There are 27 hotels open in North America and 59 more are planned around the world. The brand began its global roll out earlier this year with the opening of Hotel Indigo London Paddington in January 2009.

The Hotel Indigo brand standards don't dictate the number or size of rooms in a property, making it ideally suited to conversion properties. In the current economic environment, conversions are attractive to developers because they require less financing than new builds and can be up and running in a shorter period of time.

Kirk Kinsell, IHG's president for Europe, Middle East and Africa, commented: "Now is an ideal time for us to continue to grow the Hotel Indigo brand across Europe. Signing these two new hotels in the current climate shows we have the right strategy for growing the brand.

"All Hotel Indigo properties are unique and designed specifically to reflect their location. Glasgow and Liverpool are exciting, vibrant cities and thriving tourist and business destinations that are a great match for the Hotel Indigo brand. We look forward to signing more Hotel Indigo properties in cities across Europe."

Hotel Indigo Glasgow

Hotel Indigo Glasgow is scheduled to open mid-2010 with 96 bedrooms. Situated on Waterloo Street, this converted bank building will offer guests easy access to the financial district, main shopping area and Central Station. It is the latest IHG property to be franchised by Chardon Management which also operates other IHG brands including seven Holiday Inn and four Holiday Inn Express hotels across the UK.

Maurice Taylor, chief executive, Chardon Management, who has been an IHG franchisee for more than 15 years, said: "The new Hotel Indigo Glasgow is set to be a fantastic property. The building will retain its original character while the design reflects the contemporary, individual style that guests expect from a boutique hotel."

There are seven existing IHG hotels in Glasgow: one Crowne Plaza, three Holiday Inn and three Holiday Inn Express hotels. IHG hotels employ 2,180 people across Scotland.

Hotel Indigo Liverpool

The second new property, Hotel Indigo Liverpool, is scheduled to open in Spring 2011. Owned by existing IHG franchisee Sanguine Hospitality, the 151-room hotel will be situated in the city centre, providing a great location for both business and leisure guests.

Simon Matthews-Williams, chairman, Sanguine Hospitality, said: "Hotel Indigo is a great brand and this hotel will perfectly complement our existing suite of hotels across the UK. Its appeal as a boutique hotel will enable us to reach new guests and its situation in the heart of Liverpool makes it an extremely attractive choice for pleasure and business travellers alike."

IHG has seven hotels open in Liverpool including one Holiday Inn, three Holiday Inn Express hotels, two Crowne Plaza hotels and one Staybridge Suites property.

Last week, IHG signed a management contract for its first Hotel Indigo in Hong Kong. The agreement with Tai Hung Fai Enterprise Co. Ltd, a property developer that owns more than 100 properties across Hong Kong and Macau, will see the 150-room Hotel Indigo Hong Kong QRE open in 2012 in Wan Chai in northern Hong Kong.

Hotel Indigo first launched in Atlanta in 2004 and has proved a success in North America. In January 2009, as it opened the Hotel Indigo London Paddington, IHG signed three further London properties in Cannon Street, Philpot Lane and Kensington Church Street. 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.

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