First Hotel Indigo Franchise signed in Southeast Asia

By: Hotel Indigo | 3 Shares 131 Reads

188-room boutique hotel to open in Bangkok by end of 2012

June 24, 2010 // Franchising.com // Bangkok - IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), the world's largest hotel group, signed a management agreement with Piyasombat Property Co. Ltd. for the first Hotel Indigo in Southeast Asia. This marks another strategic step to expand the presence of this upscale boutique brand in the Asia Pacific.

Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road takes its name from one of Bangkok's premier and prominent districts. A new development, the hotel is to be located along Wireless Road, home to the diplomatic district as well as high-end residences, retail and office spaces, restaurants and entertainment outlets. Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road signing ceremony

The hotel is ideally situated with guests enjoying the convenience of public transportation offered by the BTS Ploenchit Station. Lumpini Central Park, along with ample dining, shopping and entertainment are also easily accessible at the Wireless Road district. The hotel is expected to be completed by end of 2012.

"We're delighted to partner with Piyasombat Property to create an outstanding first Hotel Indigo in Thailand - a country and market with which we have a long-standing commitment. Bangkok is a strong market for boutique hotel products. Hotel Indigo offers an intimate, boutique experience with the added benefits of being part of a large international hotel company - a model that's generated high customer satisfaction and good returns for our owners internationally," said Jan Smits, Managing Director, IHG Asia Australasia.

Each Hotel Indigo property is uniquely designed to reflect the culture, character and history of the hotel's locality to ensure no two hotels are the same. Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road will be designed with the same philosophy in mind. The 188-room hotel will have a specialty restaurant and bar, a business centre, meeting facilities, swimming pool, a gym and health club, as well as a spa. HBA, a firm specialising in hospitality design, will lead the design work in collaboration with local architecture firm A49. The restaurant and bar will be designed by Diffusion, a joint-venture between HBA and Avroko, an award-winning design and concept firm.

"This is a great opportunity to introduce a fresh new hotel brand into the Thai market, and this partnership with IHG for Hotel Indigo will strengthen our portfolio," said Yoauvaluk Piyasombatkul, Managing Director of the hotel's owning company, Piyasombat Property Co. Ltd. The company currently owns several properties in Bangkok.

Established in 2004, Hotel Indigo offers guests a boutique hotel design paired with the peace of mind they get from staying with a large hotel group. The brand pioneers a new concept targeting upscale travellers who seek a unique hotel experience of an interesting location that incorporates historic, cultural and natural elements in its design as well as great service.

The Interpret IndigoTM design concept also offers real estate developers opportunities to regenerate or develop properties with their own creative flair, as well as to capture the local character and culture of each location while preserving the brand identity and delivering high standards.

The first Hotel Indigo to open in Asia Pacific is Hotel Indigo Shanghai on the Bund, which is scheduled to welcome guests in September this year. Six Hotel Indigo properties have already been signed in Asia providing a solid platform for the growth of the brand in the region.

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 4,400 hotels and more than 650,000 guest rooms in 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 48 million members worldwide.

IHG has over 1,300 hotels in its development pipeline, which will create 160,000 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.

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