Hotel Indigo to open six new properties by year's end

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. October 14, 2008

JUNE 6, 2006. InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announced that Hotel Indigo continues to grow its distribution in the U.S. at an accelerated pace and by the end of 2006 the brand will open six hotels bringing the brand's portfolio to nine open hotels. Three properties have opened since Hotel Indigo's launch. The first Hotel Indigo opened in Atlanta, Ga. in October 2004, the second location opened in Chicago, Ill. in the historic Gold Coast neighborhood in May 2005 and a third location opened in Chicago-Palatine, Ill. in November 2005. By the end of 2006 six more hotels will open including the brand's first international property debuting in Ottawa, Canada. Hotel Indigo Ottawa, a 106-room conversion property, will be located in the heart of downtown Ottawa in the Central Business district, within four blocks of Parliament Hill and short walk from major attractions shopping and restaurants. Hotel Indigo Ottawa is expected to open by third quarter this year. Other properties scheduled to open this year include Houston; Dallas; Nashville, Knoxville and Sarasota, Fla.

Jim Anhut, senior vice president of brand development, InterContinental Hotels Group says development outlook is strong for Hotel Indigo in 2006. He attributes the brand's success to its differentiation within the marketplace and IHG's infrastructure and expertise in launching new brands.

"We were the first franchise hotel company to launch a lifestyle 'branded boutique' concept and that 'first-mover' status along with a relevant, exciting brand concept and efficient operating model has resulted in phenomenal response within the development community. The development momentum we've generated shows no signs of waning, and our growth puts us on track to have 2,100 rooms in market by 2007."

Anhut also added that the brand's pipeline remains strong and it is primed for continued expansion in North America. In addition to the six hotels that will open this year the brand also has eleven other executed deals, bringing the Hotel Indigo Americas pipeline of open and development hotels to 20 hotels. Future Hotel Indigo sites include: Las Vegas, Nev.; Scottsdale, Ariz.; Fort Meyers, Fla.; College Park, Ga.; Savannah, Ga.; San Diego, Ca.; Fishers, Ind.; Columbus, Ind.; Baltimore, Md.; Hanover, Md. and Durham, N.C.

Hotel Indigo's distinctive, modern and retail-inspired design addresses an issue that continues to challenge urban developers -- finding land for new developments in overcrowded markets. The brand's conversion strategy enables hoteliers to transform hotels that are not reaching maximum potential into boutique properties that fit well within the local urban market, offering style savvy, lifestyle focused guests an upscale experience at an affordable price.

Just over one year since its launch however, franchisee demand to build Hotel Indigo in suburban and near urban areas where conversions are not an option, prompted the brand to introduce its new build design concept ahead of schedule. The new build design concept was designed to be distinctive yet flexible enough to fit in a variety of markets.

"The new build design concept was always part of the strategy for Hotel Indigo and an important step in our distribution strategy. We are pleased to offer developers this option to keep pace with demand," said Anhut. "It offers developers and franchisees more flexibility in building the Hotel Indigo product."

As a complement to the brand's evolving exterior footprint, Hotel Indigo also created "Interpret Indigo." Interpret Indigo is the brand's custom design mantra, which gives developers and their interior designers the opportunity to creatively interpret the brand design hallmarks so that each property can maintain distinct character and regional flair. While the new build design concept and "Interpret Indigo" both keep the Hotel Indigo brand hallmarks at the forefront, they also allow the brand to maintain a unique personality and simultaneously deliver on its promise of "no cookie cutter hotels."