InterContinental Hotels Group Begins Conversion of First Hotel IndigoTM in Dallas
InterContinental Hotels Group's lifestyle branded boutique grows by 170 rooms
ATLANTA, GA, March 16, 2006. InterContinental Hotels Group [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)] (IHG), the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, began conversion on its second Hotel Indigo in Texas deep in the heart of downtown Dallas. The hotel is scheduled to open in mid-June 2006.
A conversion from a Holiday Inn hotel, the 14-story property will be owned by Bijoy LLC and managed by Sandhu Management & Investments, LLC, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.
Hotel Indigo Dallas Aristocrat, a one-of-a-kind hotel built in 1925 by Conrad Hilton and the first to bear his name, will be located at 1933 Main Street, within the central business district in the heart of exciting downtown Dallas. Today, faithfully restored, the building is a nationally registered landmark characterized by a wealth of architectural detail and unmistakable luxury and tradition. Hotel Indigo Dallas Aristocrat will proudly display its National Register of Historic Places, the City of Dallas Landmark and the prestigious Texas Historical Marker.
"The Dallas Aristocrat property has immense brand potential," Jim Anhut, senior vice president, brand development, the Americas, InterContinental Hotels Group. "The Hotel Indigo branded boutique concept, is a perfect fit for this property, as it allowed us to harness the uniqueness of this historical building, while implementing refreshing elements exclusive to the Hotel Indigo brand."
Hotel Indigo is the industry's first lifestyle branded boutique hotel experience from InterContinental Hotels Group. It is uniquely designed to appeal to style savvy guests who desire affordable luxury, genuine quality and an alternative to traditional "beige" hotels without sacrificing any of the businesses amenities they might expect. As a lifestyle boutique hotel, Hotel Indigo is designed to deliver superb service in a unique and intimate atmosphere. The staff is trained to provide personalized service and anticipate guests' needs rather than simply responding.
The soul of Hotel Indigo's retail-inspired concept is renewal - thoughtful changes that are made throughout the year to keep the hotel fresh, similar to the way retailers change their window displays. Hotel Indigo Dallas Aristocrat will house 170 guestrooms that will feature renewable elements such as vivid murals, area rugs, plush duvets and slip covers that will change periodically. Public spaces will be transformed seasonally through changing artwork, music, flora, murals and directional signage.
The Hotel Indigo Dallas Aristocrat will feature signature design elements including oversized lobby chairs, which create a personal work or dining space within the public areas of the hotel; cozy, airy and inviting guestrooms with plush bedding, hardwood-style flooring and spa-style showers; a "phi"tness studio with cardio equipment and free weights. The hotel will also offer 3,300 sq.-ft. of meeting and function space and high-speed Internet Access in all guestrooms and wireless access in the public spaces.
The hotel's bistro-style restaurant, will offer seasonal, health-conscious fare and Starbucks coffee. The evening menu includes fresh salads, pizzettas, Panini sandwiches, and other trend forward entrees. Food is prepared quickly for the time-conscious traveler who wishes to eat in their room or relax in one of the hotel's signature oversized lobby chairs.
"We believe Dallas is a good fit for a lifestyle boutique hotel as unique as Hotel Indigo," said Paul Sandhu, President, Bijoy LLC. "We are proud to introduce this exciting concept to Dallas and believe once completed it will quickly become a centerpiece of the community."
Hotel Indigo's phenomenal reception primed the brand for continued expansion in the United States. The first Hotel Indigo opened in Atlanta in October 2004, and since then two additional hotels have opened, one in Chicago's historic Gold Coast neighborhood, a second in Palatine, IL, a suburb just outside of Chicago. Future sites of Hotel Indigo hotels include Houston, near the uptown business district and Galleria, Nashville and Knoxville, Tenn., and Sarasota, Fla. For more information on Hotel Indigo, or to make reservations, please visit www.hotelindigo.com.
About Hotel Indigo
The newest member of the InterContinental Hotels Group family, Hotel Indigo has defined a new category of hotels and is first to market with a product and service model that addresses the needs of consumers who are "trading up" to affordable luxury and service, but still seek value and style. Following a retail-inspired design and service concept, Hotel Indigo seeks to revolutionize the travel and hospitality industry by creating a new segment of hotels that are totally focused on the customer and helping guests create an experience in an environment suited to their own lifestyle.
Based on the timeless beauty found in nature and realized through the Golden Mean (also known as the Fibonacci series or Phi), the design and d'ecor of Hotel Indigo creates a warm welcoming environment that for guests. From the nautilus shell logo - a symbol of perfect proportion and natural beauty - to the deliberate design of the lobby chairs and guest room furnishings, the architectural concept creates a relaxing atmosphere of order and balance.
Note to Editors:
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC of the United Kingdom [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms. InterContinental Hotels Group owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, over 3,600 hotels and 537,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world. The Group owns a portfolio of well recognized and respected hotel brands including InterContinental(R) Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza(R) Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn(R) Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express(R), Staybridge Suites(R), Candlewood Suites(R) and Hotel IndigoTM, and also manages the world's largest hotel loyalty program, Priority Club(R) Rewards.
InterContinental Hotels Group offers information and online reservations for all its hotel brands at www.ichotelsgroup.com and information for the Priority Club Rewards program at www.priorityclub.com.
For the latest news from InterContinental Hotels Group, visit our online Press Office at www.ihgplc.com/media.
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