The FINANCIAL — Hotel Indigo on July 13 announces the opening of Hotel Indigo San Diego Gaslamp Quarter, the brand's first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified hotel and the first LEED certified hotel in San Diego – one of only 19 in the U.S.
Hotel Indigo San Diego Gaslamp Quarter is also the only new hotel scheduled to open in downtown San Diego in 2009.
A flagship property, Hotel Indigo San Diego is owned and managed by IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms. The hotel is also the first in IHG's portfolio to achieve LEED certification. The second Hotel Indigo property to achieve LEED certification will open in Athens, Ga., at the University of Georgia this September.
"In keeping with the Hotel Indigo brand's commitment to the environment, sustainable green building and development practices were incorporated into the design, construction and operation of the new 12-story Hotel Indigo San Diego. The hotel is located at 509 9th Ave., in downtown San Diego just one block from PETCO Park and only steps away from the Gaslamp Quarter, the city's exciting dining and entertainment district. Convenient for business travelers, the hotel is also less than a mile from the bayside San Diego Convention Center," IHG says.
"From the rooftop down, Hotel Indigo is a model of sustainability and we're delighted to debut the brand's first green hotel in San Diego," said Janis Cannon, vice president, Global Brand Management, Hotel Indigo. "As our flagship property, Hotel Indigo San Diego will showcase the brand's upscale boutique positioning through its locally-inspired fresh design and inviting service culture, which promises to deliver an engaging and intimate guest experience."
Another first for the brand and the city, Hotel Indigo San Diego is topped with a green roof on the ninth and 12th floors. The green roof, which is covered with drought-tolerant plants, will reduce energy consumption by cutting the need for heating and air conditioning and will contribute to lowering the urban heat island effect. Taking recycling to a new level, the hotel's Phi Terrace Bar and ninth floor meditation deck is also the world's first installation of MoistureShield composite decking, which is made from recycled polyethylene plastic and recycled wood fibers (i.e., grocery bags, milk jugs, byproduct from furniture/cabinetry making, etc.).
Additional green elements found throughout the hotel, include:
Herb garden on ninth floor terrace with basil, spearmint, rosemary, and tarragon; herbs will be used in gourmet menu items at the hotel's Phi Bar and Bistro;
Operable floor-to-ceiling windows in Phi Bar and ninth floor suites, which provide ample natural daylighting and ventilation;
On-site recycling program with recycling containers in guest rooms and operations areas;
Pantry and kitchen composting of organic matter from Phi Bar and Bistro; and
Reserved parking spaces and parking discounts for guests who drive low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles.
"Hotel Indigo San Diego has already been incredibly well-received by the local San Diego community, and we look forward to further engaging with the neighborhood now that we are officially welcoming guests and visitors," said Chris Jones, general manager, Hotel Indigo San Diego.
Working with a talented team of local artists, photographers and designers, Hotel Indigo San Diego has captured the sun-kissed character and inviting coastal culture of the San Diego region by using locally-inspired artwork throughout the hotel. Adding architectural detail to the San Diego skyline, a 40-foot glass sculpture aptly named "Indigo Waters" is affixed to the western facade of the hotel between the ninth and 12th floors. Inside the hotel, large-scale photographic murals of native plants and water-driven images, such as agaves and the Pacific Ocean, are incorporated in the guest rooms and public areas
A refreshing take on boutique design and décor, Hotel Indigo San Diego "counts" math as its muse. The hotel's stylish, inviting design is inspired by the Fibonacci sequence, a universal design constant found throughout nature, art and architecture. Adopting this mathematical ratio as a design principle creates a perfectly-balanced urban oasis of effortless beauty in the heart of downtown San Diego.
Hotel Indigo San Diego features 210 airy and inviting guestrooms, including five suites, with oversized beds, plush bedding, hard-surface flooring for a fresh residential feel, and spa-inspired showers with Aveda products. Each guestroom includes a 37-inch high-definition flat screen TV with complimentary movies, an iHome/MP3 alarm clock radio, and a Keurig coffee maker. Additionally, the hotel provides guests complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the entire hotel and access to the 24-hour business center, meeting space, 24-hour fitness studio and meditation deck on the ninth floor.
Dining and entertainment options include Phi Bar and Bistro, which serves gourmet dishes based on fresh, local seasonal ingredients, and a spectacular ninth floor rooftop bar. Phi Terrace Bar features a reflection pool, fire pits, lounge seating and panoramic views of the cityscape and baseball games at PETCO Park – sure to become a hot spot for guests to mix and mingle over cocktails.
