The FINANCIAL — IHG® Hotels & Resorts’ upper upscale brand, Hotel Indigo®, one of the world’s fastest growing boutique hotel brands, continues its growth momentum with new destinations across the globe. 2020 welcomes 14 Hotel Indigo properties to its portfolio and each one is a reflection of its neighbourhood, making each hotel and guest experience truly unique. Inspired by the colours, textures, history, buildings and people that make up each neighbourhood, Hotel Indigo embodies these elements to immerse each guest into the destination and inspire their curiosity from check-in, to their in-room stay, to dining and beyond.
As part of Hotel Indigo’s brand ethos, the art and design play an important place in every property opened and opening. Each hotel has partnered with local creatives to immerse our guests in colourful local stories that expand the mind and connect them to the soul of the neighbourhood. Collectively, they encompass many different art styles from photography, handcraft, murals, shadow art, collage, oil on canvas, watercolour, mosaic, acrylic, calligraphy, fabric art, metal and digital art.
Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown – Opened October 2020
An art & design-lover’s paradise, the first property in the Arabian Gulf opened its doors in October 2020 along the banks of the Dubai Creek, minutes away from Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall.
Historically, the city of Dubai has grown in tandem with the development and extension of the Dubai Creek into new areas of the city, such as Dubai Design District, Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, and Downtown. The Creek’s journey is a story of the transformation of Dubai from a trading post to the city of the future that it is today, and this has influenced the hotel’s overall architectural and interior approach.
Boasting 269 perfectly designed rooms Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtowns showcases the vibrancy of traditional culture with a contemporary twist, every detail has been thoughtfully designed. Striking works of art are showcased in many areas of the hotel, including the four food and beverage outlets on varying floors.
Each floor of the property is dedicated to one artist, giving the guests an opportunity to enjoy the art on the way to their rooms. The hotel has partnered with local creatives through associations with the Alserkal Cultural Foundation, Tashkeel and XVA gallery.
The hotel features over 200 curated pieces of art with the aim of forming a collection that plays a role in telling the hotel’s neighbourhood story. Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown exhibits artworks from not only local artists, but also from Dubai-based expatriates who have drawn inspiration from the city, the Emirati culture and the heritage of local vernacular. The hotel also collaborated with Fatima Bint Mohamed Initiative to create unique rugs as part of the overall creative concept. The initiative is the UAE’s very own carpet production and community development programme empowering more than 4,000 female artisans in Afghanistan.
On the ground floor, the juice bar and concept store Bakala Jooos, is surrounded by creative artwork a from a printed wall paper commissioned by Daniel Wegera, to woven tapestry rugs on the floor.
Continuing into the Satwa and pop-art inspired cocktail bar Off the Wall, each detail throughout the venue gives a unique identity to the space, from the creative ceiling work in the shape of sound waves, to the rustic exposed brick walls, completed with street graffiti, and designer furniture and light fixtures.
The property’s social eatery, Open Sesame, with its amazing entrance featuring fabrics designed by French fashion designer Christian Lacroix is a modern take on Emirati heritage, with souk inspired stalls and embroided abaya patterns in the entrance, whilst the rich aromas of Café Rider Custom Roastery fills the air.
Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora, Japan, opened January 2020
Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora, the first Hotel Indigo in Japan, offers a modern twist on the onsen ritual with traditional wood finishes reminiscent of the Meiji-period bathhouses, contrasted with a dramatic digital art wall installation. The installation represents Hakone’s four seasons with rotating expressions of warmth, new life and the location’s natural landscape through colourful digital lighting.
Design is an integral part of the guest experience, drawing inspiration from the neighbourhood to influence its interior. Ancient patterns from local Yosegi-zaiku woodwork have inspired wood patterns throughout the hotels’ lobby, parquetry woodwork decorating the ceilings and guest rooms, while contemporary artwork brings to life Hakone’s nature through ukiyo-e paintings, fireflies, fallen leaves and mountainous landscapes.
The hotel features 98 rooms and suites, with each room offering its own natural hot spring bath in-room or open-air bath on the balcony. Quirky motifs can be found throughout the photography, including a courier man dressed in traditional costume holding a ‘selfie stick’; a classic bus painted with the Yosegi-zaiku pattern; soccer players; and a UFO or drone mid-flight.
Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets – opening January 2021
Hotel Indigo will make its Australian debut with the opening of Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets in January 2021. Located on Market Street – a vibrant culinary hub in the heart of the city and seconds from the iconic Adelaide Central Markets – the 145-room hotel brings the best of the outdoors, indoors.
Colourful wall art pays homage to the culture of neighbourhood festival posters, while tessellated tile patterns of Adelaide with copper fixtures are a nod to South Australia’s copper mining history.
The restaurants and bars tap into the best of Adelaide Market’s wonderful produce for seasonal appeal. Market & Meander is a modern Australian restaurant and bar, touting multicultural influences from Grote and Gouger Street, while on the rooftop, guests will experience the spectacular raw food bar, Merrymaker.
This year the brand opened: Hotel Indigo Detroit-Downtown (Michigan), Hotel Indigo Tallahassee-College Town (Florida), Hotel Indigo Rochester-Downtown, Minnesota, Hotel Indigo Spokane (Washington), Hotel Indigo Larnaca (Cyprus), Hotel Indigo Verona (Italy) Hotel Indigo Hakone Gora (Japan), Hotel Indigo Bath (UK), Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown (UAE)
Coming soon: Hotel Indigo Chattanooga-Downtown (Tennessee), Hotel Indigo Columbus at Riverfront Place (Georgia), Hotel Indigo Vancouver-Downtown (Washington), Hotel Indigo Cleveland Gateway (Ohio), Hotel Indigo Miami- Brickell (Florida)
