09 June 2008

Hotel Indigo Coming to the Heart of Downtown Cleveland

140-room conversion property to open in historic building

ATLANTA (June 9, 2008) - IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)], one of the world's largest hotel groups by number of rooms, today announced that a Hotel Indigo is coming to downtown Cleveland.  Construction is expected to begin this fall on the adaptive reuse of the mid-century landmark Breuer Tower, with an anticipated opening in spring 2010.

The Hotel Indigo will be located at the intersection of Euclid Avenue and East Ninth Street, in the epicenter of downtown Cleveland, and is owned by The K&D Group. 

The site of the Hotel Indigo is the only high-rise building designed by famed Bauhaus architect Marcel Breuer, and the historical significance of the building will be preserved, with the 12 lower floors redeveloped into the Hotel Indigo and the upper floors reserved for residential space. The preservation and redevelopment of the Breuer Tower is being done by the lead project architects, Westlake Reed Leskosky.  Nationally recognized for their work in adaptive re-use projects and historic preservation, Westlake Reed Leskosky served as Marcel Breuer's local architect on the Breuer Tower when it was built in 1971, providing on-site construction administration when the firm was known as Schafer Flynn van Dijk and Associates. The firm has maintained original prints and project information in its archives.

Guests at the 140-room Hotel Indigo will be within close proximity to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the trendy East 4th Street entertainment and dining neighborhood, the Warehouse district, and Playhouse Square, the second largest performing arts center in the U.S.  Business travelers will be near the financial district, the Cleveland Convention Center and several corporate offices, including Eaton Corporation, Ernst & Young, IBM and East Ohio Gas.  Progressive Field, home to the Cleveland Indians, and Quicken Loans Arena, home to the Cleveland Cavaliers, are just two blocks from the hotel, and guests will be less than a mile from both Cleveland Browns Stadium and the Great Lakes Science Center.

The Hotel Indigo will be located in the Euclid Avenue Corridor, an area of downtown Cleveland currently undergoing a $200 million mass transportation renovation.  Extending from Public Square in the center of downtown Cleveland to University Circle, the Euclid Avenue Corridor connects downtown to the Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University and the cultural institutions of Cleveland, including the Museum of Art, Severance Hall, home of the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Natural History Museum. Satellite-controlled, state-of-the-art "streetcars" will efficiently traverse the entire length of the corridor in minutes.

"We are excited to introduce the branded boutique concept of Hotel Indigo to downtown Cleveland in an area currently experiencing an upswing in development," said Jim Anhut, senior vice president, Franchise Development, the Americas, IHG. "The conversion from a historic building suits the unique character of Hotel Indigo and will provide an exciting alternative for guests looking for a boutique hotel experience in the heart of Cleveland." 

The Hotel Indigo is an integral component of The K&D Group's $200 million redevelopment of East Ninth Street and Euclid Avenue. The plans include a complete mixed-use lifestyle center with a new 13-story Class A office building adjacent to the renovated Breuer Tower.

"The K&D Group is thrilled to bring Hotel Indigo to the heart of downtown Cleveland. Hotel Indigo is a lodging experience unlike any other in the city," said Doug Price, CEO of The K&D Group. "When we won the bid to purchase the former Ameritrust complex, we committed to bringing about a renaissance of Cleveland's central business district, and we promised exciting progress in months - not years. This announcement delivers on both counts."

The Breuer Tower is of great significance, not only to Cleveland's skyline and the career of Breuer, but also as a fine example of High Modernism in America. Its historic renovation will return the Tower to its austere and sleek grandeur. The exterior, which is defined by large windows set in white pre-cast concrete panels accented by black granite, will be thoroughly cleaned and maintained, an undertaking not executed since the early 1970s. Inside, the ground floor and mezzanine are fully clad in polished and flamed granite that will be restored to their original condition. They will function as a lobby for the Hotel Indigo and the residences on the top floors.

The restoration of the Breuer Tower and the redevelopment of the complex will be a LEED-certified project. The K&D Group and Westlake Reed Leskosky are exploring a variety of "green" options for the project. The Hotel Indigo brand recently announced a partnership with Earth Share, a nationwide network of the country's most respected environmental and conservation organizations. Earth Share will assist in cultivating and amplifying Hotel Indigo's sustainability efforts, including developing forward-thinking environmental business practices such as water and waste reduction programs, use of eco-friendly cleaning products, on-property recycling programs, increased involvement in community environmental initiatives, and expanding menu selections to include more natural, organic, and local ingredients.

The Hotel Indigo 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-inspired showers; and a Phitness studio with cardio equipment and free weights. The hotel will also offer Phi, an on-site casual gourmet restaurant; a 24-hour business center; wireless high-speed Internet access throughout the hotel; and 3,000 square feet of meeting space for business functions or special events.

The Hotel Indigo brand is quickly expanding throughout North America, with 15 locations open and more than 60 under development, either in the pipeline or in final negotiation. The first Hotel Indigo opened in Atlanta in October 2004, followed by Hotel Indigo Chicago Gold Coast; Chicago Schaumburg North; Houston at the Galleria; Hotel Indigo Dallas; Ottawa Downtown City Centre, Canada; Hotel Indigo Scottsdale, Ariz.; Hotel Indigo Sarasota, Fla; Hotel Indigo Buffalo-Amherst, N.Y.; Hotel Indigo Nashville West End; Hotel Indigo Mérida Hacienda Misné, Mexico; Hotel Indigo Boston-Newton Riverside; Hotel Indigo Columbus Downtown, Ind.; Hotel Indigo Fishers-Indy's Uptown; and Hotel Indigo Chicago-Vernon Hills.  Future sites of Hotel Indigo hotels include Miami, Fl.; St. Louis, Mo.; London, England; San Antonio, Texas; Baltimore, Md.; Las Vegas, Nev.; and New York, N.Y.  For more information on Hotel Indigo, or to make reservations, please visit http://www.hotelindigo.com/.

Hotel Indigo participates in IHG's guest loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards.  The industry's first and largest guest loyalty program has more than 37 million members.  Priority Club Rewards membership is free and guests can enroll by logging on at priorityclub.com, by calling 1-888-211-9874 or by inquiring at the front desk of this hotel or any of IHG's almost 4,000 hotels worldwide.

About Hotel Indigo

The newest member of the IHG family, Hotel Indigo is the industry's first branded boutique hotel experience. It is uniquely designed to appeal to guests who desire affordable luxury, personal service and an alternative to traditional hotels without sacrificing any of the businesses amenities they have come to expect. Renewal is the soul of Hotel Indigo's retail-inspired design concept - thoughtful changes that are made throughout the year to keep the hotel fresh. Guestrooms feature signature murals, area rugs, fluffy duvets and slipcovers that will change periodically, while public spaces will be transformed seasonally through changing aromas, music, artwork, murals and directional signage. From relaxed café dining to high-style rooms - Hotel Indigo creates an intriguing, warm and inviting environment for guests. For more information on Hotel Indigo, please visit http://www.hotelindigo.com/.

About THE K&D Group, Inc.

One of northeast Ohio's largest privately-owned real estate development firms, The K&D Group owns and manages over 13,000 residential units and employs over 400 people throughout northern Ohio. Founded 24 years ago by Karen Harrison and Doug Price, The K&D Group developed the Stonebridge residential complex on the west bank of the Flats in downtown Cleveland. Their other holdings include The Embassy Suites Hotel at Reserve Square and Reserve Square Apartments.

ABOUT WESTLAKE REED LESKOSKY

The K&D Group has retained Westlake Reed Leskosky as lead project architect and design consultant for the $200 million redevelopment of the Ameritrust complex. In addition to providing architecture, mechanical, electrical, structural engineering, historic preservation services, and tax credit support, Westlake Reed Leskosky has designed a new 13-story Class A office building that will be adjacent to the renovated Breuer Tower. Westlake Reed Leskosky provides comprehensive fully-integrated design and management services, including architecture, engineering, interior architecture and design, master planning, programming, and feasibility studies. The firm as a nationally-recognized specialization in detailed historic preservation and adaptive re-use projects - including those involving buildings of the recent past as well as historic and new markets tax credits. Westlake Reed Leskosky also has an extensive portfolio of new commercial office work in urban settings. With a professional staff of 135, Westlake Reed Leskosky has offices in Cleveland, Washington D.C., and Phoenix, Arizona.

Media Contacts:      

Natasha Gullett, Hotel Indigo, [email protected], 770-604-5597                              

Tracey Bradnan, Cartwheel Communications, [email protected], 440-835-3038            

                              

Notes to Editors:

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is one of the world’s largest hotel groups by number of rooms. IHG owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, almost 4,000 hotels and more than 590,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world. The Group owns a portfolio of well recognised and respected hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites®, Candlewood Suites® and Hotel Indigo®, and also manages the world’s largest hotel loyalty programme, Priority Club® Rewards with over 37 million members worldwide.

IHG pioneered the travel industry’s first collaborative response to environmental issues as founder of the International Hotels and Environment Initiative (IHEI). The environment and local communities remain at the heart of IHG’s global corporate responsibility focus. IHG is the first major hotel group to have measured the environmental and carbon footprints of hotels that operate under our brands globally and is in the process of setting reduction targets.

With more than 1,600 hotels in its development pipeline, IHG needs to recruit around 150,000 people over the next few years to meet its global expansion plans.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales.

IHG offers information and online reservations for all its hotel brands at www.ihg.com and information for the Priority Club Rewards programme at www.priorityclub.com. For the latest news from IHG, visit our online Press Office at www.ihg.com/media

Ends