22 April 2015

Hotel Indigo Set to Debut in the UAE

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) today announced the launch of its boutique hotel brand Hotel Indigo in the UAE with the signing of a management agreement with Sunflower FZE for a new, meticulously designed 285-room Hotel Indigo in Dubai.

Located in the upcoming Business Bay District – a large, master-planned, mixed use community – and a stone's throw from the world renowned Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall and the emerging Design District, the hotel’s design, food & beverage, amenities and services will reflect the area’s vibrant business, cultural and high-end residential community.  

Featuring an infinity edged pool boasting unparalleled views of the world’s tallest building, a fitness centre and meeting space, the hotel is set to cater to well-travelled guests looking for a unique and individual hotel experience combined with exceptional facilities, dining and great service. This is exactly what Hotel Indigo provides – the style and flair of a boutique hotel with the reassurance and quality that a leading hotel group offers.

Hotel Indigo is IHG’s boutique brand and each Hotel Indigo property is designed to reflect the local neighbourhood it is located in. From the design of the building to the hotel’s artwork and locally-inspired menus, each Hotel Indigo property is unique to its surroundings, so no two are the same. In addition, guests can look forward to immersing in stories of the neighbourhood through creatively crafted spaces reflecting the area's vibrant heritage – a key cornerstone of the brand.

An all-day dining restaurant, delicatessen, specialty restaurant and bar will provide guests and locals with a great neighbourhood dining destination in the heart of Dubai's Business Bay. The rooftop pool terrace, lounge, bar and restaurant will also provide relaxing spaces for guests to unwind in.

On entering the hotel, guests will be swept into the high energy vibe of Dubai Creek, which passes through Business Bay, as they are greeted by a large interactive map of the Creek. Guests will also feel the palpable buzz of The Dubai Mall with the hotel's statement window displays reflecting art installations and an electronic screen featuring fashion shows and local Dubai happenings.

The philosophy of bringing the local neighbourhood into the hotel extends to the uniquely designed suites which will take inspiration from the Dubai Design District which celebrates fashion, art and design.

Pascal Gauvin, Chief Operating Officer, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG, said: “Hotel Indigo is one of the fastest growing boutique hotel brands in the world and we know our guests love the unique neighbourhood story each Hotel Indigo property is designed to reflect. As one of the fastest growing cosmopolitan cities in the world, it has always been our plan to bring Hotel Indigo to Dubai and we are honoured to have been selected to partner with Sunflower FZE to develop their first hospitality project – and under the Hotel Indigo brand."

"When complete in 2017, we are confident Hotel Indigo Dubai Business Bay will be one of the preferred hotels amongst travellers to Dubai, whether they visit on business or leisure," he added.

Jitendra Bhatia, Director, Sunflower FZE added: “Dubai as an investment market has evolved tremendously over the four decades since we have been here. Travel and tourism has picked up pace and we are looking at a growing service economy which is in need of more hotel rooms to cater to a rising proportion of GCC and international travellers. This is our first foray into the hospitality space and IHG was a natural choice when we were looking for a reputable hotel company to partner with. We are very pleased to be developing the first Hotel Indigo in the UAE and look forward to developing a great and inspired hotel experience for our guests."

IHG currently has 18 hotels open in the UAE, with another 10 hotels due to open in the next three to five years. Hotel Indigo Dubai Business Bay will be the first Hotel Indigo in the UAE and second in the Middle East, joining Hotel Indigo Riyadh King Abdullah Financial District in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which is set to open in 2016. The company opened the first hotel under the brand in South East Asia – Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road – earlier this year.

There are currently 62 Hotel Indigo hotels around the world and 62 hotels in IHG's global pipeline due to open in the next three to five years.

Ends

About IHG®

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organisation with a broad portfolio of hotel brands, including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, HUALUXE® Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, EVEN™ Hotels, Holiday Inn® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites®. In January 2015, IHG acquired Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, the world's leading boutique hotel business.

IHG manages IHG® Rewards Club, the world's first and largest hotel loyalty programme with over 84 million members worldwide. The programme was relaunched in July 2013, offering enhanced benefits for members including free internet across all hotels, globally.

IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns over 4,800 hotels and more than 710,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries, with over 1,200 hotels in its development pipeline. Over 350,000 people work across IHG's hotels and corporate offices worldwide.

In January 2015 we completed the acquisition of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, adding 62 hotels (11,300 rooms) to our system size and 16 hotels to our development pipeline.

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

Visit www.ihg.com for hotel information and reservations and www.ihgrewardsclub.com for more on IHG Rewards Club. For our latest news, visit: www.twitter.com/ihg, www.facebook.com/ihg or www.youtube.com/ihgplc.