Hotel Indigo coming to San Diego, featuring all kinds of green

The all-new Hotel Indigo San Diego will open this summer adjacent to San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter, a neighborhood known for its energetic business and entertainment district. Launched in 2004, Hotel Indigo caters to guests who desire affordable luxury, personal service and an alternative to traditional hotels without sacrificing any of the business amenities they have come to expect.

Currently under construction, Hotel Indigo San Diego-Gaslamp Quarter is located at 950 Island Ave., just one block from Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres, and less than a mile from the San Diego Convention Center. The 12-story, 210-room property, including five suites, will feature a rooftop terrace with a reflection pool, fire pits, soft seating and an excellent view of the San Diego skyline and baseball games at Petco Park. The property will be managed by IHG’s Americas operations division, The Hotel Management Group.

Hotel Indigo San Diego will serve as a west coast flagship for IHG and will mark the brand’s second property in California, along with the Hotel Indigo Ontario Rancho Cucamonga. There are currently 22 Hotel Indigo properties open in North America and the U.K. with more than 60 hotels under development, either in the pipeline or in final negotiation.

“The introduction of Hotel Indigo to San Diego – one of the largest cities in the U.S. – and the Gaslamp Quarter is a testament to the brand’s strategy to grow in key, upscale markets by providing an intimate and unique guest experience,” said Janis Cannon, vice president, global brand management, Hotel Indigo. “We are confident that Hotel Indigo San Diego will capture the vibrant atmosphere of the Gaslamp Quarter and complement the existing galleries, boutiques, and restaurants.”

Through the brand’s Interpret Indigo design platform, Hotel Indigo San Diego’s interior and exterior design will reflect the culture, character and geography of the surrounding area. A local San Diego artist – Lisa Schirmer – will install a modular wall mural using square and quarter-circle glass panels on the exterior of the building to mimic the indigo waves and ripples of the Pacific Ocean. Also, locally-inspired photographic murals of California poppies and surf boards in hues of warm yellow and pacific blue will fill the lobby and bar.

In keeping with the brand’s commitment to the environment, Hotel Indigo San Diego is striving to achieve LEED certification. In addition to responsible site management, the adoption of green building practices and soil rehabilitation, the hotel will feature a ‘green roof’ with native species of grasses and shrubbery that will reduce heating and cooling and better manage stormwater runoff.

“Leveraging our management experience from Hotel Indigo properties such as Atlanta and Chicago, we are excited about the opportunity to apply the insight we’ve gained over the past years to the San Diego property,” said David Greydanus, senior vice president, North America Operations, IHG. “We look forward to showcasing the Gaslamp Quarter and providing a truly unique lodging experience to our guests.”

The Hotel Indigo San Diego will feature signature design elements including cozy, airy and inviting guestrooms with oversized beds, plush bedding with throw pillows, hardwood-style flooring with area rugs, signature murals, and spa-inspired showers, a ‘Phi’tness Studio with cardio equipment and free weights, and Phi, an on-site casual gourmet restaurant. Through Hotel Indigo’s Seasonal Renewal program, thoughtful changes will be made throughout the hotel to ensure even the most frequent guest has a distinctive and engaging experience with each and every stay. In public spaces, the scent, music, artwork, murals and directional signage will change to reflect the season, while guestrooms will periodically be refreshed with new murals, area rugs and furniture slip covers.

Last week, IHG officially opened the doors of Hotel Indigo London Paddington – the first Hotel Indigo outside North America – and announced a deal to open three more properties in the city. Contributing to its global footprint, IHG will open Hotel Indigo Shanghai on the Bund in Shanghai, China in time for the Shanghai Expo in 2010. In North America, future Hotel Indigo properties are scheduled to open in New York City, New Orleans, St. Louis, Toronto and Charlotte, N.C.