Hotel Indigo Shanghai On The Bund To Dock At Shiliupu In May 2010
InterContinental Hotel Group will open its first Hotel Indigo in Asia Pacific in May 2010 at Shiliupu Dock at the southern end of the Bund in Shanghai.
IHG's first lifestyle boutique hotel brand in the region, Hotel Indigo is intended to offer guests a less formal and more individual hotel experience than the other upscale brands in IHG's portfolio — while retaining the overall IHG brand image. IHG says the brand is a new concept for the Group, and targets upscale travelers who seek an experience that incorporates local historic, cultural and natural elements. feel at home.
Hotel Indigo Shanghai on the Bund is located directly on the Huangpu River front, and its design reflects the proximity of the river and dock.
According to Keith Barr, the managing director of IHG Greater China, boutique properties are becoming increasingly popular within the region. However there is an inconsistency in the standards of the 'boutique' offerings available and so IHG see a huge opportunity for Hotel Indigo with the reassurance and consistent quality that comes from staying at a property that is managed by an international group. Barr added that it provides property owners with an attractive proposition to co-create a distinct property that benefits from a high returns model.
Bruce Ryde, the general manager of the hotel, commented that with its unique location on the river front and focus on local creativity and bespoke design, Hotel Indigo Shanghai on the Bund would offer visitors to Shanghai something quite different, creating a more varied environment that represents the diversity and very best of old and new Shanghai.
The hotel features 182 rooms, including 21 River View Suites and two Garden Terrace Suites with private terraces. All rooms feature complimentary Wi-Fi, Internet telephone, a 42-inch flat screen TV with DVD, a Bose music sound system, an iron and ironing board, and a 'laptop' safe.
For impromptu meetings the hotel offers the Sanctuary with dedicated relaxation areas, work spaces and social corners, refreshments and a cafe menu, with complimentary Internet access available throughout the area and wider hotel, while dedicated work stations and seating areas provide more comfortable business spaces.
For the active, the hotel also features a gym using the latest equipment, with private tai-chi and yoga classes available on request and a glass fronted infinity swimming pool situated on the seventh floor overlooking the Huangpu river.