Boutique hotel planned for one of America’s oldest counties
ATLANTA – IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)], the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms, announces today plans for a 112-room Hotel Indigo in Basking Ridge, N.J., in Somerset County, home to many historical Revolutionary War landmarks. The new property will be a conversion from the Inn at Somerset Hills, originally built in 2000. Renovations on the four-story building will begin in June 2007, with an anticipated opening date in fourth quarter 2007.
The Hotel Indigo Basking Ridge is owned by New Generation Hospitalityand managed by New Generation Hotel Management under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.
„Hotel Indigo Basking Ridge will be a welcomed addition to our growing portfolio of eight open hotels and 40 in the pipeline,“ said Jim Anhut, senior vice president, Brand Development, the Americas- IHG. „We are proud to introduce this exciting branded boutique concept to Somerset and believe it will quickly become a centerpiece of the community.
Designed in distinctive Colonial style architecture, the Hotel Indigo Basking Ridge will have 109 over-sized guestrooms and three suites with kitchenettes. The property will be located in the heart of Central New Jersey’s Basking Ridge area of Bernards Township and within close proximity to popular metropolitan cities. Guests eager to visit surrounding destinations will be less than an hour from New York City and Philadelphia and just 30 miles from the Newark International Airport.
Visitors also have the option of golfing the day away or being pampered, as they will have convenient access to some of Basking Ridge’s best offerings, including fine restaurants and bars, the Bridgewater Commons Mall, a golf course, and day spa and salon.
„We are thrilled to welcome the Hotel Indigo brand to the historical region of Somerset, New Jersey,“ said Sujal Mehta, CEO, New Generation Hospitality. „Its well-situated location is an ideal setting for Hotel Indigo’s unique and inspired concept. We look forward to welcoming our first guests.“
The soul of Hotel Indigo’s retail-inspired concept is renewal – thoughtful changes that are made throughout the year to keep the hotel fresh, similar to the way retailers change their window displays. The renewal concept provides even the most frequent guest a unique experience with every stay. Hotel Indigo Basking Ridge will feature renewable elements such as vivid murals, area rugs, plush duvets and slip covers that will change periodically. Public spaces will be transformed seasonally through changing artwork, music, flora, murals and directional signage.
The new hotel 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-style showers; a Phitness studio with cardio equipment and free weights. The hotel will also offer high-speed Internet access in all guestrooms and wireless in the hotel’s public areas, as well as two meeting rooms with a total 2,000 sq. ft., perfect for business functions or special events. When Hotel Indigo Basking Ridge guests are relaxing at the hotel, they can take pleasure in the outdoor pool and covered patio.
Hotel Indigo Basking Ridge will offer guests the dining options they want, featuring gourmet health-conscious fare prepared quickly for the time-conscious traveler. The Golden Bean will showcase Hotel Indigo’s refreshingly unique approach to breakfast serving traditional morning favorites with a twist and Starbucks Coffee. With an emphasis on ever-changing seasonal ingredients, Phi will offer both tempting starters and entrees in the evening. The evening menu includes fresh salads, pizzettas, Panini sandwiches, and other trend forward entrees. Guests can dine in casual elegance within the intimate restaurant, while relaxing in one of the hotel’s oversized lobby chairs or in their room.
The Hotel Indigo brand is quickly expanding throughout North America, with eight locations open and 40 in the pipeline. 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.; and Hotel Indigo Sarasota, Fla. Future sites of Hotel Indigo hotels include Nashville and Knoxville, Tenn.; and Columbus, Ind. For more information on Hotel Indigo, or to make reservations, please visit http://www.hotelindigo.com/.
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 style savvy, lifestyle focused guests who desire affordable luxury, genuine 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, similar to the way retailers change their window displays. 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/.
Hotel Indigo participates in Priority Club Rewards. With more than 31 million members, Priority Club® Rewards is the first, largest and fastest-growing guest loyalty program in the hotel industry. Winner of the 18th Annual Freddie Awards hotel loyalty „Program of the Year“ and named „Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World“ by Global Traveler magazine, Priority Club Rewards offers more sought-after benefits and the greatest ease of use of any hotel loyalty program. In addition to flexible features like No Points Expiration and No Blackout Dates, members have more options for points redemption than any other hotel loyalty program, including redemption at more than 500,000 lodging establishments worldwide – even at rivals‘ hotels – through the industry-leading „Any Hotel, Anywhere“ reward, as well as the option to redeem points for airline miles on more than 40 partner airlines, for auto rentals, for gift certificates and for hundreds of products available in the Rewards Catalog. If the Rewards Catalog doesn’t have what a member is looking for, Priority Club Rewards is the only hotel loyalty program to offer members a Personal Shopper program that allows point redemptions for items not found in the Rewards Catalog.
Enrollment in Priority Club Rewards is free. Guests can enroll by logging on at priorityclub.com, by calling 1-888-211-9874 or by inquiring at the front desk of any of IHG’s 3,700 hotels worldwide.