IHG plans to open the Hotel Indigo Madrid-Princesa, one of seven IHG boutique hotels opening in key cities across Southern Europe in the next three to five years.
The hotel is set to open this autumn in the Moncloa-Argüelles area, which is within walking distance of the city’s main business and leisure districts. Developed in partnership with Hotel Collection International, a Luxembourg-based third-party operating company that handles four IHG properties, the Indigo will have 100 guestrooms inspired by local culture and history, a restaurant, a fitness center and access to a rooftop with views of the city.
According to IHG, the move builds on Hotel Indigo’s growth as one of the largest boutique brands in the segment. Already established in 100 neighborhoods around the world, the team behind Hotel Indigo signed deals for 33 new hotels in 2018 and is now set to double the portfolio over the next three to five years.
In Southern Europe, there are Hotel Indigos in Madrid (Gran Via), Barcelona, Rome and Paris, with pipeline developments opening in Venice, Milan and Belgrade this year, Verona in 2020, and Gibraltar in 2021.
“The strong growth of openings and pipeline of our Hotel Indigo and Kimpton brands reflect the opportunity across the boutique-hotel sector, which is among the fastest growing in the industry,” said Eric Viale, managing director/Southern Europe, IHG, noting demand for boutique hotels—and experience-focused travel—has been on the rise across the region.
Together with its Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants brand, IHG’s boutique portfolio makes up almost 170 hotels globally, with nearly 120 more hotels in the development pipeline. Having doubled its number of signings in 2018, the Kimpton brand has secured a presence in 14 countries and is set to expand across Southern Europe with properties opening in Barcelona at the end of 2019 and Paris in Summer 2020.
As of December 2018, there are 186 IHG hotels with more than 3,000 rooms currently open across Southern Europe, 27 of which are in Spain, and 31 hotels in the pipeline.
IHG revealed its plans during the 19th WTTC (World Travel & Tourism Council) Global Summit in Seville, Spain, which brings together influential figures from around the world to address the challenges and opportunities facing the travel and tourism industry.