IHG Prepares to Open Third Hotel Indigo in China

InterContinental Hotels Group will open the Hotel Indigo Tianjin Haihe on 15 September 2012 in the historic Chinese port city of Tianjin, just 27 minutes by bullet train from the Chinese capital of Beijing.

Occupying an entire triangular block once home to the German Consulate in the Former German Concession neighborhood, the hotel’s 11 individual villas pay homage to traditional Germanic architecture with red-brick facades and ornate cupolas. The newly-built villa-style buildings take inspiration from the old German Consulate, the former residence of a Russian businessman and a local church.

The buildings are arranged in a village-like setting overlooking an expansive courtyard garden – a private “neighborhood within a neighborhood” urban hotel concept.

Stepping inside, internationally renowned design firm Silverfox has created an inspiring and playful environment contrasting fresh contemporary design with distinctive local elements. Tianjin’s eclectic Orient-meets-European heritage and proximity to the Haihe riverfront have been subtly woven into the fabric of the design.

Spread across nine of the villas, the 96 entirely different guestrooms, including 10 suites, start at a generous 45 sqm and come in three distinctive styles: Old Cinema, Haihe Maritime Riverfront and European Luxury. These themes pay homage to aspects of Tianjin’s history and geography, from screening the first non-silent movie in China, to the Hai River that dissects the city, and the global influences of the city’s Concession-era past.

All rooms offer an extensive range of amenities, including high-tech entertainment systems, complimentary high-speed internet access, spa-style bathrooms and customized furnishings and artworks by local artists.

“Hotel Indigo Tianjin Haihe is something totally different for Tianjin,” said General Manager, Ringo Poon. “The hotel’s style, look and feel is not only fresh and exciting, but unique for Tianjin and China. The hotel has real distinct character, and takes at its heart, the best of Tianjin’s storied history and culture – something that Hotel Indigo represents.”

A taste of local flavor extends to the hotel’s neighborhood restaurant and bar. Albert’s café, named after Albert Kissling who opened the first foreign restaurant in Tianjin, features an eclectic mix of European dishes favorites steeped in local Tianjin history. Signature drinking destination Blaue Engel, a boutique beer house and eatery, opens to the street-front allowing guests to mingle with locals. Named after the first international movie to be screened in China and the first non-silent German movie, Blaue Engel is destined to become one of the neighborhood’s favorite after-work watering holes.

The basement is a wellness zone featuring a state-of-the-art FIT gym and 20-metre indoor heated pool with skylights to the garden above.

Hotel Indigo Tianjin also offers 222 sqm of multi-functional event spaces, including TJs on the third floor of the lobby villa, offering lounge chairs and chill-out areas, and three smaller conference rooms named Dehua, Lianhua and Wenhua for up to 30 people.

Hotel Indigo Tianjin Haihe is located on Jiefang South Road in the Xiaobailou CBD just a three-minute walk from the Xiawafang subway station, 10 minutes by taxi from Tianjin Train Station and a 25 minute taxi journey from Tianjin Binhai International Airport.

The hotel will be the third to open in Greater China for Hotel Indigo, following openings in Shanghai in 2010 and Xiamen in 2012.

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