HOTEL INDIGO

Hotel Indigo will be an excellent addition to the Uptown area as a boutique hotel that showcases “best in class” local flair that only Columbus can offer. With 7 stories, full service Farm-to-Table restaurant and bar, and 2,500 square feet of meeting and ballroom space, Hotel Indigo will be the “go-to” place for both locals and vacationers alike.

By Marla Caligaris

Hotel Indigo is a global boutique hotel brand that delivers a refreshing and inviting guest experience without losing the atmosphere of the local community. Despite being a global brand, no two Hotel Indigo properties are alike because each Hotel Indigo draws inspiration from the neighborhood, culture, popular trends in
food, drink and design to create a warm and vibrant reflection of its unique local community. And Uptown Columbus definitely has all of this to offer and more. Construction for the boutique hotel began in October 2019 and is located between 13th and 14th Streets next to the Mathews D. Swift Park and The Rapids apartment complex. The hotel is targeted to open later this year and SVM had the opportunity to ask Pace Halter, President and COO of W.C. Bradley Real Estate, some questions about what to expect from this new and exciting opportunity for Columbus.

Marc Olivié, Meredith Latham, Pace Halter and Skip Henderson.

Could you tell us about Hotel Indigo Columbus and the overall boutique hotel concept? Hotel Indigo is one of the premier boutique brands in the world. We have been working for several years to bring them to Columbus
and we couldn't be more excited to have announced our partnership with IHG and Hotel Indigo. Hotel Indigo is entirely designed around the “Neighborhood Story” which is what makes each and every Indigo different and unique to the community in which they operate. Given the amazing history of Columbus, we were particularly excited about this aspect of the design and the fact that we can showcase that Columbus history on a significant stage.

What kind of amenities will be available to guests at Hotel Indigo? Some of the amenities we will be featuring are: The premier Rooftop bar and Restaurant in Columbus Ga., full service Farm-to-Table restaurant and bar on the lobby level, including 2,000+ square feet of outdoor dining overlooking the Riverwalk and the Chattahoochee River. The hotel will have 7 stories, 75,000+/- square feet, 107 guest rooms (including 6 King suites), 2,500+/- square feet of meeting and ballroom space including a private event outdoor terrace overlooking the Chattahoochee, plus a 24-hour fitness center and heated swimming pool.

What features of Hotel Indigo sets it apart from other hotels in Columbus?
Location, Location, Location at the foot of the 14th street pedestrian bridge with unimpeded views for almost 180 degrees both up and down the Chattahoochee as well as overlooking Mathews D. Swift Park and just one block off Broadway and the heart of Uptown, it is the premier location in Columbus for what will be Columbus’s premier Hotel.

Views – The location affords guests of the hotel, restaurant, and rooftop bar stunning views of the Chattahoochee in both directions. Design and Finish –Indigo’s design driven program affords us the ability to develop a “best in class” hotel with a particular focus on all things local. Art, lighting and various other
finishes throughout the hotel will be locally sourced offering guests a completely unique
hotel experience.

Dining and Entertainment - will be second to none in the Columbus market. Again, harkening back to the Local driven nature of the Indigo Brand our Dining and Entertainment will focus on local vendors for everything from coffee and teas to breweries. Additionally, and perhaps most exciting will be our partnership with W.C. Bradley Farms. The W.C. Bradley Farms operate one of the largest certified organic farms in the state of Georgia, just 30 minutes south of Columbus. Our goal is to have the Farms provide as much grasslevelfed meats, cheeses and eggs as well as fresh produce and honey as possible.

Amenities – 24-hour fitness center, 2,500 sq. ft. of meeting and ballroom space, heated swimming pool, lobby restaurant and bar, rooftop restaurant and bar, access to both Mathews D. Swift Park and the Columbus Powerhouse for weddings and other private events tied to the hotel.

Staff and Training – The powerful combination of Indigo brand standards and the training of our management company Maximum Hospitality, will allow the hotel to offer a service level that is tops in the
market.

How have you seen the Columbus hotel market change over the years? What do you expect in the future? Interestingly, the Uptown hotel market in Columbus hasn’t changed at all in recent years, which I think has been to Columbus’s detriment. Columbus has one of the finest Trade and Convention Centers in the Southeast, but we have lacked sufficient hotel rooms to support the facility, thus our trade and convention business has suffered significantly. I believe with the addition of the Hotel Indigo and the other new hotels in the Uptown area as well as the pending expansion of the Marriott, Columbus is going to see an explosive growth in our convention business. Additionally, we spent considerable time focused on the brand we wanted to bring to Columbus that was best, not only for us as the owner, but also for the city as a whole. Having the Hotel Indigo brand located in Uptown will raise Columbus to a new level as a regional destination for both business and leisure travelers as well as the convention traveler. We are also starting to see a significant increase in hotel usage driven by our burgeoning film and television industry, who regularly need large numbers of rooms for extended periods of time that are of a quality sufficient for “name brand” actors, actresses, directors and producers, we believe Hotel Indigo can fill this requirement.

How many rooms will Hotel Indigo offer? What are their features and price range? Hotel Indigo will offer 107 guest rooms, including 6 King suites. Our current projected starting nightly rate is $165-$170 per night.

For a first time visitor to Columbus, what do you recommend they do? I think this depends on when they are visiting and how much time they have. In the warmer months, Columbus offers some of the best outdoor activities in the Southeast, from world class whitewater rafting in the middle of Uptown, to the only interstate zipline in the country, I believe, and almost 60 miles of hiking, biking and jogging trails, there is no shortage of outdoor events and concerts as well. The Arts and Entertainment community is a point of pride for Columbus, so “must visits” would include the National Infantry Museum, the Columbus Museum, the Coca-Cola Space Science Museum, The National Civil War Naval Museum, The River Center for the Performing Arts, and the State Theatre of Georgia, the Springer Opera House. Lastly, I would encourage anyone visiting to just get out and walk around Uptown; the restaurants, bars and entertainment are outstanding. With almost 10 chef driven restaurants and venues like the Banks Food Hall, Columbus is quickly developing an exceptional food scene.

Will the rooftop bar and the farm to table restaurant be open to the public? Yes, both the restaurant and rooftop bar will be independent operations and will be open to the public during all standard operating hours, as well as the rooftop bar may be available for private events. When will this exciting WC Bradley Company project be completed? Right now we are on schedule to open the Hotel Indigo before the end of
this year. SVM