Intercontinental Hotels Group moves into Tianjin with a new property of the brand Hotel Indigo which will open officially its doors by mid September in the historic Chinese port city of Tianjin.
TIANJING – IHG (Intercontinental Hotels Group), the world’s largest hotels group, just announced that Hotel Indigo Tianjin Haihe will be opened on September 15, 2012 in the historic Chinese port city of Tianjin, close to Beijing. This will be the third hotel open in Greater China for Hotel Indigo, the first globally-branded boutique hotel in the world, following openings in Shanghai in 2010 and Xiamen in 2012.
Hotel Indigo Tianjin Haihe is the only boutique hotel in the booming coastal destination, just 27 minutes by bullet train from the Chinese capital of Beijing. It is also the only hotel in China that offers villa-style accommodation in a city centre.
“Hotel Indigo Tianjin Haihe is something totally different for Tianjin,” says 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.”
Occupying an entire triangular block once home to the German Consulate in the Former German Concession neighbourhood, the hotel’s 11 individual villas pay homage to traditional German 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 truly unique private “neighbourhood within a neighbourhood” 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 cosmopolitan 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 artworks by local artists. A taste of local flavour extends to the hotel’s neighbourhood restaurant and bar, while a library and a wellness zone featuring state-of-the-art FIT gym and dazzling 20-metre indoor heated pool complete the range of services.
Hotel Indigo Tianjin Haihe is conveniently located in the downtown on the famed 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 BinhaiI international Airport.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
