OLIVIA GORDON, Reveille Radio News Reporter:
Hotel Indigo, a 93 room boutique style hotel is opening up down town in February. While there are more than 30 Indigos open in the US and abroad, this is the first one in the state. And according to hotel director of sales Michael Nelms, one different from the rest.
MICHAEL NELMS (Hotel Indigo Director of Sales): One Hotel Indigo will never look like another Hotel Indigo, […] they are all very different, but still have the basic consistency of the Hotel Indigos […] One of their hallmarks is really building their neighborhood into the – in the hotel […] We really want our guests to feel like they are part of the neighborhood.
GORDON: With photographs throughout the rooms depicting nearby Arsenal Park, the hotel does seem to be relying on local culture. And in the first floor bistro and bar, known as the King Bistro, local flavors come to play a key role as well.
NELMS: We’re doing River Roads coffee, it goes back to the local, keeping everything local […] We will feature Tin Roof beer, which is literally like a mile away.
GORDON: Hotel developer John Sneider also plans on bringing the area’s distinct history out within the hotel.
JOHN SCHNEIDER (Hotel Indigo Property Developer): We’re talking to a gentleman, who, as his first job in 1955 was a bell captain operating the elevators and he’s probably going to be our door man here, so we’re trying to integrate the heritage of the building within it. We are listed on the National Historic Registry and there is going to be a plaque that is going to be on the door.
GORDON: And as Hotel Indigo General Manager Francis Grayson says, there is plenty of history to work with.
FRANCIS GRAYSON (Hotel Indigo General Manager): The building is a hundred years old. Eighty-five, ninety years old? It was a motor car company showroom as its first interpretation. There was a vibrant downtown once in Baton Rouge, and it’s kind of all coming back around again.
GORDON: To see more from the Hotel Indigo, including a video tour of guest rooms and suites, log on to lsureveille.com.
Olivia Gordon, Reveille Radio News.