In a move that will do nothing but instil confidence in its grand plan to regenerate the centre of Gloucester, the city council has revealed details of an exciting new anchor tenant at the heart of its £107 million The Forum development.
IHG Hotels & Resorts, which operates in cities including London, Berlin, New York and Hong Kong, will open the four-star 131-bedroom Hotel Indigo in the city centre space, complete with restaurant, conferencing facilities and ‘glamorous rooftop bar’.
Guests will have access to The Forum’s 9,000 square foot gym and business innovation hub, with hotel rooms also boasting views of a ‘bespoke private courtyard’, creating a destination the developer said will also unlock the potential for 'top-level rugby events' linked to Gloucester Rugby's nearby Kingsholm stadium.
The overall scheme, focusing on Kings Square and leading through to the former bus station, has been managed for the local authority by Bristol-based Reef Group.
Councillor Richard Cook, leader of Gloucester City Council, said the deal with IHG Hotels & Resorts, which operates more than 6,000 hotels globally, was of ‘huge significance’.
‘By taking space at The Forum, this international hotel group is signalling its confidence in The Forum and in Gloucester’s future as a destination for business and leisure visitors,’ said Cook.
It will provide not just jobs and help create a more vibrant city centre, but also ongoing revenue for the city council as landlord.
Esther Croft, development director at Reef Group, said: ‘The arrival of the city’s first upscale, branded hotel will unlock further regeneration opportunities in the city, for example, large conferences and top-level rugby events.
‘Gloucester will finally be able to offer the world-class accommodation these high-profile events demand.'
Willemijn Geels, vice president of development in Europe for IHG Hotels & Resorts, said the company was ‘really excited’ by the partnership.
The new hotel will sit alongside 135,000 square feet of Grade A office space currently being built by Kier Construction as part of The Forum and due for completion in summer 2024.
