Dart partners with IHG Hotels & Resorts to open Hotel Indigo® Grand Cayman

Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan (centre) was joined by Jolyon Bulley, IHG Hotels and Resorts CEO for the Americas (left) and Dart Executive Vice President, Development Gary Gibbs to cut a silver thatch rope, a nod to Cayman’s rich maritime heritage, to signal the opening of the hotel. (Image courtesy: Deep Blue Images)

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: Hotel Indigo® Grand Cayman marked its official opening with a thatch rope cutting ceremony on 9 May. The hotel is the newest property in Dart’s hospitality portfolio, featuring 282 guest rooms and a vibrant design that incorporates sustainability features with nods to the islands’ natural landscape and heritage.

Located steps away from the world-renowned Seven Mile Beach, the upper-midscale property marks Dart’s second hotel with IHG Hotels & Resorts, joining the award-winning Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, which is within walking distance of its sister property. It is also the first Hotel Indigo to be opened in the Caribbean region.

Dart Executive Vice President, Active Investments, Enrique Tasende, said plans for the hotel gained traction following an all-time high in visitor arrivals to the Cayman Islands in 2019, indicating rapid growth in the hospitality industry. 

Each guest room is designed to be a tranquil haven that blends the contemporary with the timeless. Image courtesy: Deep Blue Images)

He recalled that the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic a few months later brought doubts about whether to proceed with the project. “However, despite those initial difficult months for the world and with a high degree of uncertainty about the future of the travel industry, we had the determination to forge ahead with this idea.” 

Adding that much of the design work was done remotely because of COVID-19 restrictions, Tasende noted that once that stage of the work was completed, “[w]e encountered a new problem for both the hotel’s construction and the procurement process: the supply chain delay issue, which we are still experiencing to this day. That said, we are very proud that in just over four years, including almost two years of a total paralysis in the global tourism industry, we are here today to announce the opening of the first Hotel Indigo in the Caribbean.”

Dart Executive Vice President, Development Gary Gibbs indicated that more than 100 local construction companies, vendors and service providers were engaged, totalling more than 3.5 million manhours to safely complete the project.

“Against all the odds, during an unprecedented global pandemic and supply chain issues, I am so proud to be able to say that this amazing hotel was delivered largely on budget and on time,” Gibbs said, noting that the partnership with IHG was instrumental from the outset. “In the midst of charting recovery from the devastating impact of the pandemic to their global business, IHG was committed to ensuring the Caribbean’s first Hotel Indigo is a ‘must visit’ from day one.” 

Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman offers 282 guest rooms with views overlooking either Seven Mile Beach or the North Sound

Jolyon Bulley, IHG Hotels and Resorts CEO for the Americas region, who was on hand for the ceremony, championed the spirit of partnership with Dart, not just in the construction of the hotel, but in writing another successful chapter of guest satisfaction in the years to come.

“When making a brand decision, hotel developers and investors are looking for more than a flag. They want a partner who can support them with the tools to succeed. In our business, and particularly in hospitality, relationships and trust are key. That’s why we and our owners are built on a strong foundation of collaboration and focusing on exceptional guest experience, while playing a role in the local community and delivering asset value for our owners,” he said.

Meanwhile, Gibbs pointed out that the property’s design incorporates several innovative characteristics to reduce energy consumption. 

“Sustainable development isn’t just a checklist of energy features, it’s the vision of creating stronger foundations for tomorrow. As with every one of our projects, we seek to innovate and Hotel Indigo is no exception featuring the islands’ very first geothermal ice storage chiller system,” he said, explaining that the geothermal cooling system runs during the night to create ice, which is then used during the day to provide the air conditioning for the hotel, helping to reduce peak demand loads. 

Minister of Tourism and Ports, Hon. Kenneth Bryan, said he was both proud and excited that IHG partnered with Dart to introduce IHG’s fastest growing lifestyle brand to the Cayman Islands. 

“This magnificent Hotel Indigo property represents a strategic investment with benefits that will ripple throughout our community for decades – creating employment opportunities, stimulating visitor arrivals, and generating revenue for local businesses and attractions. Furthermore, beyond its economic impact, Hotel Indigo will serve as a platform to showcase our cultural heritage, culinary delights and artistic expressions, to visitors from around the world,” he said moments before cutting the rope, another nod to Cayman’s rich maritime heritage, to signal the opening of the hotel.

General Manager of Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman, Steven Andre, stated, “We are incredibly excited to share Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman with the world. From the initial planning stages to the essential details that our team has been finalising in recent weeks, it has been an incredible journey — and now, the real adventure begins, as our first guests arrive to experience our version of paradise.”

For further information visit https://grandcayman.hotelindigo.com/.