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Hotel Indigo is coming to Barbados

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We rarely publicise hotel ‘signings’, because in many cases the hotel never actually opens, or opens under a different – usually lower – brand to the one originally promised due to budget cuts.

You may remember our article on the new Radisson RED hotel at Gatwick Airport. This had previously been announced as both a Moxy and a Hyatt Place before eventually opening under the Radisson flag (website here). The fact that this was a converted Travelodge may have accounted for the numerous changes of heart.

Hotel Indigo Barbados

I am especially nervous of discussing a project in Barbados, which has historically been a place where new hotel ideas come to die. When we were there last year I took a boat tour which passed the quarter-built remains of what was meant to be a Four Seasons, now overgrown …..

Anyway …. the good news for anyone who like the idea of Barbados but doesn’t like the idea of its hotel rates is that IHG will be opening a Hotel Indigo resort. It was mentioned in IHG’s first half results, released on Monday. The project does seem quite well advanced so I am fairly confident that it will happen.

At present, hotel redemption options are limited to the ex-Elegant Resorts properties bought by Marriott (but still not refurbished, so take care) and the Hilton Barbados, reviewed briefly here by a reader, which is on the edge of Bridgetown and not really your idea of a tranquil Caribbean paradise.

The Hotel Indigo project is on the south coast, on the site of the demolished Caribbee Hotel in Christ Church. I managed to find a picture from, of all places, the company which is manufacturing the rooms as off-site modular units. There is no opening date at present.

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Comments (16)

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  • Jonathan says:
    11 Aug11 August 06:09

    Rob, is that your way of saying don’t stay at an elegant resort hotel? I’ve got a week long redemption booking for the Tamarind next year and you’ve got me concerned?

    • Anita says:
      11 Aug11 August 08:39

      I’m got flights booked for next year & looking at the Tamarind or the House! Any suggestions appreciated please – ideally all inclusive as I know eating out all the time is very expensive. Thanks

      • Anita says:
        11 Aug11 August 16:57

        Thanks Rob, Will look further at The House and also look at some non AI hotels. They seem better!

    • Rob says:
      11 Aug11 August 08:55

      I’d check reviews. Some – like the one Rhys stayed at – are better than others.

    • Graham Walsh says:
      11 Aug11 August 21:34

      We stayed at the Elegant adults only next to the Tamarind just before covid and it was fine. Went to various restaurants to eat in the evening. Probably a lot has changed since. It was when I was there it was announced that Marriott took over from memory.

  • Olly says:
    11 Aug11 August 06:37

    Rob, how comes you booked the Kimpton Paris after you gave it such a woeful review, and said you still preferred the IC?

    • Rob says:
      11 Aug11 August 08:53

      Fair point. The reason is that I MUST be in Paris on a certain date, with my kids, in October, in a hotel which is convenient for both Eurostar and the express bus to the airport. Cash rates are through the roof. As I’ve got the kids and its a quick trip, I want a hotel I know. Le Grand had no reward nights. For 45,000 points – which won’t even get me a Holiday Inn Express usually – I’ll take the Kimpton x 2 rooms for one night.

  • yorkieflyer says:
    11 Aug11 August 08:29

    Wow and that’s an artist’s idyllic view of what the new Indigo will look like! Might be fine for a city centre but a modular high rise with not properly beach front doesn’t look like my idea of a Caribbean holiday.
    Agree about the Hilton Barbados , terrible location and probably rammed with Americans. There’s also a Radisson in an even worse location further on the way into Bridgetown

  • jjoohhnn says:
    11 Aug11 August 10:48

    So what did happen with the Radisson Red Gatwick? Perhaps an interesting twist now is that the website says “This property is temporarily closed until further notice. Please check back for future updates.” 🙂

  • Paul says:
    11 Aug11 August 13:31

    This is what the old Caribbee hotel looked like.. so similar kind of design in the new one but obviously nicer!.

    https://nvestestates.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/img-20210211-wa0005.jpg

    Main problem is there isnt much room between the road on one side and the sea / boardwalk on the other side..

  • Roberto says:
    11 Aug11 August 13:46

    The Barbados Hotel won’t be ready just yet , I was there in January and witnessed it getting demolished so don’t hold your breath for an opening date.

    And the reason it was finally demolished was a speight of robberies and attacks that was linked to gangs hiding out in the ruins of the old hotel.

    FWIW Barbados hotel developments move at a glacial pace and renders often bear no resemblance to the finished product.

  • James says:
    11 Aug11 August 16:11

    Went to Lyon for the first time last week and would highly recommend. Incredibly clean, wonderful restaurants (high end and traditional) and a decent enough flight with BA. Went for a specific restaurant but would go again in a heartbeat.

    (Not sure when it was off the schedule as we flew back from there on Wednesday to Heathrow.

  • Brian78 says:
    11 Aug11 August 20:04

    “ Heathrow handled 6.3 million passengers last month, nearly 20 per cent below pre-pandemic levels”

    “ It is indicating that in this month and the next another 9.7 million passengers will go through its terminals, which would be more than 30 per cent down on the 14.4 million that did so in August and September 2019.”

    Pretty disastrous figures.

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