NEW YORK - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced that its Le Meridien brand will soon add Indianapolis to its rapidly growing North American portfolio. Le Meridien Indianapolis will debut in November 2014 following a $9.5 million renovation of The Historic Canterbury Hotel, a landmark property in the heart of downtown. Owned by Rockbridge and managed by Azul Hospitality, Le Meridien Indianapolis will feature a timeless chic design ethos that juxtaposes the hotel’s historic architecture with a contemporary, modern style.
The historic Canterbury site, dating back to 1858, was rebuilt in 1928 as a hotel infused with the charms of Canterbury, England. As part of the comprehensive renovation, Le Meridien Indianapolis will feature 100 modern guest rooms, local cuisine in a re-designed restaurant and lounge, an expanded fitness centre and more than 1,750 square-feet of upgraded meeting and event space.
“Le Meridien Indianapolis will bring a renewed energy to this historic landmark building, offering travellers a modern hotel experience in the heart of the city’s vibrant downtown,” said Allison Reid, Senior Vice President of North America Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “We are proud to expand our relationship with both Rockbridge and Azul Hospitality as we prepare to introduce this contemporary lifestyle brand to Indianapolis.”
Le Meridien Indianapolis will feature the brand’s signature Le Meridien Hub, which re-interprets the traditional lobby into a social gathering place, and further builds on the brand’s award-winning arrival experience and coffee culture. Le Meridien arrival consists of four elements: large-scale artwork in high impact areas; the sensory experience, illustrated through Le Meridien signature scent, sound and use of light; UNLOCK ART programme, featuring artist designed key card collections that offer access to Le Meridien affiliated contemporary cultural centers in the city; and a 24-hour curated soundtrack. The Hub at Le Meridien Indianapolis will also feature the signature Master Barista, a recently launched initiative to meet the growing demands of coffee lovers at every Le Meridien hotel worldwide. Master Baristas lead coffee-related initiatives at each hotel, serve as a coffee cultural ambassador, and maintain knowledge of current coffee trends within the destination.
“The major revitalization and rebranding of this special property will bring back the character of this hotel in a new and modern way,” said Jim Merkel, President and CEO of Rockbridge. “The rebranding coupled with the strength of the Starwood system, will position Le Meridien Indianapolis as the place to stay in Indianapolis.”
“We look forward to the debut of Le Meridien in Indianapolis as we continue to accelerate portfolio growth across North America,” said Brian Povinelli, Global Brand Leader, Le Meridien and Westin. “Since acquiring the brand in 2005, Starwood has made significant investments in redeveloping Le Meridien, which unlocks the destination for guests through the arts, culture and cuisine in key cities around the world.”
Le Meridien Indianapolis is walking distance to the Indiana Convention Center, Indiana Statehouse and the offices of numerous corporations including Eli Lilly, Brightpoint and Wellpoint. The hotel is convenient to the city’s theatres, museums, galleries and music venues, and a private entrance directly connects the hotel to the Circle Centre Mall, where guests can access the city’s climate-controlled, indoor Skywalk system.
