Denver is well-known for being a , and its newest hotel only boosts that reputation.
, which officially opened its doors Friday near Union Station, even has a resident canine ambassador.
Barkly, a friendly senior golden retriever with , loves to welcome guests, said his owner, general manager Amy Healy.
The 180-room InterContinental Hotels Group property hopes to attract many guests as it enters a competitive downtown hotel market that has added more than 1,600 rooms since 2010.
Located inside , the new 12-story mixed-use building at 1801 Wewatta St., Hotel Indigo is the first hotel property to open in the booming Union Station neighborhood since in 2014.
More are on the way, though, including right off the train platform and at 20th and Chestnut Place.
In 2016, hotel occupancy in downtown Denver fell slightly, down to 77.1 percent from 77.8 percent in 2015, according to data from the year-end Rocky Mountain Lodging Report.
Average daily rate and revenue per available room, two other key performance metrics for hotels, rose in 2016, though. The average daily rate for downtown hotels was $183.67 in 2016, up from $179.45 a year earlier.
“From the murals on our walls to our passionate and knowledgeable family members, Hotel Indigo Denver authentically speaks to its neighborhood,” Healy said. “We’re looking forward to providing a truly exceptional and local experience for years to come.”
Upon entering the hotel, guests are greeted not only by Barkly but an original cherry wood and steel art installation by that presides over the hotel’s rotundalike lobby.
Subtle local touches continue throughout the hotel, including photo murals of Colorado mountain landscapes, wildlife and historic mining towns. A historic Denver plat map is blown up on the wall behind the registration desk.
Guest rooms boast city views, hardwood floors, polished concrete ceilings and sliding barn doors in place of standard bathroom doors. Corner suites look out over Coors Field.
Healy described the decor as “delicate modern.”
“Independent hotels, they do a lot of in-your-face for the sake of being in your face. We’re not that,” she said. “It’s more experience focused. The rooms are comfortable and functional.”
Amenities include 1,188 square feet of meeting and event space — including a boardroom named after Gov. John Hickenlooper — structured parking and an on-site restaurant, , set to open Jan. 28. Four-legged guests can enjoy treats, canine cocktail hours and dog-walking services.
The building is also home to four stories of office space. Confirmed office tenants include law firms Husch Blackwell and Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott. Healy said the hotel expects to welcome business and leisure travelers.
