Hospitality.  Redefined.

BAYSTAR HOTEL GROUP OFFICIALLY OPENS FIRST HOTEL INDIGO IN TAMPA BAY AREA

TAMPA (March 3, 2009) — BayStar Hotel Group officially opened its 76-room Hotel Indigo – St. Petersburg Historic Downtown District after converting the 1920s era Heritage Hotel. With room rates starting at $199, this Hotel Indigo offers a different feel with affordable luxury to business and leisure travelers.

The lime green hotel with chocolate brown trim is located at 234 Third Avenue North in downtown St. Petersburg close to the thriving area’s restaurants, bars, shops, art galleries, Vinoy Park, the Pier, and Tampa Bay. “This is an optimal area for a Hotel Indigo,” said BayStar Hotel Group Chairman George Glover. “We are within walking distance of so many entertainment venues and businesses that it is easy for travelers to stay here without renting a car. We even have bicycles for guests.”

InterContinental Hotels Group introduced the Hotel Indigo in 2004 as a boutique brand to appeal to savvy travelers tired of beige-box hotels. With a lively color palate of lime green and fuchsia in the lobby and other public areas, the decor of the Hotel Indigo in downtown St. Petersburg is anything but beige. The lobby, front desk and other public areas will be transformed seasonally through aromas, music, artwork and directional signs, artwork, area rugs and slip covers.

Each guest room is unique, featuring a floor-to-ceiling mural, wood floors with area rugs, 32 or 42” LCD televisions, and spa-inspired showers. Modern furniture and lamps and bright colors accent the departure from the traditional hotel room. The Hotel Indigo – St. Petersburg Historic Downtown District has three floors of guest rooms, a “Phitness Studio” with weights and cardiovascular equipment, and a swimming pool.

Business travelers will appreciate the ergonomically correct desks and chairs, free wireless hot spots and in-room Internet access and a business center for faxing and photocopies. The spacious lobby sports a registration desk with seasonally transferred graphics, a fireplace and the brand’s Phi Cafe serving fast-casual gourmet fare at breakfast and dinner. In addition, there is 2,000 square feet of meeting space for business meetings, parties and weddings.

There are 24 Hotel Indigos open around the country, with the nearest in Sarasota, Fla. One opened earlier this month in Miami Lakes, and three more Florida Hotel Indigos are scheduled to open in the next few months in Jacksonville, Ft. Myers and Miami Beach. Hotel Indigo participates in IHG’s guest loyalty program, Priority Club Rewards. With 40 million members worldwide, Priority Club Rewards is the industry’s first and largest guest loyalty program. Guests can enroll for free by logging on at priorityclub.com, by calling 1-888-211-9874 or by inquiring at the front desk of this hotel or any of IHG’s more than 4,100 hotels worldwide. For more information or to make reservations, please visit www.hotelindigo.com or call 727-822-4814.

# # #

<-More News