Bits: Hotel Indigo Coventry opens, IHG’s voco on Dubai’s The World, Cathay launches Barcelona

News in brief:

Hotel Indigo opens in Coventry

IHG’s Hotel Indigo brand has carved out a successful niche in becoming the best hotel in 2nd tier regional cities across the UK.

Head to Durham, Exeter, Stratford, Chester etc and the Hotel Indigo is likely to be your best bet – and be stylish with it. It is filling the gap that Malmaison and Hotel du Vin used to occupy in their prime.

The latest Hotel Indigo opened this week in Coventry.

It is a new-build hotel, which is fairly unusual for Hotel Indigo, with 100 rooms over five floors. It is based on Friargate. The images online, and the one below, have the usual cosy feel of a Hotel Indigo.

You can find out more on the hotel website here.

IHG’s voco to open ’24/7 party haven’ on Dubai’s The World Islands

In a sunnier part of the world, IHG has signed a voco hotel on The World Islands Dubai. The website is here.

The World Islands project has a chequered history. Virtually abandoned after the financial crisis 15 years ago, the project involves a series of islands – which together look like a map of the world – built off the Dubai coastline.

Individual ‘countries’ were sold to entrepreneurs or private individuals to develop.

The World is finally coming to life. This hotel was due to open this spring as Côte d’Azur Monaco Hotel but will now be voco Monaco Dubai.

It doesn’t sound like my sort of place:

“a premium entertainment destination and the first adults-only hotel on an island in Dubai, with eight suites, five party suites, and four suites with private pools, pledging an unrivalled party atmosphere.”

There’s more:

‘voco Monaco Dubai’ will be part of a self-sustaining holiday destination spanning six islands. Each island blends European architectural charm with world-class hospitality, embracing lifestyle and innovation along the tranquil beaches. Nestled within this breathtaking setting, The Heart of Europe also encompasses an innovative underwater living experience and a range of top-tier amenities, such as the climate-controlled Raining Street and the Coral Institute dedicated to preserving and optimising the marine ecosystem.

Are people really willing to stay on artifical islands, albeit with private beaches, off the coast of Dubai? We will see.

It is bizarrely cheap. For a week in late October 2024, rooms start at £117 per night. To pick a random comparison, Jumeirah Al Qasr (a beach hotel on the mainland) starts at £1,000 per night for the same week whilst the Jumeirah Beach Hotel next door, a bit more downmarket, is over £900 per night.

Click here to book or find out more.

Cathay Pacific returns to Barcelona

Finally, a quick note that Cathay Pacific is resuming flights from Barcelona to Hong Kong.

There will be three flights per week between 17th June and 26th October, departing on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

The service will use a three-class A350.

These flights can be booked on Avios and offer another alternative if you can’t find any availability from London on British Airways or Cathay Pacific.

You can check out timings and pricing on the Cathay Pacific website here.