InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), one of the world's leading hotel companies, today announces the development of a new InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts property in Bellevue, Washington, located in the Seattle metropolitan area. Developed by Bellevue-based Fortress Development, the new-build hotel is expected to open in Q4 2021 and will be part of a luxury, two-tower mixed-use development known as Avenue Bellevue.
Located at the epicenter of downtown Bellevue on the northwest corner of Bellevue Way and NE 8th Street, the InterContinental Bellevue at The Avenue hotel will feature 252 elegantly appointed guest rooms, and two bars and a restaurant from the team behind Buddakan NYC. Additional property features will include 14,250 square feet of meeting space including a grand ballroom and a junior ballroom, a business center, a full-service spa, and a fitness center.
This will be the first InterContinental hotel in the Pacific Northwest and continues IHG’s expansion on the West Coast, following recent hotel openings in downtown Los Angeles and San Diego. The hotel will bring a new wave of sophistication and luxury to Bellevue’s thriving downtown neighborhood.
Joel Eisemann, Chief Development Officer, Americas, IHG said: “This stunning new project from Fortress Development will be a beacon of luxury and elegance and will be an outstanding addition to our luxury portfolio as we grow the InterContinental brand in the Americas. We look forward to working with Amin Lakha and his team at Fortress on this project and making Bellevue the next destination for the world’s largest luxury hotel brand.”
Avenue Bellevue will be a one-of-a-kind project, utilizing the finest luxury materials and refined details from designers assembled from across the globe. The project will include 332 luxury residences and will feature 85,000 square feet of high-end retail, food and nightlife – including the sealife-focused restaurant, Angler, from three-Michelin-star chef Joshua Skenes. Fortress is designing the new project in partnership with Weber Thompson, CollinsWoerman and HBA.
The hotel will occupy the first 11 floors of the 26-story south tower, with 98 luxury “Estate Homes” above it. A second, 25-story west tower will be located across from the hotel and will include the remaining luxury residences.
With its unique location across Lake Washington, picturesque lake and mountain views, and proximity to a world-class airport and multiple business and cultural attractions, Bellevue is an ideal market to host business and leisure travelers from around the globe who are seeking sophisticated, luxury hotel accommodations and a high-end, personalized guest experience.
Fortress Development CEO and Principal Amin “Andy” Lakha said: “As a Bellevue resident for 20 years, I am deeply committed to the future success of the community – and Avenue Bellevue is the biggest and most important project of my life. We are creating something that will set a new standard for architecture, residential design and amenities and luxury hospitality in a mixed-use environment, not just for Bellevue but for the entire Pacific Northwest. Growing up in Pakistan, my entire world view of luxury was shaped by the InterContinental Hotel in Karachi, which at the time was the country's only five-star hotel. I am delighted to be able to introduce this revered luxury brand to the Pacific Northwest for the first time.”
Construction is anticipated to begin in mid-2019.
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, the largest luxury hotel brand in the world, is experiencing exciting growth in the United States, with recent openings in Houston, San Diego, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and Minneapolis. The brand also recently celebrated the opening of the 200th InterContinental hotel, the InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland, an 18-story resort built in an abandoned quarry. With more than 200 InterContinental hotels open worldwide and 60 in the global development pipeline, IHG continues to expand the brand’s portfolio in the most sought-after destinations around the world.
