Is Hotel Indigo the right fit for convention center?

There is a wrinkle in the plan surrounding a hotel that will be built in conjunction with the new Wilmington Convention Center. Hotel Indigo was supposed to be Wilmington’s first boutique hotel, but the city wants to make sure they are the right fit. The skyline of Wilmington may be home to a shiny new boutique hotel much like its sister hotels in Dallas, Chicago and Houston, but the city of Wilmington wants proof that they're worth what they say they are. "Put your money where your mouth is; if you tell us you're going to do this, and you're willing to put up that kind of money, we as city council will assume that you'll perform, if you don't perform than the city of Wilmington will retain a million dollars,” said Mayor Saffo. Hotel Indigo, an umbrella of the hotel chain The Intercontinental, had until July 31st to prove they were financially capable of building and completing a hotel in conjunction with the city's new convention center. The city requested the hotel's developer provide a million dollars in financial security either in the form of a bond or letter of credit. To prove the developer has what it takes to open the hotel doors within three months of the convention center opening, the city still isn't convinced. "There are some planners who require that their hotel is adjacent to or beside or within walking distance of the convention center or meeting facility they're using,” said Kim Hufham of the Wilmington Visitors Bureau. Since the city and proposed hotel group will be working together to accommodate guests and convention goers, it makes sense to maintain a stable relationship. In this case, the city is giving Hotel Indigo one more chance. If this hotel group doesn't make the cut, the city is confident another group will make a proposal. After all, the city says the land surrounding the convention center is a hot piece of real estate. We tried to get in touch with the developer, Steven Arp of the Wilmington River Group, but had no luck. His attorney did speak with us, but had no comment on the situation.