One of the really cool things about writing this blog is being contacted by readers who (hopefully!) enjoy my posts. So far I have received many many comments both via email, phone (my phone number is on the “About Me” page) and of course comments on the bottom of my posts. Every once in awhile a great tip comes through and sometimes if it seems legitimate enough – I quickly post it on my blog.

This is one of those posts.

Last week I was contacted by Mike, a 25 year old (like me!) who is part of the Development and Acquisitions team for Indigo Hotels (No affiliation with the Indigo Hotels brand from Intercontinental Hotel Group). Indigo Hotels is located in Manhattan Beach, CA and is a hospitality company which has a few hotels under its belt. Mike and I have been talking and he told me how his company is working with the City of Long Beach to build an aloft right in downtown waterfront Long Beach. This aloft is being built as part of the City of Long Beach’s Redevelopment within the Downtown Redevelopment Area. Suprisingly, Mike said it would be no problem for me to talk about it and put up its rendering!

Until now this aloft has not been publicized. It’s not listed on Starwood’s new hotel site, nor is it on FlyerTalk’s comprehensive aloft/element/W hotel list.

The aloft Long Beach will be located in the lower half of the parking lot in the center of the screen.

I did some research on the location, and discovered that it will be on the Southeast corner of East Broadway and Long Beach Blvd which is currently a parking lot. Its a great location - two blocks away from the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, Shoreline Beach and Long Beach Aquarium. I’m guessing that construction will start by the end of this year and hopefully the hotel will open toward the end of 2009. Its supposed to be approximately 200 rooms, with a rooftop bar/lounge – swank! Since its more of an urban area rather than suburban, they were forced to build a mid-rise building, yet the rendering still reflects the aloft prototype and it also integrates what I call the “Hollywood” look.

So now a question for you: What are your thoughts on the design of this aloft? Mike asked for some feedback and I know that he’ll be looking at this post to see what the public thinks of it. Please comment away!

andrew@alconic-inc.com