The new Hotel Indigo London Kensington Earl’s Court is the world’s first hotel to grant Lord and Lady titles to its staff as part of their employment package. Following a revival of the Victorian era in the recent TV phenomenon Downton Abbey, each member of staff has been given a Lord of the Manor title or Lady of the Manor title with a dedicated land plot and historic coat of arms.

Set in West London, Hotel Indigo London Kensington Earl’s Court draws on its location among the Victorian terraces and this new initiative reverses the traditional societal roles from the era, which would have seen Lords and Ladies being waited on upstairs rather than behind the reception desk, downstairs.

Hotel Indigo is InterContinental Hotels Group’s (IHG) boutique brand and no two Hotel Indigo’s are the same – each property’s design and interior is inspired by its local surroundings.

Hotel Indigo London Kensington Earl’s Court’s interior is similarly inspired by the surrounding Victorian mansions, terraced houses and English gardens, whilst the townhouse style entrance hall and winding corridors are reminiscent of a Kensington residence. Newspaper prints from the late 1800s cover the walls of The Mansion Bar & Parlour, which features an irresistible bar menu that compliments the molecular and carbonised cocktails, champagnes and extensive range of English red, white, rose and sparkling wines. The Parlour is a restaurant with no menu whereby guests can choose their preferred price point and the chef will create a feast based on that day’s freshest locally sourced ingredients to complete the quintessentially British theme.

Mike Greenup, vice president marketing Europe, IHG, said, “Giving our guests the chance to be waited on by a suite of Lords and Ladies is a great way to bring to life the rich history of the area and amplify the local story of the Hotel Indigo London Kensington Earl’s Court story, which is set among the historic Victorian terraces in West London. Hotel Indigo London Kensington Earl’s Court is our 50th property to open globally and we plan to open a further 14 Hotel Indigos in Europe in the next three to five years.”

Lord Vincent Garrington, First Lord and General Manager of Hotel Indigo London Kensington Earl’s Court says, “To be in the presence of Lords and Ladies, let alone served by them is a great way for Hotel Indigo Hotel guests to appreciate the heritage of the area.  As every Hotel Indigo Hotel draws inspiration from its locality, we wanted to bring a flavour of the Victorian era to our guests, whilst ensuring they enjoy all the benefits of a boutique hotel in the 21st Century.”