InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced the signing of two EVEN Hotels properties, confirming locations for the highly-anticipated first hotels and continuing development momentum for the holistic wellness brand.

The hotels, located at 1775 Rockville Pike in Rockville and 426 Main Avenue in Norwalk, are strategically located in major feeder markets for Washington, DC and New York City, and are well-suited to meet the demands of the large population of wellness-mined people living in and travelling to those areas.

“We are excited to add these two new properties to our pipeline, and continue the development momentum for the EVEN Hotels brand, beyond New York City, in two strong, strategic markets.

“Locating the hotels in Rockville and Norwalk, both affluent communities with a high wellness-minded resident and traveller base, firmly establishes our wellness-focused brand near major markets where the existing IHG family of brands already has a broad footprint,” said Kirk Kinsell, president, the Americas, IHG.

“The reactions we have seen and heard from consumers, our business partners and within the hotel industry since introducing the brand support that EVEN Hotels is the right brand, meeting the right need within the mainstream lifestyle category for today’s travellers.”

The properties will be conversions of existing structures, designed to the unique specifications of the EVEN Hotels brand in order to offer a consistent holistic wellness experience.

Both will feature flexible public workspaces; dining and social areas; natural outdoor spaces; in-room fitness elements; a state of the art, three-zone gym and flex space for small group fitness classes; as well as design and technology elements to help guests maintain the balance they desire.

The square foot EVEN hotel in Rockville will feature 167 guest rooms and seven guestroom floors, while the Norwalk property will feature 129 guest rooms and four floors.

They are expected to open in early 2014.