InterContinental Hotels Group will open Kimpton Barcelona in the second half of 2019.

The first hotel for the brand in Spain, Kimpton Barcelona will be centrally located in the heart of the city’s old town near the famous La Rambla street and will feature 156 stylish rooms, a lobby lounge, an all-day dining restaurant and 250 square metres of event space.

The hotel will offer guests and locals a stunning rooftop and a swimming pool with unparalleled views of Barcelona’s city centre and the cathedral.

The neighbourhood surrounding the hotel boasts an eclectic mix of boutiques from local and international designers, and is within easy walking distance to the city’s must-visit attractions.

For this new opening in Barcelona, IHG is partnering with Casacuberta, a private company with more than 30 years specialising in the acquisition and transformation of properties in prime-locations across key European cities.

The company has hotels in Madrid, Barcelona and Geneva, as part of a diverse portfolio including assets in the residential, commercial, office and industrial and logistics sectors.

Kenneth Macpherson, chief executive of Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa at IHG, said: “Barcelona is one of the most popular city break destinations in Europe, attracting over 30 million tourists each year.

“We’ve seen in Amsterdam how well our boutique luxury offering has been received in Europe and this new signing provides more momentum for Kimpton’s global growth, following other recent signings in Frankfurt and Tokyo.

“We’re confident Kimpton’s heartfelt, personalised service and bold design will resonate well with this vibrant and buzzing city and expect more signings as we continue to take this brand to new markets around the globe.”

Founded in 1981 by Bill Kimpton, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants pioneered the concept of unique, distinctive, design-forward hotels in the United States.

The boutique luxury brand was acquired by IHG in 2015 and currently operates 67 hotels and 82 restaurants, bars and lounges in the United States, Caribbean and Europe.

Gonzalo Casacuberta, vice president of Casacuberta commented: “We are delighted to redevelop this outstanding property into a Kimpton hotel, a luxury brand with a unique offering which is a perfect fit in the heart of Barcelona’s old town.

“We are convinced this will contribute to improving the offer and landscape of our beloved Ciutat Vella even more.”