The Indigo Road Hospitality Group and Larry Spelts, president of the company’s Lodging & Lifestyle Adventures division, will mutually part ways after successfully expanding the hospitality company into the hotel industry officially nearly four years ago at the America’s Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) in Los Angeles in 2020.
In 2019, upon ten years of success with restaurants and our next adventure of lodging on the horizon, Larry was the first person that I thought of collaborating with. A former colleague and friend, he had established a reputation within our industry of transforming and growing hospitality companies focused upon experience-driven hospitality, and independent and boutique hotels. Larry joined us at Indigo Road, and we quickly saw success in attracting and developing hotel opportunities. Steve Palmer, founder and chief visionary officer of The Indigo Road
In addition to building an experienced team of hotel professionals and guiding the division through the COVID-19 pandemic, Spelts spearheaded the acquisition and subsequent 2021 renovation and reopening of Skyline Lodge in Highlands, NC, a property that has garnered multiple accolades, earning spots on several prestigious “best-of” travel media lists. After Skyline, Larry led the planning of additional projects, including four properties scheduled to open in 2024.
Leadership Change to Align on Future Lodging
The rapid expansion of The Indigo Road’s Lodging & Lifestyle division in recent years, led by Spelts, renowned for his ability to drive significant portfolio growth, has sparked internal conversations about the challenge of sustaining the company’s distinctive culture amidst anticipated future growth. Balancing the fast pace of expansion with preserving the company’s core values, which have been crucial to its success, is a primary focus.
“As a result, our team has decided to prioritize current locations and forthcoming 2024 projects and pause on future new development opportunities,” Palmer said. “To maintain our mutual professional respect and years-long friendship, we came to this decision. Larry and I agree that this is the best course of action for us both and to preserve the successful and meaningful Indigo Road culture. I thank Larry for setting us on a trajectory of success in hotels, and I look forward to seeing his future successful endeavors.”
“These past four years have been the best and also the most challenging of my career, and if I have one take-away as I depart, it is that The Indigo Road’s culture is the core of its success,” Spelts said. “The pause in developing additional growth on the hotel side of the business is a good opportunity to ensure that the culture is successfully established at the new hotels which will enable a steady and measured addition of more hotels in the future.”
The Indigo Road Promotes from within following Spelts’ exit
Effective immediately, The Indigo Road has elevated Gabriel Perez to COO of Lodging & Lifestyle Adventures, ensuring a seamless transition in leadership for the company’s employees, owners, investors, and strategic partners.
Previously holding the position of senior director of lodging operations at The Indigo Road,
