The Indigo Road adding hotel management and consulting to portfolio

Listen to this article

Charleston-based company The Indigo Road Hospitality Group is venturing into the hotel management and consulting space.

Industry veteran Larry Spelts, a new partner in the group and president of the new division, called “lodging and lifestyle adventures,” will lead two new projects the company plans to launch this year. He met founder and managing partner Steve Palmer 20 years ago while working at Planters Inn on North Market Street, expanding the hotel and opening the Peninsula Grill.

“As we looked to begin this next chapter for The Indigo Road, the hotel industry was a natural fit, given our current concepts coupled with our passion for hospitality,” Palmer said. “Larry is a longtime friend, and I’ve respected his work over the years. I look forward to working alongside him as these next two projects come to fruition.”

The Indigo Road Hospitality Group owns and operates 24 restaurants in the Southeast, including properties in Charleston, Florence, Charlotte, Atlanta, and Nashville, Tenn. Charleston properties include Oak Steakhouse, O-Ku, The Macintosh, The Cocktail Club, Indaco, Mercantile and Mash and Bar Mash and The Cedar Room.

The company’s new division will add property management and operations, financial structures and revenue strategy, sales, marketing and design to its food and beverage operations, the release said.

“It is my experience that restaurant development and operations often present some of the greatest obstacles to a hotel’s success,” Spelts said. “With The Indigo Road’s expertise in food and beverage, we are poised to build an attractive portfolio of lifestyle-focused boutique hotels.”