InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has opened its first Hotel Indigo outside of North America in Paddington, London.

The 64-bedroom Hotel Indigo London Paddington – a converted Georgian townhouse – is owned by London Town Hotels.

IHG also announced it planned to open three more Indigo sites in the capital by 2012 – a 38-room hotel on Cannon Street, a 43-room site on Philpot Lane and a 51-room property on Kensington Church Street.

Andy Cosslett, chief executive of IHG, said: "Hotel Indigo combines the feel of a boutique hotel with the benefits of a large hotel group, including our reservation systems and loyalty programme. The brand has been a success in the Americas and we are confident we can grow it around the world.

"Hotel Indigo suits converting existing buildings as each hotel is designed to be different. Conversions generally require less financing and can be up and running more quickly than new build hotels, which is an attractive option for owners given the current economic conditions."

Hotel Indigo has 21 hotels open in North America and 56 hotels in the pipeline across the world.