A familiar round tower on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh is slated to return to the hospitality market as Hotel Indigo Raleigh following a comprehensive makeover. The 19-story property, a longtime presence on the city skyline, is scheduled to reopen in October 2026 after a $36 million renovation program. The building, originally constructed in 1969 and formerly operated as a Holiday Inn, is being repositioned as a boutique hotel aimed at both business and leisure guests.
The ownership acquired the asset in 2021, setting the stage for a multi-year effort to modernize the property while maintaining its recognizable exterior profile. Plans call for the facade and overall circular form of the tower to remain largely intact, preserving its role as a local landmark along Hillsborough Street. Inside, however, the hotel is undergoing a near-complete overhaul, with almost every interior component slated for renovation or redesign.
Upon completion, Hotel Indigo Raleigh is expected to offer 204 updated guest rooms and suites, reflecting a more contemporary approach to design and functionality. The reimagined accommodations are being positioned to serve a mix of corporate travelers and visitors drawn to the city for leisure, events, or university-related activities. The interior redesign is intended to align the property with the boutique standards associated with the Hotel Indigo brand.
Plans for the ground floor include a new cafe and gathering space that will function as an informal hub for guests and visitors. In addition to activating the street level, the hotel will incorporate modern meeting and hospitality amenities to support business-oriented demand as well as social functions. These upgrades are part of a broader effort to refresh the property while keeping it competitive within Raleigh’s evolving lodging landscape.
One of the building’s most notable features, its penthouse-level hospitality venue, will continue to play a central role in the repositioned asset. The 19th-floor cocktail lounge and event space, described as the highest hospitality venue in Raleigh, is designed to serve as a destination for private events, celebrations, and social gatherings. This upper-level venue, combined with the building’s distinctive architecture and full interior renovation, underscores the property’s transition from a legacy Holiday Inn to a branded boutique hotel offering under the Hotel Indigo flag.
