Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown ~History, Art & Hospitality

Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown is breaking stereotypes by being the only hotel in the region to have a dedicated art manager. This is in line with Hotel Indigo’s pledge to make art accessible. I had the pleasure of getting to know their charismatic art manager, Astrid Lesuisse during one of her guided art tours. Intrigued by her unique role I was keen to discover more.

So tell me, Astrid, when did you first identify your interest in art?

At a very young age. I have always had creative ideas and the need to express myself through art and craft, which led me to choose Fine Arts as an extra course in High School to nurture my creativity and bring my ideas to life. When I was studying for my bachelor's degree in Art History, I used to love taking my family to museums and art galleries, or I should say dragging them as I was the only one interested in art and attracted by it. So, I would transport them through time with funky anecdotes to tell for each painting. This would show them how fun art can be and I was thrilled to offer them a one-of-a-kind experience that they would enjoy and remember. Making art accessible and celebrated by all has been one exciting mission for me ever since.

Who inspired you to delve deeper into the art world?

My family was my first inspiration. Although none of my parents, sisters or brother were into art, they knew I had it in me, and they always encouraged me to follow this path. But it is when I first traveled out of my home country, France, to Vancouver, Canada that it clicked. Defined by its artist-run spaces and institutions, Vancouver's art scene is about community above all else. My determination led me to work with the Federation of Canadian Artists where I was exposed to managing fine arts and curating and supervising numerous art exhibits by artists such as Joanne Hastie, Caroline Dahlmanns, Perry Haddock, and William Liao who inspired me to keep sharing my passion, knowledge, and expertise.

How did you hear about Hotel Indigo and the position you hold?

I had the chance to meet one of the owners of Hotel Indigo at the art gallery where I used to work as a Business Development Manager. We both strongly believe it is essential to empower and sustain global cross-cultural dialogue, so this collaboration was crystal clear, it was born very naturally. It is a truly unique position in the hospitality industry that was custom-made by the hotel for me to become the dedicated person to lead all art initiatives and ensure every guest can enjoy new experiences through art.

What does the role exactly entail and how is it unique to hotels?

As Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown’s resident Art Manager, I have created a vibrant and supportive platform for the arts to thrive and for creative minds to promote their talent. I work towards making art accessible and celebrated by all while introducing a new stream of revenue thereby supporting the organization’s commercial performance. Furthermore, through the art exhibitions, activations, and collaborations that I curate I aspire to contribute to Dubai's growing prominence as a leading cultural and arts hub. Let's not forget we’re very much a commercial entity, I have to hit my budget! Art is our most unique revenue stream in the hotel and this role was created for the hotel to monetize our biggest USP- our art offering and I’m really proud of how successfully this has been done, in such a short space of time!

Prior to hotel life, what vocations did you have?

Before joining Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown, I gathered international fine art experience by curating numerous art exhibits in Vancouver before landing straight to the region’s largest art fair Art Dubai to build and maintain sustainable partnerships with corporates.

A museum, an art gallery, or an art fair are clear destinations for art enthusiasts. When entering an art gallery, you know what to expect, right? There is a clear conversation with expectations from the guests and from the gallery manager to connect on the same level of knowledge. A hotel is a little bit different in the sense that it welcomes a very broad clientele who at first does not necessarily seek art, or does not expect to see art, which makes my role as Art Manager very exciting because I have to open people’s minds, create the interest, the enthusiasm and the need for art.

From your perspective what makes Hotel Indigo special?

We are a boutique and lifestyle hotel that commissioned Dubai-based artists, designers, and artisans to draw inspiration from the city, the Emirati culture, and the heritage of local art practices. Art is part of the design itself. Fusing the heritage of Emirati culture in a modern setting, our interiors aim to showcase the electric clash of local culture from vintage to vogue. One may see Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown as a museum, an endless gallery, a visual treasure trove that helps guests feel part of the destination, and which was built from scratch, as a destination for art, culture, and education.

What has been your favorite cultural event that you have curated at Hotel Indigo?

I have loved each and every project that I have curated at Hotel Indigo, which shed light on art in all its myriad forms. In the process of bringing my ideas to life, I had the opportunity to connect with incredible people who have inspired me like when promoting Peace through art with artists with distinct cultural roots who collaborated to create a one-of-a-kind piece of art that illustrates the UAE government’s initiative to make the country an open and tolerant destination for all nationalities to enjoy. This is what art is about, a powerful communication tool that I explore in order to connect people, to provide bespoke experiences, and to make History.

What are the three top things people can enjoy at Hotel Indigo?

Art, Art, and Art! Hotel Indigo provides various experiences to enjoy including one of the coolest brunches in town, the Marasi Brunch every Saturday. I would also recommend a night-out in one of the hidden gems of the hotel, Off The Wall bar and cocktail lounge, and of course to not miss the curated collections of art and design as part of a special art tour experience!

#AstridLesuisse #HotelIndigoDubaiDowntown