Also, keep in mind that hotel companies use ridiculous descriptions for their brand positionings. "Upscale" is a step below the Marriotts, Hiltons and Hyatts of the world. Kimpton is supposed to be (according to this terminology) "upper upscale" and IHG has started saying they want to move it slightly higher. I believe IHG now also considers Indigo upper-upscale.

This new "upscale" brand is really sort of a hybrid between a conversion brand (think Hilton's Doubletree and where Marriott is now positioning Delta) and an upscale soft brand (think Hilton's Tapestry Collection, not Curio; and SPG's Tribute Portfolio, not Marriott's Autograph Collection). Really, just a way for IHG to quickly expand in a segment they probably really only have Crowne Plaza in, with fairly loose brand standards that will require relatively little capital expenditures from the property owners.