Hotel In Old Town Alexandria Starts Neighbor Borrowing Program

ALEXANDRIA, VA — It's not uncommon to borrow everyday items sugar and baking soda from a neighbor, but it's not often you get to do so from a hotel.

Hotel Indigo Old Town Alexandria is offering a new Borrowed by Hotel Indigo program providing kits with everyday essentials at no cost to neighbors. The program starting in mid-November will be available to residents living in the same ZIP code as Hotel Indigo, or the 22314 ZIP code.

"Everyone knows the adage of 'borrowing a cup of sugar' from your neighbor – with this program, we want to embody this idea of being a good neighbor and strengthen social connections with those inside and outside of our hotels," said Carol Hoeller, vice president of global brand management for Hotel Indigo.

Hotel Indigo did a recent survey showing how people are more reluctant to borrow from neighbors than in the past. The survey found 59 percent of respondents have never asked to borrow from neighbors, with 29 percent saying they're too shy, 25 percent who don't have any relationship with neighbors and 23 percent don't want to inconvenience neighbors. The hotel brand cites Harvard Business School research showing a positive link between different kinds of social relationships and wellbeing.

At Hotel Indigo, neighbors who request to borrow items from the hotel can receive a kit with essentials like sugar, olive oil, salt and pepper, coffee and tea — and they don't need to be returned. The items are ones the hotel's survey found are most commonly borrowed.

The program will continue as supplies last. Hotel Indigo Old Town Alexandria is located at 220 South Union Street.