Source: IHG
  • 7 in 10 (71%) Aussies say it’s important to feel connected to their neighbourhood or community and more than half (54%) say this intensifies over Christmas.
  • 6 in 10 (61%) Aussies admit they’ve been left in the lurch in the past, leading them to borrow items from their neighbours, with 8 in 10 (81%) regularly seeking essential items.
  • Despite this, forty percent of Aussies confess the thought of borrowing from a neighbour makes them feel uncomfortable.
  • Hotel Indigo is inviting locals and visitors alike to knock on their door, offering the option to ‘borrow’ popular pantry essentials during the festival season.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA -A new nationwide study released today has delved into the dynamics of neighbourly relationships and behaviours, finding that 6 in 10 (61%) Aussies admit to being caught short at some point, leading them to have borrowed an item from their neighbours. However, while on average, the nation is borrowing once every two months, 2 in 5 (40%) of Aussies confess that the thought of this makes them feel uncomfortable.

The study, conducted by Hotel Indigo, part of IHG's Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio, also found that as the festive season approaches, the spirit of togetherness intensifies; it looks like we’re leaning on our neighbours more with over half of respondents (54%) expressing they feel more connected to their neighbours and local community during this time. When it comes to the most-commonly borrowed items by neighbours, following closely behind the quintessential sugar pantry staple (18%) are coffee (14%), sauces or condiments (13%), olive oil, and tea (both 12%).

In a first-of its-kind offering, from Monday December 11th until supplies last, and as a way of removing that awkwardness of knocking on your neighbour's door, boutique lifestyle brand Hotel Indigo is offering those living in the same postcode and hotel guests of Hotel Indigo Melbourne on Flinders, Hotel Indigo Adelaide Markets, and Hotel Indigo Brisbane City Centre the option to ‘borrow’ popular staple pantry items at no cost. These curated, everyday essentials - based on popular borrowed items revealed by the survey - range from locally sourced sauces and condiments, olive oil, pasta, coffee, and tea, to something sweet. And just as you would with a real neighbour, you don’t have to return what you take.

The program, ‘Borrowed by Hotel Indigo’, which comes on the heels of the brand’s largest marketing campaign The World's Neighbourhood Hotel, will reignite that popular habit of lending to a neighbour, aiming to foster connection and build community during the festive season, both inside and outside the hotel.

The study also revealed out of those who have borrowed from their neighbours, a remarkable eight in 10 (81%) Aussies are doing so regularly. And when the tables are turned, among those that are hesitant to help their neighbour with an item needed, we’ve put it down to being in our pyjamas (25%), our homes are messy (22%), and the fact that our staple pantry items aren’t good enough quality (20%).

As a neighbourhood-inspired brand,Hotel Indigo welcomes the neighbourhood and its people into our spaces, creating authentically local experiences for our guests. As the research shows, while Australians seek connection in their local community and tend to lean on neighbours to borrow staple items, there’s still a level of discomfort surrounding this. As we approach the festive season, a time when we tend to lean on our next door companions more, our Borrowed By Hotel Indigo program embodies the idea of being a good neighbour while also making life easier for guests and locals alike. Dean Jones, Vice President, Commercial – JAPAC, IHG Hotels & Resorts

Other key findings in the study included:

  • 20% of the nation say they lean on their neighbours now more than ever.
  • In terms of traits we look for in a good neighbour, more than three quarters (79%) of Aussies say they look for someone that is friendly, followed by the fact that their neighbours are there to talk to (42%) and they can step in when we need them to (34%).
  • Despite Aussies clearly feeling that it is important to connect to their local neighbourhood / community (71%), when asked if their local apartment block or local neighbourhood offer shared food pantries / book collection / communal gardens, more than three quarters (78%) of the nation claimed that nothing of the kind is available.

To find out more about the Borrowed By Hotel Indigo program, click here.

*Research conducted in November 2023 by Pureprofile on behalf of Hotel Indigo, on a nationally representative sample of over 1,000 Australian adults.

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