hospitalitystyle.com

(May 2008) posted on Tue Jul 08, 2008 EDT

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Energized by reunification with Hilton International, Hilton Hotels Corp. (HHC) plans to add 1,000 hotels within North America in the next five years and 1,000 hotels internationally within the next 10 years.

In Europe, Hilton's development efforts center on four strategic markets - Germany, Russia, Italy and Iberia - as well as the "focus areas" of Poland and Turkey. Over the next 16 months, Hilton expects to introduce two new brands in mainland Europe - its first DoubleTree by Hilton in Milan, followed by the region's first Hampton by Hilton, which is expected to open in Düsseldorf, Germany, by mid-2009. A management contract with Amplio will give Turkey its first Hilton Garden Inn when the property opens in Diyarbakir in December 2009.

One of the most significant deals to date is an agreement with DLF Ltd. in India to develop hotel properties and serviced apartments in India. Hilton's aim is to acquire and develop more than 20 Hilton Garden Inn hotels across China, including in Beijing (where a DoubleTree is slated to open in June), Shanghai and Tianjin.

Hilton anticipates doubling its portfolio in the Middle East and Africa over the next five years. It is looking to drive growth via management and franchise agreements rather than owning the properties outright. Hilton will partner with hotel real estate developers, hotel operators and owners/ franchisees to drive this growth. Hilton Hotels is set to open its first Conrad Hotel in Abu Dhabi, the U.A.E. capital, in 2010 with 500 rooms, while its third property in Ras Al Khaimah, the 400-room Hilton Mina Al Arab, will open at the same time. The company announced the signing of two properties in Africa recently, marking its entry into Ghana and Cape Verde. The 186-room Hilton Accra Airport City and the 268-room Hilton Cape Verde will open in 2010.