International hotel brand Hilton has revealed plans for further expansion across the Middle East with the signing of an agreement to develop the first Hilton hotel in Qatar. Hilton signed an agreement to develop the Qatar property, expected to open in 2004, with Doha Hotels Co.
The announcement comes ahead of the opening of the new Hilton Kuwait Resort in June and the development of six new properties in Egypt, as well as a further two each in Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.
With the opening of five new hotels in the region, Hilton's property portfolio has expanded by 40 percent in line with an ongoing strategy to be present in every major city in the Middle East. Hilton is evaluating plans to broaden its offer to the market by establishing hotels in the midmarket segment, utilizing the Scandic brand, and also in the five star deluxe segment where a number of Conrad branded hotels are already established.
Expansion across the region includes the opening of six new properties in Egypt, including two resorts in the Sinai and Hilton's first hotel in Alexandria scheduled to open by the end of the year. Hilton will also introduce two new properties in Beirut over the next coming years. Expansion in Saudi Arabia includes the luxurious Hilton Jeddah Palace, which is attached to Hilton Jeddah and will offer private luxury suites suitable for visiting dignitaries. Hilton is also looking at various projects in Mecca. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
