The Hilton Worldwide hotel chain is adding another six properties to its Middle Eastern portfolio by the end of this year, on top of three openings in the region already in 2011.
Adding to new hotels already opened in the UAE, Egypt and Jordan, the brand will launch properties in Doha – for the first time – Dubai’s Jumeirah Beach Residence and Al Barsha, plus Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah. It will also open the first phase of the Hilton Marsa Alam Resort in Egypt.
The openings are part of a plan to grow the Hilton portfolio by 80 percent in the next three to four years.
In 2012, the group will open eight hotels in the Gulf – including five in Saudi Arabia – with two more planned for 2013 and one for 2014.
Hilton will also launch two properties in Jordan and Egypt next year, and two more, in the same countries, in 2014.
“Across the Middle East and Africa we’re seeing a new and improved pace of hotel openings and signings and we will grow our presence in the area by nearly 80 percent over the coming three to four years,” Hilton’s president of global operations and development, Ian Carter, said.
“This sort of growth is a testament to the strong relationships we have built with hotel owners and our ability to deliver the operating performance they expect.”
Hilton currently operates 49 hotels and a convention centre in the Middle East and Africa region, with 30 properties in total in the pipeline.