USA: Hilton Announces Hotel Openings In Turkey,China And USA

Hilton Garden Inn opens two new hotels – in Louisville, Kentucky and Jacksonville, North Carolina, designed to cater to the evolving needs of the modern traveler.

The hotel group also announced openings in China and Turkey.

Hilton Garden Inn Louisville, Mall of St. Matthews – Just 15 minutes from downtown, this 150-room hotel is near many of Derby City’s best attractions – such as Churchill Downs, Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, and the famed Urban Bourbon Trail.

Guests may heat up in the fitness center, cool down in the indoor pool or catch up on work in the 24-hour business center.

Hilton Garden Inn Jacksonville – Opening as the largest hotel in this city near North Carolina’s coast, this 128-room property is conveniently located just minutes from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, one of the nation’s top military training facilities. Its 5,000-square-foot ballroom is ideal for conferences, conventions and social events.

In cities large and small, across the U.S. and throughout the world, Hilton Garden Inn strives to be where our guests want us, said John Greenleaf, global head, Hilton Garden Inn.

Like all of our properties worldwide, these two new hotels will offer the light, bright and airy experience, enhanced food and beverage offerings and exceptional guest experience that set us apart from other upscale lodging brands.

Each of these new hotels features the brand’s inviting food and beverage options, which address consumers' changing dining preferences with healthier and more on-trend menu choices, small plates, premium varietal wines, national and local craft beers, and handcrafted cocktails*.

Hilton Garden Inn also continues to expand internationally, opening hotels in two distinctive cities in China and Turkey in recent months.

Hilton Garden Inn Shangri-La is a Tibetan-style hotel ideally located in the center of Shangri-La just steps away from Tian Shun Time Square and popular China tourist attractions.

Hilton Garden Inn Kocaeli Sekerpinar in Turkey is located in the heart of Kocaeli Province near Gebze and Tuzla industrial zones and minutes from The Science and Technological Research Council of Turkey.

The new hotels -- like the 720+ in the Hilton Garden Inn portfolio -- are part of Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton's 14 distinct hotel brands.

Members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels save time and money and gain instant access to the benefits they care about most, such as an exclusive member discount, free Wi-Fi and a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay.

Members can also redeem their Points for free nights, to gain access to unique events through the Hilton Honors auction platform or to make purchases with Amazon Shop with Points.

KENYA: Lazizi Premiere Hotel - 144-room And 4 Star - Opens At Jomo Kenyatta International Airport

The very first airport hotel has opened, seeking to cash in on the growing passenger, cargo, and airline numbers at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

The 144-room Lazizi Premiere Hotel is located on First Freight Lane inside the JKIA.

It is targeting transiting passengers, airline crews, and business executives on the go.

This is very strategic because there is no other airport hotel here. We are also targeting those who work in the airport and in the vicinity who can walk in for lunch, said Kiran Patel, owner of the hotel.

Mumbai-based hotelier Sarovar runs the hotel under a management contract.

It currently has a portfolio of four hotels in Kenya including Heron Portico, Zehneria Portico, and the upcoming Tetezi Hometel, owned by lawyer John Mburu.

The four-star Lazizi airport hotel sits on a 1.5 acre plot. It features three conference rooms targeting business meetings, as well as a rooftop pool, spa, gym, coffee shop, bar, café where guests can while away as they wait for their flights.

Lazizi has employed 165 staff, Mr Patel said. Satya Roychowdhur, an ex- Carlson Rezidor executive, is the general manager at Lazizi.

JKIA passenger traffic grew 9.7 per cent to hit 7.1 million travellers in 2016 according to official data.

International travellers – the captive market for airport hotels – make up three quarters of the total passenger traffic according to data from Kenya Airports Authority.

Hilton Garden Inn, another airport hotel located next to JKIA, was expected to open in March 2016, but construction work is yet to be completed.

Airport hotels also profit from events such as flight delays, reschedules or cancelled journeys, which at times force airlines to offer accommodation to distraught passengers.

Mumbai-based hotelier Sarovar plans to open its first-ever budget hotel under the Hometel brand in Nairobi after signing a deal with a city lawyer to put up the facility.

The upcoming Tetezi Hometel Nairobi is owned by lawyer John Mburu, and targets business travellers and holidaymakers on a shoestring budget.

Sarovar will manage the hotel’s day-to-day operations, earning a fee for its brand and services.

The 80-room hotel is located on Riverside Drive and its construction has already started with the opening set for 2019.

A typical Hometel hotel development cost in Kenya,excluding cost of land is estimated at $60,000 (Sh6.1 million) per room.

There is a growing demand for good value for money hotels across the country and abroad. This is the largest demand segment. We aim to cater to these markets with our hotels by offering best value to business and leisure travellers, said Ajay Bakaya, managing director at Sarovar Hotels in a statement.

Tetezi Hometel Nairobi will be the first in Africa, he said, adding that the brand delivers profitable hotels to owners.

Mr Mburu will invest about Sh480 million in the construction, Sarovar said.

The budget hotel brings to four the total number of properties managed by Sarovar in Kenya including Heron Portico and Zehneria Portico.

Lazizi Premiere located near the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, has opened.

The Indian hotelier has three brands: Premiere (luxury), Portico (midscale) and budget offering Hometel. There are 10 Hometel hotels worldwide, Sarovar said.

Sarovar presence in Africa will now total to eight hotels including New Africa Hotel and Casino in Dar-es-Salaam, the 73-roomed Panorama Sarovar Portico in Juba, Sarovar Premiere in Lusaka, and Sarovar Premiere Addis Ababa.

HAITI: Haiti Welcomes Tourists Again

Not many people consider Haiti a serious tourist destination.

The Caribbean nation is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, with a history of grinding poverty, civil unrest and violence. Haiti is also still recovering from the devastating 2010 earthquake that left well over 100,000 dead and more than 1.5 million survivors homeless.

But 2014 was a blossoming of tourist industry investment in Haiti. Just this week Carnival Corporation (CCL), the parent company of Carnival Cruise lines, said it signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a $70 million port facility on Tortuga, an historic island off Haiti's northern coast.

The port project "represents a major commitment to the people of Haiti by Carnival Corporation the largest cruise company in the world, with nine industry-leading brands and dozens of ships operating in the Caribbean, the world's most popular region for cruise vacations," David Candib, the company's vice president, development and operations, told the Caribbean Journal.

Candib added the facility would generate "significant development and construction activities," with the creation of an estimated 900 direct and indirect jobs.

"The project will be an anchor for further development on the island," he continued. "We are working together with the Haitian people and government to build Tortuga into popular and economically sustainable Caribbean destinations."

The Carnival project would create the second major cruise ship port in Haiti. Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL) has had a private resort facility in Labadee, on the country's northern coast, that it leased from the Haitian government until 2050.

Meanwhile, American Airlines (AAL) recently announced the start of daily service between Miami International Airport and Cap-Haitien, Haiti's second city, beginning in October.

"This is a big deal," said Art Torno, American's senior vice president of operations for Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America, told the Miami Herald. "That area of the country has about 35 percent of the population, and has always been a desirable place for us."

Torno notes the Cap-Haitien region also includes Labadee as well as a $300 million, U.S.-backed industrial park project.

And this past April Hilton Worldwide (HLT) signed an agreement to build a new Hilton Garden Inn at Louverture Airport in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. The hotel is scheduled to open in 2016.

Tourism reportedly accounts for about five percent of Haiti's GDP, and those numbers are expected to change dramatically in the next several years.

But not everyone is convinced the Carnival port deal will, in the long-term, end up benefiting Haiti's economy and its people.

Jim Walker, a Miami-based maritime attorney and author of the cruiselaw.com blog, recently wondered if any Haitians will be employed at the new facility and if the construction of a pier designed to accommodate large cruise ships will lead to long-term environmental damage.

Also, he added, "will this be a private island for the exclusive benefit of Carnival and its passengers? Will this be a lease similar to the 260 acres of prime waterfront property (Labadee) which Royal Caribbean leased (ripped off) from Haiti?"

HONG KONG: Hilton And Hilton Garden Inn Announce Opening Of Hilton Garden Inn Hong Kong Mongkok

Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn have announced the opening of Hilton Garden Inn Hong Kong Mongkok in Hong Kong SAR, China. Managed by Hilton and owned by Hong Kong China Development Holding Ltd, the 258-room Hilton Garden Inn Hong Kong Mongkok is the first Hilton Garden Inn hotel in the bustling city of Hong Kong. It is also the first Hilton hotel to open in the SAR since Conrad Hong Kong opened in 1990.

“The opening of Hilton Garden Inn Hong Kong Mongkok, our ninth Hilton Garden Inn hotel in Greater China, is a major milestone that marks the growth of this award-winning brand and highlights our long-term commitment to this key market. Hilton has been inspiring and delighting guests in Hong Kong for 26 years and we are proud to have this hotel join the well-established Conrad Hong Kong, enabling us to offer our guests greater choice when they visit this gateway city,” said Bruce McKenzie, senior vice president, operations, Greater China & Mongolia, Hilton.

Hilton Garden Inn Hong Kong Mongkok occupies a prime location in Mongkok, one of the most popular shopping districts in Kowloon. The hotel is surrounded by tourist attractions, including major shopping malls, colorful street bazaars and hip nightspots. Getting around the city is easy as Hilton Garden Inn Hong Kong Mongkok is just 1 kilometer from Mongkok MTR station, which also offers connections to Hong Kong International Airport, which is 31.2 kilometers from the hotel, and to Hong Kong Disneyland, which is 21 kilometers away.

“Hilton Garden Inn is continuing its rapid growth across Asia and we are proud to introduce guests to our new flagship hotel in Hong Kong. Hilton Garden Inn Hong Kong Mongkok offers affordability, upscale accommodations and the modern amenities of a global brand. With that combination, we aim for the hotel to become the preferred choice among leisure and business travelers who seek added value during their stays,” said John Greenleaf, global head, Hilton Garden Inn.

The tastefully decorated rooms of Hilton Garden Inn Hong Kong Mongkok are designed to optimize comfort and convenience. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer garden views and comprehensive in-room amenities include work stations with ergonomic chairs, laptop-sized safes, as well as 40-inch flat-screen HD televisions with local and cable channels. Guests can also expect comfortable bedding with hypoallergenic pillows, in addition to coffee and tea-making facilities.

For a workout to remember, the hotel’s rooftop swimming pool and 24-hour fitness center both offer stunning views of Victoria Harbor, Victoria Peak and Hong Kong Island. Guests also have access to a self-service laundry room and a business center, while complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.

Hilton Garden Inn Hong Kong Mongkok also offers flexible event space, including a 400 square meter pillar-less ballroom that can accommodate up to 300 people. Equipped with cutting-edge audiovisual technology, including LED TV walls, Hilton Garden Inn Hong Kong Mongkok is an ideal venue for corporate events, social gatherings and weddings.

Guests can dine on-property at Eagle’s Garden restaurant, which offers panoramic city views, and serves an international breakfast buffet and cooked-to-order breakfasts, as well as authentic Cantonese cuisine for lunch and dinner. The Garden Bar is a relaxing spot for drinks and light meals after a long day of work, or shopping. And the Pavilion Pantry®, stocked with snacks and an assortment of drinks, is open around the clock.

Hilton Garden Inn Hong Kong Mongkok participates in Hilton’s award-winning customer loyalty program, Hilton HHonors. Hilton HHonors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to benefits including an exclusive member discount, free standard Wi-Fi, as well as digital amenities that are available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton HHonors app, where HHonors members can check-in, choose their room, and access their room using a Digital Key.

Hilton Garden Inn Hong Kong Mongkok is located at No. 2 Soy Street, Mongkok, Kowloon, Hong Kong.

KENYA: Delay In Construction Hinders New Hotel Openings In Kenya

Many New hotel projects in Kenya's capital Nairobi are reportedly delayed as construction and finishing bottlenecks have caused havoc to their projected soft opening timeframes initially given.

Among then is the new Hilton Garden Inn near Jomo Kenyatta International Airport but also several hotels in Westlands, a major business hub in Nairobi.

There some 3.000 new beds are to join the market in coming years but existing hotels will breath a sigh of relief that such competition will have to wait longer to enter the market as a result of several of the new kids on the block suffering from opening delays due to a variety of reasons.

Hilton has now projected a new opening date for mid 2017 while others remain shut on what time they still need to complete buildings and, even more important, the interior outfitting of their new hotels.

Nairobi however remains East Africa's regional hub for the most hotels and most beds available for major conferences and with the most new hotel projects in the pipeline of any of the EAC capitals.

Hilton Builds First Modular Hotel In Africa

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) (www.Hilton.com) has marked this year’s African Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) with the announcement of new properties and extensions in three African countries. It continues the company’s commitment to expansion across the continent as it seeks to double its footprint from its existing 39 hotels to more than 80 hotels in the next 3-5 years.

Among the new hotels agreed is Africa’s first modular build hotel (http://APO.af/b50EhV), the 280 guest-room Hilton Garden Inn in the Ghanaian capital of Accra, a concept that Hilton first premiered in 2014 through a partnership with CIMC Modular Building Systems. Other deals see the creation of Africa’s tallest hotel in Nairobi, while Hilton builds on its industry leading airport hotel legacy with an extension to the recently signed Legend Curio at Lagos Airport. Hilton will manage all three properties as it continues to expand its managed hotel portfolio.

Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president development, EMEA, Hilton Worldwide said, “Having been present in Africa for more than 50 years we’re proud to have remained at the forefront of pioneering hotel growth on the continent. This year at AHIF we’re breaking new ground in the region with the announcement of our first modular build hotel, a fast-paced construction solution that we feel has huge potential in Africa, with quicker returns for investors and a world-class hospitality experience for guests.

“We remain hugely committed to Africa across our portfolio of world-class brands, continuing to introduce our hotels to new markets across the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa in the coming years.”

Modular construction is an innovative solution that can be used to drive hotel development, offering numerous benefits including faster development, streamlined design and cost efficiencies. The process involves assembling portions of the hotel - including guest rooms and hallways - in China, before transporting them to the final site for completion, thereby significantly reducing the time taken for construction. The model helps ensure consistent quality and accelerates the build schedule on site, a particular benefit for developers and investors in emerging markets.

Hilton Garden Inn Accra Liberation Road is being developed under a management agreement with Independence Properties Ltd, whose majority shareholder is Trasacco Estates Development Company Ltd. With a planned opening in 2018, this will be the first Hilton Garden Inn in Ghana.

Ian Morris Director Independence Properties and CEO Trasacco Estates Development Company said: "After building a number of three star plus properties in West Africa the option to go modular and improve on room quality, project delivery and minimise construction risk was warmly embraced by our development, design and construction teams and we feel is the future of the industry."

Paul Blackmore, Managing Director CIMC MBS, said: “We are very proud of the continued association between Hilton and CIMC, with Hilton Garden Inn being an excellent brand for utilising our modular technology. In Independence Properties we have another great partner focussed on a high-quality product. Africa is a key strategic focus for CIMC, where our solutions can minimise risk on site while protecting and improving owner returns.”

Located on Liberation Road, the main connection between Ghana’s capital and its major international airport, the hotel will feature three restaurants and amenities offered at each Hilton Garden Inn location, including complimentary high speed Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, 24-hour business and fitness centers, alongside four adjustable meeting rooms and a 450sqm ballroom.

Hilton Nairobi Upper Hill, Kenya (255 guest rooms)

A management agreement with Jabavu Village Ltd and White Lotus Projects sees Hilton expand on its existing presence in Kenya to create Africa’s tallest building. Standing 330m high, Hilton Nairobi Upper Hill is due to open in 2020, as a 255 guest-room and suite hotel in Kenya’s capital. It will offer multiple food and beverage outlets, including a relaxing poolside bar, speciality smokehouse and grill restaurant, lobby dining area with landscaped deck and a boutique rooftop bar with unbeatable vista views of the Nairobi skyline on the 43rd level.

Finally, having previously announced the signing of Curio, The Legend, Lagos Airport, Hilton has also confirmed that an additional 76 guest rooms will be added to the hotel bringing the room count up to 130-keys and further strengthening its expansion in the country. The hotel, due to open during 2017 will be the first within the airport environment giving guests and airline passengers alike unrivalled ease of access to the airports’ facilities.

Hilton Worldwide is a leading global hospitality company, comprising more than 4,700 managed, franchised, owned and leased hotels and timeshare properties with over 775,000 rooms in 104 countries and territories. For 97 years, Hilton has been dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences. The company's portfolio of 13 world-class global brands includes Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Canopy by Hilton, Curio - A Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by Hilton, Tru by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages an award-winning customer loyalty program, Hilton HHonors®. Hilton HHonors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to benefits including an exclusive member discount, free standard Wi-Fi, as well as digital amenities that are available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton HHonors app, where Hilton HHonors members can check-in, choose their room, and access their room using a Digital Key.

USA: Hilton Garden Inn Targets Busy Business Women

Despite the rise of technology and flexibility in the workplace, a recent survey conducted by Wakefield Research* on behalf of Hilton Garden Inn, revealed women still find it challenging to juggle work and personal life needs. In fact, 71 percent of these women would clone themselves to achieve everything they need to get done in a day. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel, as the majority of respondents agreed the empowerment and insight of fellow “super-women” offers the key to help them win.

“We created Hilton Garden Inn’s ‘Bright On’ campaign to help distinguish ourselves as the go-to destination for business women,” said Judy Christa-Cathey, vice president, focused service brand marketing and Hilton Garden Inn. “We know travel is a big part of the balancing act. That’s why we are on a mission to help women feel empowered and make life smoother and easier.”

In time for International Women’s Month, Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Worldwide’s upscale global brand of hotels, has partnered with a diverse group of savvy professional women who will be known as the HGI “Bright Minds” for a special social media campaign. These influential ladies will share their challenges, successes and insights to get more done.

“From eating well and working smartly to staying fit and traveling stress-free, Hilton Garden Inn’s ‘Bright Minds’ will help us support busy business women and inspire them to keep shining brightly,” Christa-Cathey added.

Other noteworthy survey result findings include:

- Woman Power! – 79 percent agree to getting twice as much done in a day as a man could
- Power in the Numbers – 85 percent of employed women would be more likely to ask a fellow woman for help to get something done quickly at work
- Tech Help – self-cleaning carpets (34 percent), self-folding laundry (34 percent ), 3-D printers for meals (18 percent) are the top three gadgets busy women would have
- Home Alone – 67 percent confessed to wanting their significant others to go away on business trips so they can have time to themselves
* Wakefield surveyed 1,002 women 18+ nationally between Feb. 14 and Feb. 22, 2016, using an email invitation and online survey.

USA: New Hilton Garden Inn Opens In Montgomery, Alabama

Hilton Garden Inn has announced the opening of Hilton Garden Inn Montgomery – EastChase. The property, which is owned and managed by Ram Montgomery Hospitality, LLC, brings 112 new rooms to the Hilton Garden Inn brand of more than 665 hotels worldwide.

“With a central location amidst cultural institutions, family attractions and vibrant shopping and dining options, Hilton Garden Inn Montgomery – EastChase is the ideal location for travelers looking to take advantage of the capital’s charm,” said Barry Stirrat, general manager. “We are excited to welcome guests with our inviting social spaces, impeccable service, and upscale accommodations for a memorable stay.”

Hilton Garden Inn Montgomery – EastChase is convenient to many of Montgomery’s attractions including the Rosa Parks Museum, Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, the Montgomery Zoo and the Montgomery Riverfront District. Business and leisure travelers will also appreciate the hotel’s close proximity to I-85 and Montgomery Regional Airport. Guests can rely on additional suggestions from community-oriented Hilton Garden Inn Team Members on things to do and places to eat.

Guests can dine on-property at The Garden Grille and Bar, which offers a full cooked-to-order breakfast and dinner, and evening room service. The Pavilion Pantry is open 24 hours and features a complete selection of salty snacks, sweet treats, cold beverages, and frozen, microwaveable packaged items.

The hotel also features more than 4,000 square feet of flexible meeting space for up to 300 people. Hilton Garden Inn guests will see why Life’s Better at the Garden through amenities and services offered at each location, including complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, 24-hour business center with Print Spots remote printing, a state-of-the-art fitness center and outdoor pool.

All 112 guest rooms boast the brand’s signature bedding featuring fresh, white duvets and crisp linens; a spacious and clutter-free work desk with an ergonomic desk chair; and an in-room “hospitality center” with a mini fridge, microwave oven as well as a Keurig coffee maker.

USA: Hobbs Welcomes New Hilton Garden Inn

Hilton Garden Inn announced today the opening of Hilton Garden Inn Hobbs, representing an addition to the brand’s growing portfolio of more than 635 hotels worldwide.

Hilton Garden Inn Hobbs is owned by HDF Hobbs, LLC and managed by TNJ Management.

“Hobbs is a beautiful location for travelers to relax and create memories in our welcoming new hotel,” said Judy Wink, general manager. “Hobbs is conveniently located on the border of Texas and just a few miles from the county’s most beloved historical sites, and our hotel is in the center of a coveted destination for families, leisure and business travelers.”

Hilton Garden Inn Hobbs is located near Lea County’s top attractions including the Western Heritage Museum, Zia Park Casino, and Ocotillo Park Golf Course. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery and convenience to area hiking, dining and shopping. Guests will enjoy the warm appreciative Hilton Garden Inn Team Members for additional area recommendations.

The new hotel offers the high-end amenities and welcoming services for travelers to sleep deep, stay fit, eat well and work smart while on the road. All Hilton Garden Inn guests will see why Life’s Better at the GardenTM through amenities offered at each Hilton Garden Inn location, including complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, 24-hour business center with Print SpotsTM remote printing, a state-of-the-art fitness center, an indoor pool and whirlpool. The hotel also features one meeting room offering more than 3,800 square feet of flexible meeting space to accommodate up to 150 people.

The Garden Grille and Bar® offers a full cooked-to-order breakfast and dinner, cocktails*, and evening room service. The Pavilion Pantry® is open 24 hours and features a complete selection of salty snacks, sweet treats, cold beverages, and frozen, microwaveable packaged items.

All 113 guest rooms boast the brand’s signature bedding featuring fresh, white duvets and crisp linens; a spacious and clutter-free work desk with an ergonomic desk chair; and an in-room “hospitality center” with a mini fridge, microwave oven and Keurig coffee maker.

Hilton Garden Inn Hobbs participates in Hilton HHonors®, the only hotel loyalty program that allows members to earn Points & Miles® on the same stay and No Blackout Dates on reward stays. HHonors members always get our lowest price with our Best Price Guarantee, along with HHonors Points, digital check-in and no booking fees only when they book directly through Hilton.