Hilton Hotels is to open two more Doubletree by Hilton hotels this year after signing franchise agreements for properties in Bristol and Milton Keynes.
These latest hotels will bring the number of Doubletrees – Hilton’s upscale brand aimed at the business and leisure sectors – in the UK up to seven and will help the company meet its target of opening 20 hotels under the brand by 2013.
Hilton will work with Sanguine Hospitality, the ownership group it already works with at its Chester Hotel, to re-brand the 72-bedroom Cadbury House Hotel and Country Club in south Bristol as a Doubletree with plans to re-open it by the end of the year.
Doubletree by Hilton Milton Keynes will be built within the city’s MK Dons Football Club in an agreement with Hotel MK Ltd and will also aim to be open by the end of the year.
The 127-bedroom hotel, located on the front west stand, will be the first Doubletree to be integrated into a sports complex and will include several pitch-facing rooms that will be able to double up as executive hospitality suites during major events. The hotel brand has also been signed up as a sponsor for the football club.
Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president of development for Hilton Hotels – Europe and Africa, said: “Doubletree by Hilton has now gained great momentum across the UK and Europe. These two signings will bring the number of UK Doubletree properties to seven, and we hope to have 10 Doubletree by Hilton hotels open before the end of the year.”
Rob Palleschi, Global Head for Doubletree Hotels added: “The strength and appeal of the Doubletree by Hilton brand for hotel owners around the world lies in its versatility - whether it is a city centre conversion project, large new build development or destination resort.
"Thanks to owner organizations like those involved with these two projects, we are able to take advantage of a number of different development opportunities as we look to grow in both gateway and key business cities as well as attractive vacation destinations where our brand can respond to the changing desires of today’s corporate and leisure travellers.“