Hilton To Expand Hilton Garden Inn Brand in Germany
BEVERLY HILLS, CA, June 22, 2006. Hilton Hotels Corporation Announces Global Expansion of the Upscale Mid-Priced Hilton Garden Inn Brand in Germany
"We are pleased to begin construction of the new-build Hilton Garden Inn in Frankfurt, Germany, one of the first locations outside North America," said Adrian Kurre, senior vice president - brand management, Hilton Garden Inn. "We look forward to offering global travelers a new accommodation option."
Operating with the bundled service philosophy, Hilton Garden Inn provides the services and amenities travelers need to be most productive on the road like complimentary high speed Internet access, remote printing and a 24-hour business center -- at no additional cost -- while also offering affordable getaway packages and locations situated near attractions so guests have a place to relax and enjoy when away from home.
All Hilton Garden Inn hotels feature: a signature glass-walled pavilion housing the reception desk; a Pavilion Pantry(R) with a selection of refrigerated, frozen and microwaveable packaged items, and sundries; a full service restaurant, offering freshly prepared breakfast, lunch and dinner with room service available during dinner hours; complimentary wired and wireless high speed Internet access; comfortable sitting areas; meeting rooms offering flexible meeting space; a complimentary 24-hour business center; and an on-site guest laundry facility. There are currently more than 275+ Hilton Garden Inn hotels open throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Hilton Hotels Corporation has been awarded a long-term management agreement for two new hotels at the Frankfurt International Airport site that will include a 314-room Hilton Garden Inn situated next to a 247-room Hilton Hotel which are both scheduled to open in Spring 2009. The Hilton Garden Inn will feature a 174-seat restaurant and lobby lounge area. The 247-room Hilton Hotel will feature a 200-seat restaurant, a bar and lobby lounge and 15,607 square feet of meeting space that includes a 6,458 square feet ballroom. Both hotels will share a 5,381 square foot workout facility, a swimming pool and whirlpool and parking lot.
The project partner of the two hotels is "Airrail Consortia." The hotels will be located next to the high-speed train terminal adjacent to the main airport terminal and will form part of a mixed-use complex being developed by Airrail to include restaurants, offices, conference and business centers, retail, entertainment and parking.
Ian Carter, Chief Executive of Hilton International, said, "Frankfurt is a fantastic, high-profile entry opportunity for the first Hilton Garden Inn new-build hotel in Europe. This development will give Hilton a strong presence in one of the major airports of Europe, which is set to grow its passenger numbers substantially over the next five years. Two new hotels sitting side by side allow Hilton to focus on serving the main segments of the market, both visitors to the airport and the city."
Frankfurt International Airport is the second largest airport in Europe and eighth largest airport in the world. It is home to Lufthansa, Germany's national carrier and serves 129 airlines that connect 295 destinations in 11 countries. As the number one freight airport in Europe, Frankfurt International Airport has also seen continuous growth in passenger traffic from 38 million in 1995 to 56 million in 2005 (Heathrow is 67 million), expected to grow to 82 million by 2015. Additional expansion plans for the airport in the next five years include a new maintenance hangar for the new Airbus A380 in 2007, a new runway in 2009 and a new passenger terminal by 2011 or 2012.
This development represents the first expansion of the Hilton Family of Hotels internationally following the acquisition of Hilton International by Hilton Hotels Corporation of the USA in February 2006.
Hilton International currently operates 11 hotels in Germany with one in the Frankfurt city center.