Hilton Garden Inn Set to Expand in Luton, UK
Luton confirmed as key location for Hilton Garden Inn as second hotel announced
OCTOBER 26, 2009 - The 250 bedroom hotel, located on Kimpton Road and only five minutes walk from the airport terminal, is due to open in 2011 and will become Luton's second HGI. It follows the successful arrival last year of the hotel on Butterfield Business Park in Luton - Britain's first ever HGI, the focused service brand from Hilton Worldwide.
The deal represents Hilton's fifth project with the Ability Group, who last year launched the UK's first Doubletree by Hilton, in Cambridge, and only last month opened the Doubletree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro. This will be their first Hilton Garden Inn.
Patrick Fitzgibbon, Senior Vice President of Development for Europe & Africa at Hilton, said: "Following the success of our first Hilton Garden Inn we are delighted to have confirmed our second site in Luton, a location which is set to benefit from a major regeneration scheme and boasts the UK's fastest growing airport.
"It also signifies further growth in our partnership with the Ability Group, which has demonstrated huge commitment to the Hilton Family of Hotel brands."
The hotel will create up to 70 employment opportunities - with the existing hotel having predominantly recruited team members from the local population.
Adrian Kurre, Senior Vice President - Brand Management for Hilton Garden Inn, commented, "Hilton Garden Inn is gaining real momentum across Europe and ideally suited to business hubs such as Luton. As with our existing property in the area, guests will be able to enjoy all our signature brand attributes including the Garden Sleep System bed, complimentary high speed Internet access, 24-hour business centre and fitness centre."
Hilton Garden Inn is a focused service brand offering affordable rates for the mid-market traveller. The airport property will feature a full service restaurant, daytime coffee shop and bar, plus HGI's 24 hour Pavilion Pantry(R) shop offering a selection of healthy snacks, delicious readymade meals, and beverages (TBC).
As well as the custom beds, guestrooms will feature a spacious work desk with the ergonomic Herman Miller Mirra(R) chair, air conditioning and LCD satellite television, plus a hospitality centre with a mini refrigerator and kettle.
A variety of five flexible meeting spaces will complement a larger function room, with on-site hotel parking for up to 200 vehicles.
Andreas Panayiotou, chairman of the Ability Group, said: "This is a superb location at the heart of Luton's regeneration projects, next to the fast-growing airport and Luton Parkway station. Hilton Garden Inn offers high-quality and thoughtful amenities to travellers and I'm sure will be very well received here. We are delighted to add the Hilton Garden Inn brand to our hotel portfolio."
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