Doubletree by Hilton has signed agreements for 150 more properties worldwide, most of which will open in the next three years.
John Greenleaf, global director for the Hilton Worldwide brand, told Business Traveller: "We opened our 400th hotel [at the beginning of October] in Cairns, our fourth in Australia. We have more than 150 approved deals in the pipeline."
About 80 per cent of the pipeline, by number of rooms, will be new-builds or properties converted from non-hotel buildings, with about 70 per cent of these in the Asia-Pacific region. The remainder will be conversions of existing hotels.
Doubletree Santiago Vitacura will open in the first quarter of next year
Greenleaf said: "The largest number of potential openings is in Asia — there's an enormous amount of growth. But it's not exclusively in China — we opened two hotels in Indonesia this year, and hotels in Malaysia. We have three more in the pipeline in Australia. The growth is really around the world.
"We've opened two hotels in Dubai this year [see news, July 4] and will have four in the UAE by the end of the year. This will be the first year we open more hotels outside the United States than inside."
The Doubletree brand is now present in 33 countries in six continents. Two hotels, in Liverpool and Nottingham, will be the 25th and 26th UK properties when they open in the first quarter of next year.
Coming soon: Doubletree Liverpool
The 87-room Doubletree by Hilton Hotel and Spa Liverpool will be housed in a centrally located Grade II Listed building on Sir Thomas Street. It is a new-build, although part of the hotel is an historic building, and will have a brasserie by Channel 4 Sunday Brunch chef Simon Rimmer, a pool and six treatment rooms.
The 108-room DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Nottingham - Gateway is set in landscaped grounds six kilometres from the city centre, close to the M1, and has 760 sqm of meeting space. It is a conversion from the Nottingham Gateway Hotel.
Doubletree recently opened its tenth London hotel in Islington (see news, August 29), a conversion of a Jurys Inn property. "There will be more in London," Greenleaf said.
One of the most notable upcoming properties globally will be in Santiago, Chile, also opening in the first quarter of next year. The 226-room DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Santiago - Vitacura will be located one block from the Costanera Center and have a bistro, gym and meeting space.
Doubletree Nottingham is set to open in early 2015
Greenleaf said: "We're very busy in Latin America. That's an important property for us because it's a new-build city-centre hotel in the financial district and we believe it's going to prove to be a true example of how we can introduce the brand to an important global market in Latin America and be successful with it."
The brand is also looking to make its debut in France and Germany.
He said: "We're doing the best we can to bring in hotels in those two countries. We're looking in the key cities."
Michelle Harbi
