Doubletree by Hilton Expands Middle East Portfolio with Signed Development Deal in Jordan
Anticipated Opening of Doubletree by Hilton, Aqaba in Q3 2010 Will Mark Hilton Worldwide’s First Hotel in the Country
Hilton Worldwide has signed a management agreement with Jordan Maritime Complex for Real Estate Investments Co. for the Doubletree by Hilton, Aqaba, marking the brand’s entry into Jordan with a stylish, upscale, full-service hotel product in Q3 2010. The 181-room, new-build property will be located in the popular resort destination of Aqaba on Jordan’s southern coast. In the centre of the business district, and less than a kilometre from the beach and the city’s marina, the site for the new Doubletree by Hilton, Aqaba is ten kilometres from King Hussein International Airport.
“Doubletree by Hilton offers a wide variety of distinctively designed upscale hotels and resorts in some of the most sought-after business and leisure destinations around the world. It is exciting to see the brand introduced for the first time in Jordan, furthering our expansion across the Middle East”
“We are delighted to have signed this management agreement with Jordan Maritime Complex for Real Estate Investments Co. for our first Doubletree by Hilton in Jordan. It will also become our first Hilton Worldwide property to open in Jordan, an important market for us in our regional development strategy. We will soon be able to provide business and leisure travellers with group packages linking in all the country’s tourist destinations,” said Mahmoud Mokhtar, vice president operations, Egypt & Levant for Hilton Worldwide.
Doubletree by Hilton, Aqaba will feature five food and beverage outlets including an all-day dining outlet, poolside restaurant, coffee shop, wine bar and club. Leisure facilities include a health club and spa with sauna, steam room, gymnasium, two treatment rooms, as well as semi-outdoor swimming pools. The hotel will house one multi-purpose meeting room with pre-function area.
“Doubletree by Hilton offers a wide variety of distinctively designed upscale hotels and resorts in some of the most sought-after business and leisure destinations around the world. It is exciting to see the brand introduced for the first time in Jordan, furthering our expansion across the Middle East,” said Rob Palleschi, global head for Doubletree Hotels.
Tourism is a vital sector of Jordan’s economy, with tourism related revenues representing approximately 14% of the country’s GDP. International arrivals have been growing steadily, to over seven million tourists in 2008.
Aqaba, famous for its resort lifestyle, is popular amongst intra-regional travellers, as well as European holidaymakers looking to combine with Petra and the Dead Sea. Furthermore, as Aqaba is Jordan’s only coastal city and port, the destination benefits from commercial activity and, in turn, business travel.
“We are delighted to have signed this management agreement with Hilton Worldwide, the leaders in hospitality, to bring the upscale Doubletree by Hilton brand to Jordan. We consider Aqaba a very important business and leisure destination; a gateway for the country’s major imports and exports, as well as an importing route to neighbouring countries, and believe that we will see even further business opportunities in the years to come. As Jordan continues to witness growth in tourism numbers, and Aqaba is in close proximity to Petra, the Dead Sea, the Baptism site and many others, this property is destined for success,” said Ahmad Armoush, chairman, Jordan Maritime Complex for Real Estate Investments Co.
Doubletree by Hilton characteristic qualities include the warm worldwide welcome of the brand’s legendary chocolate chip cookie presented to every guest at check-in; comfortable, stylish accommodations and full-service amenities; along with a unique and caring commitment to the communities in which they operate. Doubletree by Hilton believes in a set of business values that make their hotels a desirable place for employees to work and a satisfying place for travelers to stay. Doubletree by Hilton hotels also participate in Hilton HHonors®, the only guest rewards program that allows members to earn both Points & Miles® for the same stay and redeem points for free nights with No Blackout Dates at more than 3,600 hotels worldwide.
Hilton Worldwide has an impressive brand footprint in Middle East & Africa with 44 hotels across 14 countries, and another 22 properties in the pipeline. The company has three properties in Jordan under development – the 531-room Hilton Amman Jordan Gate opening in Q2 2011, the 346-room Hilton Tala Bay Aqaba opening in Q4 2011 and the 285-room Hilton Dead Sea Resort & Spa opening in Q4 2013. The Doubletree by Hilton brand has Middle Eastern hotel developments already in progress in Ras al Khaimah, UAE (anticipated to open in Q4 2010) and Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia (expected to open in Q4 2012), whilst two African hotels are already open in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, Tanzania.
