Hilton International will be making its official debut in Croatia in May 2005, with the opening of the Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik. The hotel is the outcome of a 20 million Euro investment made by the shipping company Atlantska Plovidba, Hilton International and the Austrian construction company Bau Holding Strabag. Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik is strategically positioned on the edge of the historic city walls that enclose the old city. The hotel is to be set in the verdant splendour of a beautiful garden and will boast a great sea view.

The Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik is in fact a reconversion of two former hotels that were originally opened in 1895, combining fascinating 19th century architecture with a modern design that will provide the ultimate in comfort and the very latest technology. The hotel will retain its original twin-palazzo structure, offering 147 guest rooms, many of which will have sea views, and will be characterised by a Mediterranean decor, discreet lighting, warm tones and marble finishing inlaid with valuable woods.

The Executive Floor is to comprise Executive rooms and the Executive Lounge, an exclusive environment with a panoramic terrace, perfect for relaxing or for conducting a discreet business meeting. The Executive Lounge will also offer satellite TV and international press, and a large range of snacks and hot and cold drinks will be provided free of charge all day.

The hotel's event and conference facilities will offer the ultimate in meetings technology, in a complex spanning two floors and comprising 6 Hilton Meetings rooms, a 244 sq.m. Ballroom large enough for up to 250 guests with the capacity to separate to form two rooms, and a foyer perfect for exhibits and presentations.

The hotel's contemporary restaurant will delight the senses with an added touch of local colour, offering a broad range of international cuisine and Dalmatian specialties prepared using freshly-caught seafood. Located on the lower ground floor, this restaurant will also feature a veranda with soaring, expansive windows and a summer terrace. It will also be possible to reserve an area to create an intimate dining experience for up to 12 persons. The Lobby Bar will be the perfect bistrot for light snacks and drinks, and will be transformed in the evening into a piano bar, serving exquisite cocktails with a soft backdrop of live music. Moreover, the hotel Fitness Club and indoor pool will offer pleasant surroundings for relaxation.

Cpt Ante Jerkovic, President of Atlanska Plovidba, declares: "We are pleased that Hilton International, one of the world's finest hotel brands, has selected Dubrovnik as the site of the first Hilton hotel in Croatia. By fully utilizing Hilton's vast global sales network, we hope to reach out to a large percentage of all upper scale travellers who will choose Dubrovnik for their business and leisure journeys".

Didier Martin, Vice President Operations for Hilton International says: "The opening of the Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik will be an important moment for the Croatian tourist industry. Hilton decided to invest in this absolutely unique setting, a Unesco World Heritage Site, on the basis of the confirmed major development potential that it offers from both a business and a tourism point of view.

The hotel is an ideal holiday location, within reach of the area's many tourist attractions, and will also ensure business travellers as well as participants to meeting or incentives high standards of service and quality, guaranteed to meet the international standards set by the world's best known hotel brand.

By combining these facilities and standards with a touch of regional flavour, the Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik will quickly become an exemplary reference within the Croatian hotel market.

Ludwig Steinbauer, Member of the Board of STRABAG AG, expressed his contentment that an important part of the architectural history of Dubrovnik returned dynamically, representing quality and beauty. "The Hilton Dubrovnik" he states, "constitutes one of Dubrovnik landmarks and we are especially happy that following the complete renovation and upgrading of the building, the hotel has once again acquired the position that it always held in this unique location" . .