Doubletree by Hilton Enters Africa

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates | Hilton Hotels Corporation today announced the introduction of the Doubletree by Hilton brand in Africa, with the signing of two Franchise License Agreements in Tanzania with the owners of the Opulent Hotel Group. The Doubletree by Hilton Dar Es Salaam, Oyster Bay and the Doubletree by Hilton Resort Zanzibar, Nungwi are scheduled to open by October 2009.

“Our belief is that guests and investors should be able to choose between a multitude of brands each offering a range of services relevant to their travel needs, whether travelling on business or for pleasure. Tanzania as a whole has seen an increase in international tourist arrivals, as well as domestic and intra-regional travel, leading to high demand for quality hotel accommodation. Hence we are delighted to further the growth of the Hilton Family with the first Doubletree by Hilton agreements in the African continent. We look forward to strengthening our relationship with the Opulent Hotel Group as more opportunities arise in East Africa,” said Patrick Fitzgibbon, Senior Vice President, Development, Hilton Hotels, Europe & Africa.

With a fast-growing network that spans more than 200 locations around the world, Doubletree by Hilton will introduce business and leisure travellers in Africa to the brand’s longstanding tradition of distinctively designed hotels that reflect the destination and surrounding area. Other Doubletree by Hilton characteristic qualities include the warm worldwide welcome of the brand’s legendary chocolate chip cookie to every guest at check-in, the rewards of the prestigious Hilton HHonors® loyalty programme and a unique caring commitment to the communities in which they operate.

“Doubletree 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. There are numerous opportunities to build the Doubletree by Hilton brand further in Africa and it is exciting to begin this journey by introducing such outstanding locations like Dar Es Salaam and Zanzibar later this year,” said Rob Palleschi, Global Head, Doubletree Brand.

The new-build Doubletree by Hilton Dar Es Salaam, Oyster Bay is located on the sea at Masaki, a popular suburb of Tanzania’s capital Dar Es Salaam, and 20 kilometres east of the international airport. The hotel will feature 158 rooms, an all-day restaurant, a café, outdoor swimming pool with pool bars, meeting rooms and business centre. The popular Slipway shopping and dining district is nearby.

Meanwhile, the Doubletree by Hilton Resort Zanzibar, Nungwi on the north coast of Zanzibar Island, features 101 rooms, a large outdoor swimming pool, gym, spa and health club facilities, all of which have been extensively and beautifully refurbished. Nungwi is a well-established resort destination, also renowned for its fishing village and dhow-making centre. The hotel is approximately 45 minutes drive to Stone Town, the heart and soul of Zanzibar, and an hour’s drive from the airport. With an exceptionally beautiful beach front location, the Doubletree by Hilton Resort Zanzibar, Nungwi offers the perfect spot to watch the sunrise and sunset.

“We are delighted to work with such a respected brand like Hilton and look forward to introducing the Doubletree by Hilton experience to Africa. With its heritage of warm hospitality and attention to detail, Doubletree by Hilton will lend a rounded, individual touch to the hospitality offerings here, and will help further position Tanzania as an international tourist destination, as well as ensuring these two hotels integrate fully into the Tanzanian community,” said Alkarim Nathoo, Associate Director, Opulent Hotel Group.

Hilton Hotels has a large brand footprint in Middle East & Africa with 42 hotels across 13 countries. There are nine Hilton branded hotels currently operating in Africa, with another five in the pipeline.

Hilton Hotels Corporation is a leading global hospitality company, with more than 3,300 hotels and 550,000 rooms in 77 countries and more than 130,000 team members worldwide. The company owns, manages or franchises some of the best known and highly regarded hotel brands including Hilton, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Grand Vacations, Homewood Suites by Hilton, the Waldorf Astoria and the Waldorf Astoria Collection, as well as the recently launched Home2 Suites by Hilton. The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors. The company currently operates 42 hotels in the Middle East & Africa – 16 hotels in Egypt, nine hotels in the UAE, six in Saudi Arabia and one each in Oman and Kuwait, plus another nine hotels in Africa and the Indian Ocean. Hilton Hotels has a signed development pipeline of an additional 20 properties across Middle East & Africa in the U.A.E., Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan, Equatorial Guinea, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria and Cape Verde. The Hilton Family of Hotels adheres to founder Conrad Hilton’s philosophy that, “It has been, and continues to be, our responsibility to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality.” The company put a name to its unique brand of service that has made it one of the best known and most highly regarded hotel companies: be hospitable. The philosophy is shared by all brands in the Hilton Family of Hotels, and is the inspiration for its overarching message of kindness and generosity. For more information about the company, please visit .

Opulent Hotel Group, a subsidiary of Splendid Hotel Group, was formed in 2007 to create and realise value through the acquisition, development and management of high-quality, internationally branded urban and resort hotel assets within Africa. Splendid Hotel Group is one of the UK’s largest multi-brand franchise hotel developers, with long and established working relationships across leading hotel groups. The Splendid Hotel Group own and operate approximately 18 hotels, primarily in London, and has a development pipeline of a further 1,000 rooms over the next three years. In addition to the two announced projects with the Doubletree by Hilton family, the Opulent Hotel Group has a development pipeline of a further 500 rooms in Africa over the next three years, including further projects in Tanzania, Kenya & Zanzibar. The company’s two directors are Mr Bashir Nathoo and Mr Ayazali Jivraj.