Hilton Hotels & Resorts®

SABAH, Malaysia and MCLEAN, Va. – Hilton Worldwide today signed an agreement with Pekah Hotels Sdn. Bhd. to manage Hilton Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia. The ninth Hilton Worldwide property in Malaysia, the 313-room Hilton Kota Kinabalu will also be the fifth Hilton Hotels & Resorts branded hotel in the country, scheduled to open in 2015.

"We are delighted to fly yet another Hilton Hotels & Resorts flag in Malaysia. With more than 550 hotels across six continents, we continue to build upon our legacy as the world's leading hotel brand by developing products and services to meet the needs of tomorrow's savvy global travelers while our team members shape experiences designed to make every guest feel cared for, valued and respected," said Rob Palleschi, global head, Hilton Hotels & Resorts. "Given its prime location in the city center, Hilton Kota Kinabalu will welcome guests to this great city in Sabah with the world-class hospitality synonymous with the brand."

The 12-story Hilton Kota Kinabalu is strategically located in the central business district of Kota Kinabalu along Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman and boasts 313 spacious guest rooms, including 17 suites with views overlooking lush greenery and city views of Kota Kinabalu. "We have been operating in Malaysia for more than 30 years, and Hilton Kota Kinabalu will be our ninth property in this great country. As the capital city of Sabah, Kota Kinabalu acts as the main industrial and commercial center for the state. With a strong partner like Pekah Hotels Sdn. Bhd., we are confident that Hilton Kota Kinabalu will set the benchmark for quality hospitality experiences catering to both domestic and international travelers," said Andrew Clough, senior vice president, development, Middle East & Asia Pacific, Hilton Worldwide.

"This signing marks our first partnership with Hilton Worldwide and combines the expertise of a truly global, award-winning hospitality company with strong local market expertise. Kota Kinabalu is a key leisure destination in Malaysia and we are confident that Hilton Kota Kinabalu is in a great position to take advantage of this growing market," said Dato' Steven Tan, chief executive officer, Pekah Hotels Sdn. Bhd.

Hilton Kota Kinabalu will offer an all-day dining restaurant, a specialty rooftop restaurant adjacent to the rooftop pool and a lounge bar. Offering a total of 2,500 square meters of event space including a 1,000-square meter ballroom, the hotel will have an 8-story car park, which offers convenient parking for patrons. It will also have a business center, a health club and a spa.

Kota Kinabalu is a popular getaway destination as it offers a number of tourism attractions and Kota Kinabalu International Airport welcomed 2.9 million passengers in 2012. Kinabalu National Park, Malaysia's first World Heritage Site, is one of the main tourist attractions and is where the majestic Mount Kinabalu is located. One of the highest mountains in South East Asia standing at 4095.2 meters, it attracts thousands of climbers from around the world every year. Furthermore, the internationally famous island of Sipadan is in the world's top five dive sites. Apart from the tourist attractions, Kota Kinabalu is a key industrial and commercial hub for East Malaysia.

About Pekah Hotels Sdn. Bhd.
Pekah Hotels Sdn. Bhd. is a family owned and privately held company based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

About Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Founded in 1919 as the flagship brand of Hilton Worldwide, Hilton Hotels & Resorts continues to build upon its legacy of innovation by developing products and services to meet the needs of savvy global travelers at more than 550 hotels across six continents. Hilton is the stylish, forward-thinking global leader in hospitality with Team Members shaping experiences in which every guest feels cared for, valued and respected.

About Hilton Worldwide

Hilton Worldwide is a leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxury and full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and focused-service hotels. For 94 years, Hilton Worldwide has been dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences. The company's portfolio of ten world-class global brands is comprised of more than 4,000 managed, franchised, owned and leased hotels and timeshare properties, with 665,000 rooms in 90 countries and territories, including Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors®.

Audrey Wong
Corporate Communications Manager, Asia Pacific
Hilton