Hilton (NYSE: HLT) (www.Hilton.com) has signed a management agreement with Group Sadiki
(www.GroupSadiki.com) to open its first hotel in Casablanca. The news follows the conclusion of a landmark
year for Hilton in Morocco which saw it re-establish a presence in the country in March 2016, with the
opening of Hilton Garden Inn Tanger City Center. The mid-scale Hilton Garden Inn brand (www.HGI.com) will
now be soon represented in Morocco's largest city, with construction set to begin this year.Hilton Garden Inn
Casablanca Sidi Maarouf will consist of an initial 118 guest rooms with space available on site for further
expansion. The hotel forms part of a mixed use development with a 550sqm ballroom and Moroccan-oriental
restaurant also to be built in the vicinity. The Hilton Garden Inn will contain three dining options on property,
in addition to another 300sqm of event space to the complex. It is forecast that the hotel may welcome its
first guests in 2021.Carlos Khneisser, VP, Development, MENA, Hilton Worldwide said: "Casablanca is a market
we've been looking at for some time and we're confident that we've now identified the right partner and the
right location for our debut property. Sidi Maarouf is rapidly establishing itself as not only the gateway to the
city center, with the construction of its new suspension bridge, but as a significant business district in its
own right."Sidi Maarouf is located in the South West of Casablanca and has emerged as the city's new
business district with several multinationals establishing a presence in recent years. It enjoys an enviable
location for hosting meetings and events, at just 25km from Mohamed V Airport and also directly accessible
by tramway.Abderrahim Sadiki of Group Sadiki said: "It is a privilege for us to bringing the Hilton name to
Casablanca for the very first time. As more and more businesses seek to locate their operations in Sidi
Maarouf we see a demand for an increase in the levels of accommodation. In taking the decision to expand
our existing operations at this site to include a hotel, we are pleased to be doing so in partnership with a
major international operator such as Hilton, who we believe will help us achieve optimum results."John
Greenleaf, Global Head, Hilton Garden Inn, said: "Having successfully launched our brand in Morocco earlier
this year we are confident that Hilton Garden Inn Casablanca Sidi Maarouf will serve the needs of travellers
seeking a trusted yet affordable international hotel brand. Hilton Garden Inn is known across the world for
offering amenities and services for travellers to sleep deep, stay fit, eat well and work smart while away from
home."The construction site of Hilton Garden Inn Sidi Maarouf will be located in close proximity to the
interchange between three main highways, the N11, A7 and A5 making it an ideal choice for travellers with
interest both in Casablanca and in greater Morocco.