DoubleTree by Hilton Continues Rapid Global Expansion

DoubleTree by Hilton reported that through the fourth quarter 2012 it added 49 hotels to its portfolio in one year. The company expects to meet or exceed that pace this year with both new-build and conversion hotels in the development pipeline.

“2012 was another in what we’re confident will be a number of consecutive milestone years for DoubleTree by Hilton,” said John Greenleaf, global head of DoubleTree by Hilton. “Since 2007, we have grown the brand by more than 70 percent to become the fastest-growing, full service brand in the Hilton Worldwide portfolio and one of the fastest-growing within the upscale, full-service segment. We credit this success to a number of factors, including our brand restructuring with the addition of the ‘by Hilton‘ endorsement to our name and the positive performance of Hilton Worldwide around the globe.”

In 2012, DoubleTree by Hilton added 49 hotels, including 31 hotels in the Americas, 11 in Europe and seven in Asia Pacific. Eighty-five percent of these projects were conversions from another brand or independent hotel. The company also opened its first hotels in Japan, Croatia, Thailand and Spain. It brought its total portfolio of U.K. hotels to 18 (from zero in 2008) and doubled its capacity in London. DoubleTree also has signed more than 75 deals for hotels to open through 2020, at least 25 of which are planned in the Americas.

With an eye towards the future, Greenleaf said the brand is expanding its presence in secondary and tertiary markets within the U.S. and doubling Canadian supply with three hotels opening, including the brand’s first hotel in downtown Toronto. DoubleTree also plans to enter at least two additional countries in Europe, with two hotels each in Ireland and Poland, and it will grow its U.K. collection to 25 hotels openings in London and Edinburgh. It will continue to grow in Asia/Pacific, with a brand launch in Indonesia and a doubling of hotels from three to six in India.

Source: Travel Pulse, http://www.travelpulse.com/doubletree-by-hilton-continues-rapid-global-expansion.html