HILTON Worldwide is promoting its portfolio of more than 100 hotels in the UK, offering a wide range of accommodation to visitors. London is particularly well placed to deliver its renowned service across a range of award-winning brands, including the luxury Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, upscale Hilton Hotels & Resorts and DoubleTree by Hilton, and economy Hampton by Hilton.
The Middle East has always been a key source market for Hilton Worldwide in London, and 2011 saw over 39,000 room nights occupied by travellers from the region.
With Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympic Games & Paralympics taking place this year, 2012 is predicted to see further growth for the Middle East as a key source market to the city, and the UK in general.
John Rogers, vice president operations for UK and Ireland at Hilton Worldwide, expects occupancies to increase further in 2012, due to the exciting year ahead for London. “With Ramadan coinciding with the Olympics Games, we expect an impact on traffic from the Middle East during that period but to see this bounce back post the Games and Ramadan.
“From June until September, London will be buzzing with activities and with more rooms available, we encourage guests to spend time in London and take advantage of the full range of activities available.”
For those keen to travel during the Games, Rogers promises that room rates across the Hilton properties will not be hugely inflated.
“Rates were set taking an average based on inflation from previous years, four years ago.”
The UAE remains the largest source market from the Middle East and witnessed an 11 per cent increase in visitors to the UK in 2011 versus 2010 while business to Hilton Worldwide London hotels from the top five Middle East source markets increased by more than four per cent in 2011. The London Hilton Park Lane saw particularly strong progress with 21 per cent year-on-year growth from the top five Middle Eastern markets.
At Hilton, staff are specially trained to provide the welcome Middle East visitors have come to expect and are equipped to handle special requests. At various properties, special teams cater to the unique requirements of Arabic guests, while Arabic TV stations are available in many hotels.