Top executives from Hilton International, a leading hotel brand, met recently in Dubai to discuss recent hotel openings in the GCC, as well as plans for further expansion in the region.
Anthony Harris, CEO of Hilton International, flew to Dubai with Koos Klein, president for the Middle East and Asia, Philip Bowcock, the company's worldwide financial controller, and Robert Scullin, vice president of finance for Asia Pacific. "This is a very exciting time for Hilton International worldwide, and especially Hilton in the Gulf, as we continue to launch new luxury hotels," said Harris. Hilton International has undertaken a regional expansion programme with the opening of three new hotels in the GCC last year. The first was the 422-room Jeddah Hilton, which opened in summer 2001, raising the number of Hilton properties in the Kingdom to three. Soon after, Hilton launched two further hotels - one in Ras A1 Khaimah and another in Dubai - complementing the existing portfolio of six hotels in the UAE. This year sees the opening of the new Hilton Kuwait, which will mark the re-entry of Hilton into the country. The sea-front resort outside Kuwait City offers more than 60 twobedroom chalets, 143 guest rooms and 49 studios.