Hilton to open 13 more resorts

Two years after its launch Hilton Worldwide Resorts has unveiled a portfolio that is set to double in size. The luxury holiday properties will number 73 globally by the end of 2007, after launching in 2002 with 36 resorts. This year through a combination of new resort openings and conversions of Hilton hotel properties to resort properties, 13 more resorts will be added. New properties will open in Barbados, Egypt, and in the Philippines. Later this year the Conrad Phuket Resort and Spa and the Hilton Krabi Resort and Spa will open, later than scheduled following the Indian Ocean tsunami – although the properties were not damaged, the local workforce has been redirected to the recovery effort. Further openings scheduled for next year include an eco-lodge in the Amazon, the Hilton Margaret River Vineyard Resort and Spa in Australia and the Hilton Sanya Resort and Spa in China. All of Hilton’s resort properties have one or more of a golf, spa, diving, family or romantic theme. The group produces a resort brochure but relies predominantly on tour operators, which sell about 80% or 90% of its rooms at present. It works with a wide range of operators including Kuoni and Thomas Cook. Report by Ginny McGrath