Hilton to open ‘most luxury hotels’ in company history

Hilton has announced the company is on track to open more luxury hotels in 2019 than in any previous year of its 100-year history.

In addition to four openings earlier this year across its luxury brands Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, LXR Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts — Hilton has seven hotels expected to open by year’s end.

Hilton’s current and projected luxury hotels in 2019, which join the 65 existing luxury properties, include:

• Waldorf Astoria: Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre, Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregaland Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi
• LXR: The Biltmore, Mayfair in London and Zemi Beach House Resort & Spa in Anguilla
• Conrad: Conrad Hangzhou, Conrad Hangzhou Tonglu, Conrad New York Midtown, Conrad Shenyang, Conrad Tianjin and Conrad Washington, DC

Following this year’s openings, Hilton’s luxury pipeline includes more than 30 properties, approximately 25 of which are expected to open through 2025.

“After more than a decade of honing Hilton’s distinct luxury offerings and investing in key markets around the globe, we are embarking upon a very exciting phase for the category,” said Martin Rinck, executive vice president and global head, Luxury & Lifestyle Group, Hilton. “Over the next five years, starting with this year’s openings, we will start to see the positive impact of our efforts, and we are confident that our amazing portfolio of properties will reinvent luxury travel for Hilton – and for the entire industry.”

Hilton mapped out a luxury growth strategy that centred on two priorities: refining the two core luxury brands at the time, Waldorf Astoria and Conrad, to resonate with specific customer needs; and bringing the brands to diversified markets.

Last year, Hilton identified a gap among independent luxury hotels and launched LXR, its third luxury brand..

“At the forefront of its reinvention”

“Hilton was among the first to predict that luxury travel was poised to take off across generations and markets in the years to come – and we wanted to be at the forefront of its reinvention,” said Ian Carter, president, global development, architecture, design and construction, Hilton.

“Development in the luxury space requires time and resources to do it properly. Our thoughtful and targeted approach has enabled us to grow Hilton’s luxury presence globally – in many cases from the ground up – from new properties to spectacular conversions.”