Worldwide briefing

Hilton to expand in Africa and the Middle East

Hilton Hotels Corporation's international businesses has adopted a new structure that sees the creation of a new area responsible for business in the Middle East and Africa, led by new area president, Jean-Paul Herzog. The new area covers a portfolio of 44 hotels in the Arabian Peninsula, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Africa and the Indian Ocean. Hilton aims to double the size of its Middle East business in the next five years. At least 20 new hotel signings are anticipated up until 2012, in addition to an already-signed pipeline of 11 properties in the Middle East. The Hilton hotel brand will account for the majority of new openings, but new properties will also include other brands like Conrad; Doubletree; Hampton by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn.

IHG adds Indigo property in North Carolina

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is to launch its eighth Indigo property in the USA with the opening of the Indigo Durham, North Carolina in April 2008. The 125-room boutique hotel will feature the Indigo brand’s typical renewable design elements including a renewable exterior building mural, interior water feature, open and airy public spaces, a meditation courtyard, an indoor pool, and guestrooms with curved walls and distinctive entry alcoves. The hotel will also include a fitness studio as well as two meeting rooms with a total 2,000 sq ft and a number of food outlets. IHG’s Indigo brand is expanding throughout North America, with eight locations open and 40 in the pipeline. The first Hotel Indigo opened in Atlanta in October 2004.

Starwood has launched a new luxury resort in the USA with the opening of the Singer Island Resort in Florida. The hotel features 239 condominium suites offering between 800 and 2,100sq ft of living space in one and two-bedroom configurations. Suite interiors feature state-of-the-art kitchen appliances, marble bathrooms, living spaces with flat-screen televisions, CD/DVD players and spacious balconies offering water views. The resort also includes 66 private residential units. Both resort guests and residential owners will be able to make use of the resort’s amenities including 4,000sq f of meeting space, as well as three restaurants and a coffee bar and a wellness retreat and spa.

Hong Kong’s Aqua Restaurant Group has appointed British Australian chef Martin Benn as group executive chef of Western Cuisines. Benn, who will take up the position in June, will be based at Aqua, Hong Kong’s restaurant at One Peking Road in Tsim Sha Tsui. He will work closely with Aqua Restaurant Group’s managing director David Yeo to conceptualise and oversee all of the compayn’s western menu processes and developments.  Been said: "My style at Aqua will be a blend of French techniques with Australian and modern European influences. I’m looking forward to creating a menu that will be produce-driven with lively flavours and texture to match the energy of Hong Kong – a city fast becoming one of the great dining destinations of the world." 

Fast food company Burger King is to expand its presence in the Philippines and plans to open at least 75 outlets over the coming years. The company said it plans to undertake the re-imaging and renovation of its existing stores and open four new stores in 2007 in locations such as Ortigas, Makati and North Edsa. Burger King said that for its expansion it plans to look at locations with high levels of footfall, such as shopping centres, motorways and airports after noting that stand-alone restaurants have been less successful in the Philippines than those beside or inside commercial centres.

By Kerstin Kühn

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