Hilton deals for London and Dublin

Hotel group Hilton International has signed deals for two new hotels in London and Dublin.

The company has signed agreements to open a four-star, 245-bedroom hotel at London's Tower Bridge in late 2006 and a four-star, 166-bedroom hotel in County Dublin in late 2005 or early 2006. Both properties will be leased, not owned, by Hilton.

Construction of the Hilton London Tower Bridge hotel, the group's 15th in the capital, is scheduled to start this autumn. The hotel, at More London Place opposite the Tower of London on the South Bank, will be aimed primarily at the corporate market. It will feature a conference and banqueting room with space for up to 400 delegates, a business centre, and a signature restaurant and bar on the ground floor.

Wolfgang Neumann, area president of Hilton UK & Ireland, said the hotel would "plug a hole" in the group's current coverage of the London market.

Hilton is also expected to announce a 16th hotel in London soon. The group is understood to have signed a deal some months ago for a hotel at London Wall, but was unable to comment on the development.

In Ireland, Hilton has signed a deal with construction company PJ Walls to operate a new hotel in Malahide, County Dublin. The Hilton Dublin Airport hotel will form part of a mixed development that will also include 95 apartments and several retail outlets. Building is expected to start soon.