In conjunction with the beginning of Future Hospitality Summit 2023, Hilton has announced intentions to increase its presence in the Middle East by more than 125% in the coming years.
Continual openings throughout the region are bringing Hilton’s ambitious expansion plans to fruition. The addition of The Plaza Doha to LXR Hotels & Resorts’ portfolio in Qatar earlier this year strengthened Hilton’s luxury presence in the country. In September, Waldorf Astoria Cairo Heliopolis marked the introduction of Hilton’s Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts brand on the African continent.
In the coming months, openings are anticipated across a variety of brands and nations, including:
- Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay
- Conrad Bahrain Financial Harbour
- Hilton Riyadh Olaya
- Hilton Cairo Nile Maadi
- Embassy Suites by Hilton Dubai Business Bay
- Hampton by Hilton Kuwait Salmiya
Multiple new properties were inked in August in Saudi Arabia, a key development market, including a Conrad Hotels & Resorts property in Riyadh’s Laysen Valley, two hotels in Abha, and a Canopy by Hilton at the Porta Jeddah Development. With these agreements, Saudi Arabia has become the largest pipeline market for Hilton in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and the fourth largest globally.
Hilton’s Vice President of Development for the Middle East and Africa, Carlos Khneisser, stated, “Our multi-brand growth strategy continues to show results, with close to 100 hotels – totalling almost 25,000 rooms – set to open in the Middle East in the near future. We are also proud to be managing an active pipeline, with approximately 70 percent of our Middle East projects currently under construction. We look forward to seeing these hotels come to fruition in the years ahead, while continuing to agree new properties.”
Multiple Hilton leaders are confirmed for onstage discussions at FHS 2023, including Kevin Jacobs, Chief Financial Officer and President, Global Development; Carlos Khneisser, Vice President, Development, MEA; Amir Lababedi, Managing Director, Development, MENA; Elyza Falzon, Vice President, Architecture, Design & Construction, Middle East & Sub-Saharan Africa; Emma Banks, Vice President, F&B Strategy & Development, EMEA; and Tobias Schuster, Senior Director, F&B Business Development, EMEA.
