Hilton to double Middle East-Africa portfolio by 2012

DUBAI – Hilton Hotels Corporation (HHC), has earmarked the G.C.C as one of its top ten global development markets worldwide, in particular the U.A.E, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Jean-Paul Herzog, president, Hilton Hotels, Middle East & Africa commented, "The G.C.C presents significant growth opportunities for the Hilton Family of Brands. We currently have an opening pipeline of 16 Conrad Hotels & Resorts and Hilton brand hotels in Middle East & Africa, with the goal of signing an additional 20 management agreements and doubling our portfolio by 2012."

In addition to the key cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, development in locations such as Ras Al Khaimah, Riyadh and Bahrain is a focus of HHC's development strategy.

HHC announced the signing of two management agreements in Africa recently, marking the company's entry into Ghana and Cape Verde, an archipelago of ten islands in the Atlantic Ocean, off the west coast of Africa.