CHINA Hilton Worldwide has signed its largest multi-hotel management deal in China, opening eight properties under the Hilton and Conrad flags between 2011 and 2014.
The hotels will be owned by Shimao Group. Properties under the Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand will open in Tianjin, Nanjing, Wuhan, Shenyang, Yantai and Wuxi, while Conrad-branded properties will be in Xiamen and Qingdao.
“Hilton Worldwide is one of the fastest-growing hotel companies in terms of contracts signed globally, and China is a critical part of our global development blueprint. This partnership with Shimao Group is a significant milestone for Hilton Worldwide, and we are proud to be associated with a strong and well-regarded company like Shimao Group,” says Hilton President and CEO Chris Nassetta. “Shimao Group enjoys a leading position in China’s real estate industry, while Hilton Worldwide brings the highest-quality hotel brands and management expertise, making this partnership one of the most prominent collaborations in China’s hospitality industry.”
The signing of these eight management agreements is collectively the largest multiple hotel management project signed by Hilton with a single owner in China to date. It is also Hilton’s first management agreement signed with Shimao Group.
“As the leader in the global hospitality industry and the most recognized and influential hotel brand in the Greater China region, Hilton Worldwide is undoubtedly a preferred business partner for Shimao Group as we grow our business in the high-end segment of China’s hospitality industry,” says Jason Hui, vice president of Shimao Property Holdings. “We believe that this win-win collaboration will enable both parties to jointly tap on the vast opportunities in China’s hospitality industry.”
Hilton operates 14 hotels in Greater China under four brands: Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, Hilton and Doubletree by Hilton. The company has 54 additional properties under development there, with the goal of having 100 hotels open in Greater China within the next five years. “We will be introducing more of our 10 leading brands to China as we develop strategically across the luxury, full-service and mid-market segments,” says Lee Weehau, vice president of development for Greater China.