MCLEAN, Va.—Hilton Worldwide announces plans to open nearly 40 hotels and resorts in Latin America by the end of 2016, increasing its portfolio in the region by approximately 60 percent within the next two years. With recent openings joining the portfolio and new projects growing the development pipeline, Hilton Worldwide is slated to maintain its development momentum and continue bringing it brands to new destinations throughout the region.
As of second quarter 2014, Hilton Worldwide has nearly 12,000 rooms at 62 hotels and resorts open and welcoming guests throughout Latin America, including recent openings such as the 347-room Hilton Panama and the 105-room Hampton by Hilton Cali in Colombia. The company’s development pipeline is growing consistently with more than 6,000 rooms and more than 40 signed projects, with upcoming openings including the 298-room Hilton Barra, Rio de Janeiro and the 226-room DoubleTree by Hilton Santiago – Vitacura in Chile.
“Hilton Worldwide continues experiencing a period of remarkable global growth. Latin America is a dominant player in this growth, and we are committed to continuing this trend in the region,” said Tom Potter, senior vice president, Caribbean, Mexico, and Latin America, for Hilton Worldwide. “With stable and growing economies, Latin America affords tremendous opportunities, and we have the right team in place to continue introducing the right brands to target markets with significant potential for growth.”
While Hilton Worldwide plans to develop all of its brands throughout Latin America, there is significant interest in two of its focused-service brands: Hampton Hotels and Hilton Garden Inn. Hampton Hotels has successfully demonstrated its benefits for multi-property opportunities as well as value-driven markets in key and secondary cities. These two brands currently represent approximately 75 percent of the Latin America development pipeline.
There is also continued interest in the company’s flagship Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand for full-service hotel management agreements in key gateway cities, and DoubleTree by Hilton for full-service hotel conversions.
Hilton Worldwide is working diligently to continue the portfolio’s growth in Latin America and is focused on a number of key destinations, with Mexico leading the charge as the fastest growing in the region with more than 20 of the signed deals.
As of second quarter 2014, Hilton Worldwide’s development pipeline of 43 hotels includes Hampton Hotels in Colombia, Mexico, and Panama; Hilton Garden Inn properties in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay; Hilton Hotels & Resorts projects in Argentina, Brazil, Panama, and Mexico; DoubleTree by Hilton hotels in Chile and Mexico; and Conrad Hotels & Resorts in Colombia.
Hilton Worldwide has a number of management and franchise agreements currently in the works. The company has just signed a new strategic development agreement in Chile to bring a number of Hampton Hotels to the country. This is the second strategic development agreement Hilton Worldwide has signed for new hotels in Chile, with the first announced earlier this year. There are plans to formally add several new projects to the Mexico pipeline including three Hampton Hotels and one Hilton Garden Inn signed earlier this month.
From 2013 to date 2014, the company has added eight hotels and more than 1,400 rooms to the Latin America portfolio. An additional seven hotels and more than 1,000 rooms are expected to open by the end of this year.
