Business for Hilton Hotels, Middle East and Africa has been strong across the region, achieving excellent RevPAR growth on the back of strengthening corporate and leisure business, according to JEAN PAUL HERZOG, president Hilton Hotels, Middle East & Africa.
“Whilst it is impossible to insulate ourselves entirely from the realities of the global marketplace, we are in the fortunate position of being on sound financial footing with sufficient flexibility to continue to advance our strategic objectives, invest in our brands and the global development pipeline,” said Herzog.
Hilton has more than 1,000 new hotels in various stages of development around the world, with more than 860 of these planned for the US. Beyond this the group is developing its brands around the world, which total more than 200 hotels.
“We will continue full steam ahead, whilst operating with the appropriate levels of decisiveness and discipline,” he said.
Occupancy levels in the Middle East properties have as yet been impacted, and business remains robust according to Herzog.
In order to improve occupancies in 2009, Herzog believed that as hoteliers they needed to be disciplined and remain calm, and “we should not panic but should stimulate advance bookings through creative marketing/PR, and aggressive sales campaigns”.
A total of 16 new properties opening in the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon, Jordan, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Uganda, Cape Verde and Nigeria between 2009 and 2011 will complete the Hilton Hotels Middle East & Africa portfolio and bring 4,927 rooms to the region.
Their key source markets for MEA are GCC, UK, Germany (and German speaking countries) and Russia is a key emerging market, said Herzog.