164-room and suite Hilton Zamalek Residence Cairo to open as a Hilton branded hotel in July 2010

Cairo, Egypt, March 28, 2010: Hilton Worldwide has signed a Management Agreement with Safir El Zamalek Hotel Company for a new Hilton branded hotel on the famous Nile River in Egypt.  Hilton Zamalek Residence Cairo is scheduled to open in July 2010.

The Management Agreement was signed by Mishal Abdallah Almasad, Chairman, Safir El Zamalek Hotel Company SAE and Mahmoud Mokhtar, Vice President Operations, Hilton Worldwide, Egypt in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Rashid Al Hamad, Kuwaiti Ambassador to Egypt, Sharifa Baqer, General Manager, Safir El Zamalek Hotel Company and Carlos Khneisser, Director of Development, Hilton Worldwide, Middle East.

The 88-room and 76-suite conversion property overlooking the Nile is expected to open its doors as a Hilton branded hotel in July this year. In the heart of Cairo on picturesque Zamalek Island, Hilton Zamalek Residence Cairo lies between Downtown Cairo and Giza, and approximately 20 km from Cairo International Airport.

Hilton Zamalek Residence Cairo will further strengthen the Hilton portfolio in Egypt, becoming the sixteenth Hilton branded property and seventeenth Hilton Worldwide property in the country. It will join Ramses Hilton, Hilton Cairo World Trade Centre Residence and Hilton Pyramids Golf Resort as the fourth Hilton property in Cairo.

"Egypt is a key development market for Hilton Worldwide and the Hilton brand in the Middle East. As an upscale residential area and diplomatic quarter, the Zamalek district is an ideal location to increase our presence in the capital and to support our position as the leading hotel brand in Egypt (ref. Business Development Research Consultants - BDRC 2009). Hilton Zamalek Residence Cairo will benefit from a swift opening, with the full support of the Hilton sales and marketing engine," said Mahmoud Mokhtar, Vice President Operations, Hilton Worldwide, Egypt.

The residential hotel has undergone a US$20 million renovation and facelift, and now features five restaurants ranging from an all-day dining restaurant, a speciality restaurant, a coffee shop, a pastry shop and a pool café. In keeping with the renowned Hilton Meetings product, the hotel has three meeting rooms, as well as a business centre with three breakout rooms. Leisure facilities include a health club and spa with sauna, steam room, massage treatment room and gym.

"Hilton is the leading global hospitality brand and offers guests more than 530 hotels and resorts in 76 countries around the world. We are excited to bring our style, world class service and forward thinking approach to this spectacular property with beautiful views of the Nile," said Dave Horton, Global Head - Hilton Hotels brand.

"As we face a surge in domestic and business travel across Egypt, Hilton's established credentials and well positioned brands will help us manage demand and meet travellers' high expectations for this new conversion," said Mishal Abdallah Almasad, Chairman, Safir El Zamalek Hotel Company SAE.

Hilton Worldwide has an impressive brand footprint in the Middle East & Africa with 44 hotels across 14 countries, and another 21 properties in the pipeline. The Hilton brand is the largest hotel brand in Egypt by number of hotels (16) and room count (6,280 rooms), spread across Cairo and all the major coastal resorts (Source: Lodging Econometrics Q1 2009).

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About Hilton Worldwide
Hilton Worldwide is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels.  For more than 90 years, Hilton Worldwide has been offering business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value.  The company is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands.  Its brands are comprised of more than 3,500 hotels in 81 countries and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations.  The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors®.

For more information about the company, please visit www.hiltonworldwide.com .

The company currently operates 44 hotels in Middle East & Africa - 16 hotels in Egypt, nine hotels in the UAE, six in Saudi Arabia and one each in Oman and Kuwait, plus another 11 hotels in Africa and the Indian Ocean. 

Hilton Worldwide has a signed development pipeline of an additional 21 properties across Middle East & Africa in the U.A.E, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Equatorial Guinea, Uganda, Namibia, Nigeria and Cape Verde. 

For more information about the company, please visit www.hiltonworldwide.com and www.hiltondevelopment.com.

About Hilton Hotels
Hilton is the stylish, forward-thinking global leader of hospitality that welcomes guests in more countries than any other full-service hotel brand. The Hilton brand currently includes more than 530 hotels and resorts in 76 countries, and plans to serve travellers in 80 countries by the end of 2011. By offering innovative products, services and amenities, Hilton enables travellers to be at their best 24/7, whether travelling for business or leisure. Start your journey at www.hilton.com.

For further information please contact:
Noha Bassily
Director, Corporate Communications
Hilton Worldwide, Egypt
Tel: +202 25947045
noha.bassily@hilton.com   

© Press Release 2010