Hilton Continues to Build Latin America Portfolio

Hilton highlighted its commitment to the Latin America market at the South American Investment & Tourism Conference (SAHIC), which was held September 13-14 at the newly renovated Hilton Buenos Aires in Argentina.

In the 12 months ending June 30, 2017, Hilton signed 30 new deals, maintaining a pipeline of more than 70 properties in Latin America; and opened 15 new hotels, including six that debuted this year in Brazil, Mexico and Uruguay.

The company’s current portfolio in Latin America includes nine brands, while its expansion plans in the region span seven of its existing brands: Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Curio Collection by Hilton, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton by Hilton. Approximately 60 percent of the projects are driven by the company’s focused-service brands, such as Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton by Hilton.

“Our team continues to focus on Latin America for development and growth opportunities. The dynamic region offers great potential for the travel industry as we see recovering economies as well as a continued focus on driving foreign investments,” said Ted Middleton, senior vice-president, Development, Latin America.

Argentina, one of the top tourist destinations in the region, is a key market for Hilton. It currently has three hotels open, including Hilton Buenos Aires, Hilton Garden Inn Tucuman and Anselmo Buenos Aires, Curio Collection by Hilton. “With 5.6 million international travelers visiting Argentina in 2016, it is one of the top 15 destinations in the world and plays an incredibly important role in our expansion efforts.”

Hilton is actively pursuing further growth opportunities in Argentina and has four hotels under design or constructions, including:

• Hilton Pilar, Buenos Aires – expected to open in the first quarter of 2018
• Hilton Garden Inn Neuquen – expected to open mid-2018
• Hampton by Hilton Bariloche – expected to open in 2019
• Hilton Garden Inn Santa Fe – expected to open in 2020

Other projects in the Hilton pipeline include:

• the 220-room Hampton by Hilton Santiago Las Condes, which was signed as the brand’s largest in South America, following last year’s signing of the first Hilton Hotels & Resorts Hotel in Chile with Hilton Santiago Las Condes;
• Hilton Asuncion, the brand’s first in Paraguay;
• Hilton Medellin and Hilton Bogota Corferias, Colombia;
• nearly 10 deals across Central America, including the first Hilton Hotels & Resorts hotel in Guatemala;
• and approximately 15 new deals in Mexico, where Hilton now has more than 30 projects in the pipeline, including the first Curio Collection by Hilton in the country.

As of Q2 2017, Hilton surpassed 100 hotels in the region with more than 17,500 rooms. New hotel highlights include:

• Hilton Rio de Janeiro Copacabana, the company’s 100th hotel in the region;
• Conrad San Luis Potosi, the brand’s debut property in Mexico;
• Hampton Inn by Hilton Cancun Las Cumbres, the company’s first in Cancun;
• and Hampton by Hilton Montevideo Carrasco, the brand’s first in Uruguay.

“Hilton has achieved a milestone year with the opening of our 100th hotel in the region, and we continue to build on our success and grow at a rapid rate,” said Middleton. “We’ve maintained our growth in Latin America and we are eager to deliver new projects to our loyal guests.”

By the end of 2017, Hilton is planning to open approximately 20 hotels (including six added to portfolio this year). Upcoming openings include:

• Hilton Garden Inn Santo Andro – Brazil (expected to open in September 2017)
• Hilton Garden Inn Santa Fe, Mexico City – Mexico (expected to open Q4 2017 as Hilton’s first dual-brand property in Mexico, adjacent to the DoubleTree by Hilton Mexico City Santa Fe)
• The Fives Downtown Hotel & Residences, Curio Collection by Hilton – Mexico (expected to open Q4 2017)
• Conrad Cartagena – Colombia (expected to open Q4 2017)
• Hampton by Hilton and DoubleTree by Hilton Bogota Airport – Colombia (both expected to open Q4 2017)
• Mahogany Bay Resort & Beach Club, Curio Collection by Hilton – Belize (expected to open by the end of 2017)