Hilton Aiming to Convert Up To 2,000 Rooms in 24 Months in Thailand

Hilton has unveiled plans to convert up to 2,000 rooms in 24 months in Thailand, with a focus on its full service brands Hilton Hotels & Resorts and DoubleTree by Hilton, as well as focused service brand Hilton Garden Inn.

Emerging from one of the industry’s most challenging years, Hilton’s recent FY2020 earnings results show signs of optimism in development activity globally, with conversion signings for Hilton across the globe increasing more than 30 percent versus the previous year.

In recent years Hilton has inked a number of signings in Thailand, paving the way for the market launch of its focused service brand, Hilton Garden Inn, which is scheduled to open in Phuket in the final quarter of this year, as well as the debut of its lifestyle brand, Canopy by Hilton, in the country in 2023.

Thailand already holds Hilton’s largest portfolio in South East Asia with 11 hotels across four brands and an additional eight in the pipeline, which will see the entry of two new brands into the market.

Paul Hutton, vice president, operations, Hilton in South East Asia, said, “As much as we continue to witness the impact of the global pandemic on the travel industry, across the board we are optimistic about recovery in the mid to long-term, first through domestic travel that will be followed closely by what we believe will be exponential pick up in international travel as travel borders reopen in a safe and cautious manner.”

Hilton currently operates across five locations in Thailand: Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui, Hua Hin and Pattaya.

“The strength of our portfolio and commercial engines have helped preserve and optimize value for our owners throughout one of the most challenging years the industry has ever faced,” said Guy Phillips, senior vice president, development, Asia and Australasia, Hilton. “The trust we see from our partners in our award-winning brands gives us confidence that steering our focus onto rebranding opportunities would allow us to help independent hotel owners in Thailand maximize the potential of their assets.”

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