Hilton to Introduce Two New Brands to Kuwait at The Avenues Mall

KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait and MCLEAN, Va. - Hilton and Al-Rai Real Estate Co - owned by Mabanee Co - announced plans today which will see Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton's smart luxury hotel brand, and midscale Hilton Garden Inn open their doors to guests in early 2019. The development forms part of an ambitious expansion project which will see almost $1billion devoted towards solidifying the position of The Avenues Mall in Kuwait City as one of the world's top retail destinations. Rudi Jagersbacher, president, Middle East, Africa & Turkey for Hilton Worldwide, said: "We're delighted to be working with Al-Rai as part of the fourth phase expansion of The Avenues. With its number of shopping outlets set to increase by nearly 50%, demand for accommodation at a site which already attracts millions of visitors every year is set to increase substantially. Our Conrad and Hilton Garden Inn brands will enable us to cater for guests seeking either smart luxury or affordable accommodations during their stay." Both hotels will be managed by Hilton Worldwide and will be located on opposite sides of the mall. The complex itself is located off Kuwait's fifth ring road (now named Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Road) allowing ease of access to junctions connecting to both Kuwait International Airport and Kuwait City. Mr. Mohammad Alshaya, chairman, Mabanee said: "In planning the fourth phase of the expansion of this immense project, one of the most exciting additions, we are making is to provide the ability for visitors to make their stays easier by staying inside Avenues itself." He added: "Having hotels as part of The Avenues development will enhance the quality of the experience and the service we provide to our visitors. This will in turn support internal tourism and also place Kuwait on the regional tourism map. We have seen increasing numbers of visitors from abroad, in particular from the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and this is a strong indication of the revival of tourism in the country." Mr. Waleed Alsharian, chief executive officer, Mabanee said: "We believe Hilton is the ideal partner to provide accommodation to match the expectations of our luxury shoppers while also providing more affordable alternative as we continue to diversify our retail and entertainment offering." Conrad Kuwait This 158-guestroom luxury property will form part of the extension of the Mall's popular 'Prestige' district, which opened in 2012. The district forms Kuwait's largest luxury shopping destination, home to 47 luxury retail units under a 23 metre dome. The hotel will feature a ballroom, multiple dining options, and an outdoor pool and spa. The hotel's design concept will complement the Prestige district's use of copper and rare 'Portoro' stone, imported from the mountains of Italy. Hilton Garden Inn Kuwait Adjoining two of the new districts being created under the fourth phase expansion, Hilton Garden Inn Kuwait will become the brand's largest hotel in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region. Boasting 430 guestrooms in an imposing tower structure at the Northern end of the Mall, the main entrance of the property will be located in 'The Forum' which will provide a central meeting point within the mall. The property will also border the new 'Electra' district set to create a vibrant international atmosphere inspired by the bright lights and high technology of cities such as Tokyo and Hong Kong. Jim Holthouser, executive vice president, global brands, Hilton Worldwide, said: "The Avenues is a truly world-class destination and a fitting home to two of our world-class brands. Both have celebrated landmark openings in the Middle East this year, with Conrad becoming our first luxury brand to welcome guests to Makkah, while Hilton Garden Inn has debuted at another of the region's flagship retail spaces, Dubai's Mall of the Emirates. We look forward to adding Kuwait to both portfolios." Both properties will participate in Hilton HHonors®, the only guest rewards program that allows members to earn Points & Miles® for the same stay and redeem points for free nights with No Blackout Dates at more than 4,700 hotels worldwide. Learn more about Conrad Hotels & Resorts at www.conradhotels.com. Media can access renderings of Conrad Kuwait and additional property information at news.conradhotels.com/kuwait. About Hilton Garden Inn The award-winning Hilton Garden Inn brand provides business and leisure guests upscale, affordable accommodations and unexpected amenities for an experience that is ‘Simply on Another Level.’ The Hilton Garden Inn Promise affirms the brand’s goal to make each guest’s stay better and brighter. Guaranteed. Team Members at more than 800 hotels in 41 countries around the world ensure today’s busy travelers have a bright and satisfying experience, starting with the first hello. As a recognized F&B leader, Hilton Garden Inn serves locally-sourced food and beverage at its full-service restaurants and bars, featuring cooked-to-order breakfast, handcrafted cocktails, and on-trend small plates. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits. For more information about Hilton Garden Inn, visit www.hgi.com or newsroom.hilton.com/hgi and connect on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. About Hilton Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 15 world-class brands comprising more than 5,500 properties with nearly 895,000 rooms, in 109 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its mission to be the world’s most hospitable company, Hilton earned a spot on the 2018 world’s best workplaces list, and has welcomed more than 3 billion guests in its nearly 100 year history. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program, Hilton Honors, nearly 82 million members who book directly with Hilton have access to instant benefits, including digital check-in with room selection, Digital Key, and Connected Room. Visit newsroom.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. About Conrad Hotels & Resorts Spanning more than five continents with nearly 35 properties, Conrad Hotels & Resorts has created a seamless connection between contemporary design, leading innovation and curated art to inspire the entrepreneurial spirit of the globally connected traveler. Guests can manage their stay through the Conrad Concierge service in the Hilton Honors mobile app, getting access to pre check-in and room selection, to ordering in-room dining and mobile checkout all from their own mobile device. Conrad is part of Hilton, a leading global hospitality company. Connect with Conrad by booking at www.conradhotels.com or through the Hilton Honors mobile app. Learn more about the brand by visiting newsroom.hilton.com/conradhotels and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.