Hilton offers summer deals for Middle East travellers at ATM 2008

With the Middle East being a key source market for Hilton's international portfolio, the world's leading hotel company is unveiling the award-winning Hilton Extra Nights summer holiday promotion at this year's Arabian Travel Market (May 6 - 9th 2008).

Guy Epsom, Regional Director of Sales & Marketing for Hilton Hotels, Arabian Peninsula & Indian Ocean said, "2008 is the 11th consecutive run for this summer promotion, with this year marking a new beginning for the programme. We have extended the promotion to include all the Hilton Family of Hotels, and have rebranded Hilton For Free to Hilton Extra Nights, to emphasise the added value, flexibility and choice on offer. New for this year is the extension of the promotion period to cover the Eid holidays, with the programme bookable for stays between May 1st and October 6th. Customers can not only book direct with Hilton's reservations call centre, but also with our travel partner - Dnata Holidays."

Following the success of last year's campaign both Visa and Dnata Holidays are supporting the initiative for the second consecutive year. A three night consecutive stay will earn travellers one additional complimentary night. For five nights booked, guests will receive an additional two nights' stay, and a week's stay will earn them a fantastic three-night extension. For longer holidays, they can receive an extra week's stay for free. Customers can also earn Hilton HHonors points and Airmiles.

Nigel Stone, from Visa CEMEA's Acceptance Development team said: "Visa is delighted to be working with Hilton for the second year in a row to enhance the travel experience for all Visa cardholders. By offering a ten per cent discount and bonus nights, this latest Visa offer is yet another value added reward for cardholders, proving that not only is paying with a Visa card convenient and secure but is also the best way to pay in a Hilton hotel."

The programme is especially widespread this year. The 127 participating hotels are not just limited to the Hilton brand, but include other members of the Hilton Family of Hotels. For the first time ever, the prestigious Waldorf=Astoria Collection will participate with Qasr Al Sharq, and the newly rebranded architectural masterpiece Rome Cavalieri. Broadening the appeal will be the contemporary luxury offerings of Conrad Hotels and the mid-market option, Hilton Garden Inn.

Nick Sheppard, Regional Head of Leisure and Non-Air Products, Dnata, said: "We are delighted to continue our partnership with the Hilton Family of Hotels. The Hilton Extra Nights programme will naturally attract thousands of Middle East travellers eager to take advantage of the enticing offer. This is a unique, value-added promotion that is geared to facilitate seasonal travel patterns in the GCC, while ensuring our customers receive maximum value for money."

The most popular Hilton Extra Nights destinations are expected to be Cairo, London, Paris, Vienna and Munich. Vietnam and Cameroon are the new destinations for 2008. With Cairo topping the popularity charts, the luxurious Conrad Cairo scenically situated on the Nile and close to the main tourist attractions, offers some of the largest guest rooms in the city. Meanwhile, the Hilton Vienna Danube, the only waterfront hotel in the city, offers breathtaking views of the River Danube. Visitors can explore buzzing London at the award-winning fashionable London Hilton on Park Lane, situated in the heart of Mayfair overlooking Hyde Park.

New additions to the promotion this year are: Conrad Bangkok, a luxury hotel situated a mere stone's throw from the city's coolest shopping and dining experiences; Hilton Tokyo Bay, the official hotel of Tokyo Disneyland, and Hilton Beijing, a host to the plethora of spectators gracing the capital for the much-anticipated Beijing Olympics.