Hilton International executives meet in Dubai to discuss GCC expansion plans

Anthony Harris, CEO of Hilton International, flew to Dubai together with Koos Klein, president for the Middle East and Asia, Philip Bowcock, the company's worldwide financial controller, and Robert Scullin, vice president of finance for Asia Pacific.

Speaking during his visit, Anthony Harris, CEO of Hilton International said: "This is a very exciting time for Hilton International worldwide, and especially Hilton in the Gulf, as we continue to launch new luxury hotels.

"We believe that business and leisure traffic to the Gulf will continue to increase steadily in the long term, and we aim to provide luxurious hotels throughout the region offering the highest service and quality that are synonymous with the Hilton brand," he added.

Hilton International has recently undertaken a regional expansion programme with the opening of three new hotels in the GCC during 2001. The first was the magnificent 422-room Jeddah Hilton, which opened in summer 2001, raising the number of Hilton properties in the Kingdom to three. Soon after, Hilton launched two further hotels - one in Ras Al Khaimah and another in Dubai - complementing the existing portfolio of six hotels in the UAE.

Next year sees the opening of the new Hilton Kuwait, which will mark the re-entry of Hilton into the country. This spectacular sea-front resort situated outside Kuwait City offers one of the longest beaches in Kuwait, stretching for 1600 metres, with a choice of more than 60 two-bedroom chalets, 143 guest rooms and 49 self-contained studios.