Hilton worldwide expects its luxury brands - Waldorf Astoria and Conrad - to drive aggressive expansion, focusing in particular on the powerhouses of China and India. Currently, there are 69 Hilton Worldwide properties across its brands in Asia-Pacific, and a pipeline of more than 130 properties.
In the Asia-Pacific pipeline are Waldorf Astorias in Beijing and Hyderabad, as well as Conrads in Mumbai and Koh Samui. Almost 60 properties in China will be concentrated in both big key cities and the second tier cities, bringing the total number of properties in the country to almost 85, up from 17 at present.
Kenneth Svendsen, senior vice-president and global head of reservations for Hilton Worldwide, claims these additions, and pace of growth, will make China the hotel group's second largest market over the next few years.
In India, Hilton Worldwide will open 10 new hotels by 2012 and almost 50 hotels by 2015 across its brands. Closer to home is the Warldorf Astoria Berlin, which will be opening later this year in the west of the city.