HILTON Worldwide earlier this week inked a management agreement with BG Group of Hotels to manage four hotels in Australia’s Northern Territory (NT), marking the group’s first entry into the region and the debut of Australia’s first DoubleTree by Hilton property.
Following a rebranding exercise, the Crowne Plaza Darwin will become the 235-room Hilton Darwin, Holiday Inn Darwin will become the 184-key DoubleTree by Hilton Darwin, Holiday Inn Esplanade Darwin will become DoubleTree by Hilton Esplanade Darwin offering 197 rooms and Crowne Plaza Alice Springs will become the 235-room DoubleTree by Hilton Alice Springs.
Previously managed by InterContinental Hotels Group, the four hotels are currently operational but will be subject to conversion works. They will join Hilton Cairns as a portfolio of five BG Group of Hotels properties being managed by Hilton as of May 1, 2013. They will also augment Hilton’s existing portfolio of 15 hotels in the Australasia region.
Said Ludvik Berger, owner, BG Group of Hotels: “We are particularly pleased to introduce the first DoubleTree by Hilton properties to Australia, which we believe will meet the needs of our customers and continue to provide jobs in the region.”
Meanwhile, minister for tourism and major events, Matt Conlan, also welcomed Hilton to the region. “The Hilton brand is well known throughout the world and should provide opportunities for Tourism NT to talk to new markets about the Territory as a visitor destination,” he said.
“The Hilton brand also has strong connections in Asia, which will assist our current marketing strategies to attract more tourists from the region to the Territory,” he added.
