Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island Resort (Photo: Hilton)

Hotel giant Hilton Worldwide plans to add 781 new properties in the coming years and will concentrate growth on North America and the APAC region, according to our analysis of information in the TOPHOTELPROJECTS construction database.

Despite Covid19 shaking the hospitality industry to its core, our researchers report that Hilton has an ambitious hotel pipeline of 781 properties encompassing a whopping 160,556 rooms. We find out more about these upcoming launches.

Steady growth outlook for Hilton

For 2020, Hilton has 200 openings scheduled, adding 35,326 keys to the group’s portfolio. Almost half of these projects are already in the pre-opening phase. However, some may still face delays due to Covid19’s lasting impact on the industry.

276 properties are slated to launch next year and will bring 57,737 additional keys. 2022 follows with 131 hotels and 28,505 rooms; another 174 hotels are on the books for 2023 and beyond, but more will likely be added to the pipeline in the coming years.

Hilton’s commitment to upscale hospitality is reflected by the fact that, of these 781 new hotels, 541 will be in the four-star category. The other 240 properties will be in the five-star segment.

Hilton’s regional growth plans

Hilton’s home region, North America, will see the strongest growth with 309 planned properties and 55,360 rooms. APAC follows with 206 new hotels and 53,329 keys. This similar key count, despite the difference in the total number of new properties, shows that the company’s Asian hotels will on average be much larger than those in North America.

Europe comes in third place with 132 projects and 21,953 rooms. The Middle East is next in line with a pipeline of 73 hotels and 19,432 rooms. This means hotels there will typically beat Europe’s new properties in terms of size and key count. Africa and South America conclude the list with 33 and 28 openings respectively.

When looking at Hilton’s fastest-growing national markets, the US and China take the lead with 272 and 132 hotels each. The UK comes in third with 44 new hotels, followed by Saudi Arabia and the UAE with 24 and 17 properties respectively.

Hilton Hotel Construction Report

Did you know that currently Hilton has 770 hotel projects in the pipeline? Get your free copy of our latest report for more details.

Hilton’s top five expanding brands

The company’s signature brand, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, will see the fastest growth with 152 new hotels and 45,463 rooms. Hampton by Hilton comes in second with 126 properties and 18,388 keys, followed closely by Hilton Garden Inn with 125 projects and 22,254 rooms in the pipeline.

DoubleTree by Hilton and Home2 Suites by Hilton conclude the list with 102 and 67 planned openings each.

Noteworthy hotel projects in Hilton’s pipeline

Hilton’s largest project right now is Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Curio Collection by Hilton, our database indicates. This 1,504-room property is undergoing a facelift from its time as a Hard Rock Hotel and is expected to open in Q3 2020. Set just off the city’s famous Strip, the hotel will feature well-appointed rooms and suites as well as a 5,500 sq m casino, several pools, restaurants, bars and lounges, meeting spaces and the brand’s signature nightlife venue, the Commons Club.

The 641-key Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island Resort, meanwhile, will be in the Yas Bay, a 3 km stretch expected to become one of the most iconic and vibrant waterfront destinations in the region. The resort’s facilities will include a conference centre, seven dining outlets and an urban beach concept with an infinity pool suspended above the waters of the Arabian Gulf. An opening date has been set for Q4 2022.

Over in Nashville, Hilton is working on a dual-branded project that will consist of a 25-storey Embassy Suites Nashville hotel and a 16-story Curio – A Collection by Hilton hotel tower. Its launch is planned for Q3 2021. The Embassy tower will include a first-floor restaurant for the public and a fourth-floor kitchen, bar and dining area for guests. Visitors will also be able to enjoy sweeping views from the rooftop swimming pool, bar, and deck area or get a full workout in the fitness centre.

Lastly, the new Transcorp Hilton Ikoyi in Lagos, Nigeria, will be an iconic structure and create a new luxury destination for travellers. Its design is inspired by two curling waves, symbolising Nigeria’s waterfront and maritime culture. The 20-storey landmark tower will offer scenic views of the Lagos Lagoon to the north, and Victoria Island and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. This 600-room property will launch in late 2023.

Many TOPHOTELNEWS articles draw on exclusive information from the TOPHOTELPROJECTS construction database. This subscription-based product includes details of thousands of hotel projects around the world, along with the key decision-makers behind them. Please note, our data may differ from records held by other organisations. Generally, the database focuses on four- and five-star schemes of significant scale; tracks projects in either the vision, pre-planning, planning, under-construction, pre-opening or newly opened phase; and covers newbuilds, extensions, refurbishments and conversions.

Learn more