Hilton Worldwide has inked a series of deals in Kuwait which will see the opening of a Conrad Hotel and a Hilton Garden Inn in the region.
A deal between Hilton and Al-Rai Real Estate Co, owned by Mabanee Co, will see Conrad Hotels and Resorts, Hilton’s smart luxury hotel brand, and midscale Hilton Garden Inn open their doors to guests in early 2019. The development forms part of an ambitious expansion project which will see almost $1billion devoted towards solidifying the position of The Avenues Mall in Kuwait City as one of the world’s top retail destinations.
Rudi Jagersbacher, president, Middle East, Africa and Turkey for Hilton Worldwide, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Al-Rai as part of the fourth phase expansion of The Avenues. With its number of shopping outlets set to increase by nearly 50%, demand for accommodation at a site which already attracts millions of visitors every year is set to increase substantially. Our Conrad and Hilton Garden Inn brands will enable us to cater for guests seeking either smart luxury or affordable accommodations during their stay.”
Both hotels will be managed by Hilton Worldwide and will be located on opposite sides of the mall. The complex itself is located off Kuwait’s fifth ring road (now named Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Road) allowing ease of access to junctions connecting to both Kuwait International Airport and Kuwait City.
Mohammad Alshaya, chairman, Mabanee said: “In planning the fourth phase of the expansion of this immense project, one of the most exciting additions, we are making is to provide the ability for visitors to make their stays easier by staying inside Avenues itself.”
He added: “Having hotels as part of The Avenues development will enhance the quality of the experience and the service we provide to our visitors. This will in turn support internal tourism and also place Kuwait on the regional tourism map. We have seen increasing numbers of visitors from abroad, in particular from the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and this is a strong indication of the revival of tourism in the country.”
The Conrad Kuwait will boast 158-guestrooms and the luxury property will form part of the extension of the Mall’s popular ‘Prestige’ district, which opened in 2012. The district forms Kuwait’s largest luxury shopping destination, home to 47 luxury retail units under a 23 metre dome. The hotel will also feature a ballroom, multiple dining options, and an outdoor pool and spa.
The Hilton Garden Inn Kuwait will become the brand’s largest hotel in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region, boasting 430 guestrooms at the Northern end of the Mall, the main entrance of the property will be located in ‘The Forum’ which will provide a central meeting point within the mall. The property will also border the new ‘Electra’ district set to create a vibrant international atmosphere inspired by the bright lights and high technology of cities such as Tokyo and Hong Kong.
