Tag: Hilton hotels

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New hotel openings from Hilton

In the first half of 2021 Hilton opened 226 new hotels throughout the world. Here’s a look at the most important properties in the UK, as well as a few abroad which are suitable for conferences, meetings and events:

DoubleTree by Hilton London Kensington

This DoubleTree joined the portfolio in June. Gloucester Road underground station is across the road. It is located in the museum area of London and withinwalking distance of Kensington Palace and Hyde Park.

  • Bedrooms : 163
  • Meeting rooms : 5

Hampton by Hilton Canterbury

Located in the heart of Canterbury city centre, just a five minute walk minute walk from Canterbury Cathedral.

  • Number of rooms: 129
  • Meeting rooms : 2

The Fellows House Cambridge, Curio Collection by Hilton

This is an apartment-style hotel, located a short walk from Cambridge city centre.

  • Number of rooms: 163
  • Meeting rooms : 1
  • Maximum capacity : 10

The Westminster London, Curio Collection by Hilton

Rebranded from The DoubleTree by Hilton Westminster, this hotel is within half a mile of Tate Britain, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey.

  • Number of rooms: 464
  • Meeting rooms : 4

DoubleTree by Hilton London Elstree

Located close to Elstree Studios, the hotel is on the A1, just off the M25.

  • Number of rooms: 135
  • Meeting rooms : 11
  • Number of rooms: 150

Hampton by Hilton Munich Airport South

Just 8 km from Munich International Airport, this hotel is 30 minutes from Munich city centre. It is 30km to Munich Messe.

  • Number of rooms: 240

Atocha Hotel Madrid

Atocha Hotel Madrid is in the city centre, close to Atocha central station and 30 minutes from the airport. It’s a member of the Tapestry Collection brand and boutique in style.

  • Number of Rooms: 46
  • Meeting rooms : 1
  • Maximum capacity : 12

Canopy by Hilton Paris Trocadero

This property draws inspiration from Trocadero’s rich history and incorporates touches from the industrial past of the 1930s building.

  • Number of Rooms: 46
  • Meeting rooms : 4
  • Maximum capacity : 10

Sable at Navy Pier, Chicago

This hotel opened in March 2021 with views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. It’s the 100th for the Curio Collection brand.

  • Number of Rooms: 223
  • Meeting rooms : 6

Resorts World Las Vegas

On the Las Vegas Strip, this resort comprises three hotels: Hilton, Conrad and Crockfords and 40 food and beverage outlets. The resort also has shows, gaming and retail outlets.

  • Number of Rooms: 3,500
  • Meeting rooms : Theatre and five ballrooms which are flexible space and can be divided in to approx. 40 smaller rooms
  • Maximum capacity : 5,000 in theatre-style

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How hotels are introducing new hygiene standards post COVID-19

Hilton's CleanStay door seal

One of the most important factors in the recovery of the events industry is confidence of attendees, post COVID-19. How soon are they going to want to travel, mix in groups and stay away from home?

All the major hotel groups are introducing new hygiene standards to reassure their guests, but these will also provide proof to governments considering loosening lockdown restrictions that safety measures have been put in place.

Hilton Hotels

Hilton has taken advice from the Mayo Clinic and is collaborating with RB, makers of Lysol and Dettol, to rise the standards of housekeeping and hygiene in their hotels. The programme is called Hilton CleanStay which uses infrared and electrostatically charged disinfectant mists. Hilton is focusing on cleanliness that will be visible to guests throughout their entire stay, in the bedrooms, restaurants, gyms and other public areas.

Guests will also be encouraged to use the Digital Key contactless check in system. It works with the Hilton Honors mobile app. Guests can choose a bedroom, access it with a digital room key and check-out using a mobile device.

The CleanStay programme includes:

  • A room seal on the bedroom door to indicate to guests that their room has not been accessed since being thoroughly cleaned.
  • Extra disinfection on the most frequently touched guests room areas – light switches, door handles, TV remotes, thermostats etc.
  • Removal of pen, paper and guest directory and replacing them with digital information.
  • Improved disinfecting of the hotel gym, possibly closing for cleaning multiple times daily and limiting the number of guests allowed in at one time.
  • Increase the frequency of cleaning public areas.
  • Disinfecting stations at primary entrances and high traffic areas, eg a station to allow guests to wipe the elevator button before pressing.
  • Hotel staff will be provided with personal protective equipment and better training designed to protect themselves.

Marriott International

Marriott has created the Marriott Global Cleanliness Council to develop a programme to minimize risk and enhance safety for guests and staff. In the next few months, the hotels will introduce electrostatic sprayers with hospital-grade disinfectant to sanitize surfaces in bedrooms, lobbies, gyms and other public areas. Also, the company is testing ultraviolet light technology for sanitizing keys for guests and devices which are shared by staff.

Marriott’s new policy includes:

  • Disinfectant wipes in each room for guests’ personal use.
  • Signage in the Lobby to remind guests to maintain social distancing and removing or re-arranging of furniture to allow more space.
  • Partitions at front desks to provide an extra level of distancing and making masks and gloves available to staff.
  • Hand sanitizing stations at the hotel entrances, near the front desk, elevator banks and fitness and meeting spaces.
  • Check-in and access to the bedroom by phone.
  • Specially packaged food for room service which is delivered to the door without contact.
  • Changes in food safety and service in restaurants and alternatives to a buffet.

Accor

Accor, which is Europe’s largest hotel group has entered into partnership with Bureau Veritas, a testing and inspection company. They will provide third-party testing of the hygiene certification programmes in each of Accor’s 4,800 hotels. The standards will cover accommodation as well as catering and will be introduced in France and then rolled out worldwide.

Once each property has passed an inspection by Bureau Veritas, it will be awarded a certificate of safe hygiene. The operational guidelines for cleaning and staff training were developed in conjunction with epidemiologists and sanitation experts. These procedures will also be made available to any hotel, meeting venue, or restaurant looking for best practices or who would like to enrol in the certification program. Clients will be able to check if a property has been certified by going to the Bureau Veritas website.

For more information on these hotel groups’ hygiene programmes follow the links to Hilton Hotels, Marriott International and Accor.

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Coronavirus: advice for event organisers

Following the news that Hilton has closed 130 hotels in China, due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus, the hotel chain has now received another blow at their Barcelona venue – The Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona, as The Mobile World Congress event has been cancelled. The event was due to be held 24-27 February 2020 and attracts around 100,000 attendees.

EDGE Venues is working closely with the Hilton hotel group by promoting a discounted offer for the Barcelona hotel in the hope of recouping some of the lost business. Working closely with various venues and event organisers, EDGE Venues is providing guidance to the industry to help with clarity and advice on the topic in this time of uncertainty.

Event Cancellations and Postponements

The largest impact that the Coronavirus has had on the events industry is the cancellation of large events. These have been planned years in advance and provide substantial income and temporary jobs. Cancellations are having a knock-on effect in many different sectors, not just the event organisers and venues.

With the coronavirus already affecting numerous events throughout the world, particularly in China and other parts of Asia, many event organisers are now choosing to err on the side of caution and either cancel or postpone events, including those outside Asia.

Subject Knowledge

The events industry, venues, event organisers and event attendees are looking at each other to be a source of advice in this time of uncertainty. It is important to share reliable and up to date information with each other and help those that are affected.

Virtual Meetings

A benefit of conferences and meetings is the chance for attendees to meet face to face and network. But with the current health risk one option is to consider a virtual meeting. This could be a viable alternative in the countries that currently have travel restrictions in place, or those that are worried about a low attendance rate due to the outbreak.

Communication

Communication is extremely important, in the run up to and during an event.

Planners should keep informed about the latest Coronavirus updates and inform attendees accordingly. If the event goes ahead it is advisable that a crisis communication plan is in place, should anyone fall ill.

For further information, check these websites, which are constantly updated with the latest advice:

The situation in the UK

If travelling abroad

World Health Organization advice

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We take a look at Hilton’s newest hotels in Europe and further afield

Doubletree by Hilton La Torre Golf and Spa Resort

This hotel opened recently and is 20 minutes from Murcia Airport and an hour from Alicante. The ballroom is the largest meeting room, with capacity for 800 people for a dinner and there are four smaller meeting rooms which can be divided. The hotel has 133 bedrooms. It is situated beside a lake and golf course, with a spa, swimming pools and fitness facilities.

Grand Tirolia Hotel Kitzbuhel, Austria

The Grand Tirolia Hotel opened in December 2018 and is part of the Curio Collection by Hilton. The nearest airport is Saltzburg, which is a 90-minute transfer. The hotel has 81 bedrooms and 5 meeting rooms, the largest has capacity for 300 people in theatre-style. Located on a golf course, there are two terraces with views of the Tyrolean Alps and in winter, the lifts for Kitzbuhel ski area are about 4½ km away.

Conrad Washington DC

The Conrad Washington DC opened in February 2019 and is located downtown. There are 380 bedrooms and 8 meeting rooms. The largest event space is the Ballroom which has capacity for 850 people in theatre-style. There is also a rooftop bar which can be used as event space for a drinks reception of 200 people.

Waldorf Astoria – Dubai International Financial Centre

This hotel is due to open in August 2019. It is on the 18th – 55th floor of the Burj Daman, which also contains offices and apartments. The largest event space will be the ballroom which has capacity for 270 people for a banquet and there is a library with open kitchen which can be used for meetings.

New hotels due in 2020

Two more properties to look out for in Europe, both currently scheduled to open in September 2020 – the Hilton Paris Eiffel Tower and the Parliament Hotel Reykjavik, Curio Collection.