Hilton Worldwide has signed a franchise license agreement with Akti Helona S.A. to operate a Doubletree by Hilton Resort on the island of Kos in Greece. Scheduled to open in May 2010, the Doubletree by Hilton Resort, Kos – Helona will be Hilton Worldwide’s second property in Greece and the country’s first Doubletree by Hilton, marking further growth of this brand across Europe.
Hilton Worldwide currently operates one hotel in Greece, the Hilton Athens in the capital’s city centre.
Doubletree by Hilton Resort, Kos – Helona is on the south-eastern coast line of Kos Island. The hotel, which originally opened as an independent hotel in June 2009, will offer 238 rooms including 15 suites and three villas, two restaurants and bars, a spa and fitness area, a private beach as well as 800sqm of meeting space, including a room able to accommodate up to 700 people.
Doubletree by Hilton is an brand that has seen growth since its first introduction in Europe in spring 2008. Ten properties are now open across Europe in the UK, Italy and Slovakia, with development projects confirmed in Russia and Romania.
Hilton Worldwide Europe & Africa, senior vice president, Patrick Fitzgibbon said: “Hilton Worldwide is continuing its exciting rollout of its portfolio of brands across Europe and we are delighted to announce the opening of the first Doubletree by Hilton in Greece. The country has a strong tourism infrastructure and Kos is the second most popular destination in the Dodecanese Archipelago. With the hotel market in Greece dominated by independently run hotels and domestic chains, we believe there are wonderful growth opportunities for all our brands throughout the country.”
