RBS to sell six UK Hilton hotels

 The Royal Bank of Scotland is putting six of its hotels up for sale as the banking group aims to sell all its non-core businesses.

The properties include the 821-bed Hilton Manchester Airport, 170-bed Hilton St Anne’s Manor in Bracknell, the 181-bed Hilton Warwick, the 334-bed Hilton Brighton Metropole, the 319-bed Hilton Glasgow, and the 96-bed Hilton Glasgow Grosvenor.

RBS has appointed CB Richard Ellis Hotels to handle the sale which already sold three other Hilton properties in the UK this year for £40m.

RBS hopes to sell its non-core asset in a bid to return to profitability after losing £3.6bn last year and £24.3bn in 2008.

New Hilton Hotel Opens In The Hague, Netherlands

Hilton Hotels announces the opening of Hilton The Hague, the latest addition to the global Hilton portfolio. The new upscale hotel is set within the restored 1950's shell of the former Royal Dutch Telecom headquarters. Hilton The Hague is the fifth Hilton hotel to open in the Netherlands, where the brand has had a presence since 1962.

"As the global leader in hospitality, we are pleased to open this new upscale hotel that brings our signature style and service to this great international city," Dave Horton, Global Head, Hilton Hotels brand said. "Visitors to Hilton The Hague will enjoy an interior designed by noteworthy Dutch talent, contemporary meeting facilities and exceptional food and beverage offerings."

The Hague is the country's third largest city, seat of the Dutch government and home to Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. The new Hilton The Hague, prominently located in the embassy quarter of the city centre, offers 195 bedrooms, many of which have views over the grand cityscape. The hotel is on the door step of some of The Hague's best shopping. Noordeinde Street is known for its 15 unique art galleries and high end shops, as well as the rich cultural heritage and architecture of the many stately buildings, renowned museums and points of interest - all of which are just a short walk from the hotel.

"It is with great pleasure that we can begin welcoming guests to our latest hotel in Europe, Hilton The Hague," Simon Vincent, Hilton Worldwide Area President, Europe said. "Hilton has a long tradition in the Netherlands and this wonderful addition to our portfolio, in a city historically associated with excellence in hospitality, demonstrates that our brands are growing successfully, with iconic properties in all parts of Europe. "

The Hague is home to one of the world's most esteemed hotel management schools such as the Hotel School The Hague, where many of the new hotel's team members, including its cluster general manager, Jan van der Putten, trained for their career in the hotel industry.

"I am delighted that our new Hilton hotel is now open in this wonderful city. For many years the former Telecom headquarters has been a building of significant interest in The Hague and it has been a dream to help restore this structure so it can become one of the finest hotels in the region. We will be offering guests our world-class service, with our new take on hospitality, in the beautiful surroundings of The Hague," Jan Van der Putten, General Manager, Hilton The Hague, said.

Launching at Hilton The Hague is Grand Café Pearl, offering locally sourced and seasonal dishes cooked in an authentic and simple French style. The restaurant is inspired by Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer's painting "Girl with a Pearl Earring" which is on display at the local Mauritshuis Museum, a 15 minute walk from the hotel. With soft, colourful lighting effects, the painting forms the basis of the design of the restaurant interior, decorations and tableware. Grand Café Pearl also benefits from a large outdoor terrace, opposite some of The Hague's most exclusive shopping boutiques, where coffee, light lunches and dinner will be served during the warmer months.

Adjoining Pearl is the upscale Bar Lutine, named after the famous French Warship "La Lutine" and offering a wide selection of cocktails and sparkling wines by the glass. Furnished with luxurious leather chairs and decorated in traditional colours, Bar Lutine provides a warm environment for hotel residents and Dutch locals to relax.

Interior design influences for the hotel have been created by local Hague designer Angelika Kok (Barzileye Concept & Design). Inspired by the geographic and historical roots of The Hague, the atrium has the atmosphere of the nearby dunes and seaside, with a six metre high sculpted sand wall. The Grand Cafe is based on the paintings of Vermeer, realised with modern columns and a 17th Century lace pattern with complimenting chandeliers. The influences of another famous Dutch painter, Mesdag, play a key role in the design of the ballroom, where Mesdag "skies" and colours complement the functionality of the space. The public areas reflect the splendour of the "Golden Age" and is realised with contemporary materials and design techniques.

Hilton The Hague boasts ten meeting rooms including the Mesdag Ballroom, with a maximum capacity of 400 guests, and an atrium designed for pre-event functions. The Hague is conveniently linked by motorway and train to major European cities, including Brussels and Paris. Both Amsterdam Schiphol airport and Rotterdam - The Hague airport, can be reached within 25 minutes.

Larsen Moves To Hilton Sanya

August 15, 2006

Dirk De Cuyper, General Manager of Hilton Sanya Resort & Spa, has appointed Jesper Bach Larsen as the Director of Operations for the first Hilton resort in China.

Before joining Hilton Sanya Resort & Spa, Jesper worked at Hilton Shanghai as Food and Beverage Manager, and as F&B Operations Manager in Hilton Copenhagen Airport.

Born in Denmark, Jesper speaks fluent Danish, English, Swedish, Norwegian, German and Spanish. He will add new energy and inspiration to every aspect of operations with his 15 years experience in the hospitality industry.

Hilton Sanya Team Gains Leadership Training

September 17, 2007

Hilton Sanya Resort & Spa's management team led by General Manager Dirk De Cuyper recently participated in the "Oz Principle" leadership training workshop conducted by Ester Zheng, director of human resources of Hilton Shanghai, and Susan Wang, learning and development manager of Hilton Beijing.

Hilton Sanya Wins Development Award

July 18, 2006

Hilton Sanya Resort and Spa was awarded the "China Hotel Development of the Year", presented at the China Hotel Development and Financing Seminar in Beijing. The seminar was organised by Horwath Asia Pacific, Sonnenblick-Goldman and the China Tourist Hotels Association. The award recognised Hilton Sanya Resort and Spa's leadership and contribution to the hospitality industry in China.

Hilton Hotels Makes New Top Appointment For Sanya Resort

March 19, 2008

Hilton Hotels has appointed Jean-Pierre Mainardi as general manager of Hilton Sanya Resort & Spa.

With 35 years' experience in the hospitality industry, Mainardi joins Hilton Sanya Resort & Spa from the Nile Hilton in Egypt, which he managed for five years and after helping the pre-project team of the new Conrad hotel in Shanghai for a few months. Prior to this, Mainardi worked in management positions at Hilton Hotels worldwide in Brussels, London, New York, Bangkok, Lahore, Bahrain, Turkey, Strasbourg and Glasgow.

A French national, Jean-Pierre has a degree in English Literature from Cambridge University, United Kingdom, and a financial degree from the University of Economic Science, France. He is fluent in a number of languages

BEIJING & CHONGQING, CHINA: Hilton Chongqing & Hilton Beijing

With the 2008 Summer Olympic Games just around the corner, China is attracting more and more attention from international travelers. And with its sexy Valentine’s Day special, the Hilton Beijing is prepared to help add a little spice to the most romantic day of the year. Spend the evening at the hotel’s Zeta Bar indulging in a four-course meal of dishes said to contain aphrodisiacs: fresh French oysters, marinated toro, roasted fillet of Japanese beef capped off by a chocolate trilogy dessert and a bottle of Moët champagne. Couples can end the evening with a nightcap before heading up to a deluxe room. After a leisurely breakfast (included in the package) lovers can leave the urban surroundings of Beijing and head to the Hilton Chongqing, an oasis of calm and luxury. Taste traditional Kong Fu tea or a delicious cocktail while listening to live music at the River Lounge. Ease away the tension at the cloud 9 spa with a couples treatment, including aromatherapy foot bath and massage using the spa’s secret Romeo & Juliet Love Potion to inspire romance and uplift the spirit.

VENICE, ITALY: Hilton Molino Stucky Venice

There are few destinations more romantic than Venice, Italy, and the Hilton Molino Stucky Venice provides the ideal setting to truly enjoy the magic of the city. Built in a 19th century flour mill on Giudecca, the hotel, opened in June 2007, houses the city’s largest spa, its first rooftop pool and bar and two restaurants from Cipriani chef Franco Luise. With sweeping and singular views of Venice, guests can take a five-minute ride on the hotel’s complimentary water shuttle to the mainland, where they can spend the day strolling cobblestone streets, enjoying a coffee in the Piazza di San Marco, or shopping for the beautiful glass the city is known for. The hotel’s Venetian Honeymoon packages include upgrades to a Venice-view room, Hilton Breakfast buffet, a special honeymoon amenity and bottle of champagne upon arrival, and a 3:00 p.m. late check-out to ensure couples enjoy every last minute of their stay.

HAWAII: Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa

Anyone can plan a romantic vacation to Hawaii, but the staff at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa can take your romantic inclinations to the next level. A beautiful ocean-front chapel is the ideal spot for a destination wedding or for renewing vows before a sparkling Pacific sunset. To celebrate the occasion couples can enjoy a three- or five-course chef’s dinner paired with selections from an award-winning wine cellar at the resort’s spectacularly situated Bali by the Sea restaurant. Though Waikiki Beach offers enough activity to keep lovers relaxed and entertained, the hotel’s Mandara Spa offers a sweet treat to help them ease into the evening after a day of hiking to majestic waterfalls or kayaking to alluring deserted islands. The spa’s Exploration In Chocolate package for two begins with side-by-side massages in a deluxe, private spa suite before couples treat each other to a rich chocolate scrub that is “good enough to eat.” End the day with a custom aromatic bath and you’ll surely have sweet dreams.

BANGKOK, THAILAND: Millennium Hilton Bangkok

Situated on the bank of the Chao Phraya River in the heart of Bangkok’s original temple precinct, the Millennium Hilton Bangkok features romantic dining spots, stunning river views from each guest room and a spa featuring a range of exotic treatments for couples. Relax with your sweetie in the hotel’s special couples spa treatment room and a backdrop of sacred Banyan trees to provide a rejuvenating haven. A massage with wild mint oil and specially blended Thai natural herbs is followed by a romantic floral bath in a private whirlpool spa. Enjoy a cocktail at ThreeSixty lounge with panoramic views of the city and soft jazz music before dining at Prime, the hotel’s romantic steak house featuring succulent fare and spectacular river views.