With the end of its association with The Oberoi group, Hilton Hotels Corporation is on top gear to make a comeback in the Indian market. The company today has not even a single property in the country courtesy the fallen apart tie-up with The Oberoi Group. Now, left all alone in the burgeoning industry, Hilton is firing from all cylinders.
The hospitality group is not only looking at bringing a full bouquet of hotels, better called – The Hilton Family of Hotels – to India but also partnering with more than one real estate company. ?We are in negotiations with real estate players in the country,? said a source close to the development. Hilton has a joint venture with real estate company DLF Limited for setting up hotels in the country called DLF-Hilton Hotels, which became the reason behind the end of a four-year-long relationship between The Oberoi Group and Hilton. The alliance between The Oberoi Group and Hilton came to an end on April 1, 2008. ?We will also be getting other brands to India. Ones not planned with the DLF,? the source added. Through its JV with DLF, Hilton is getting its brands, including Hilton, the upscale full service brand, Hilton Garden Inn, the mid-scale brand, and the Homewood Suites by Hilton, an extended stay hotel brand. Other brands of Hilton include Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hampton Inn & Suites, Hilton Grand Vacations, The Waldorf=Astoria Collection, and Hilton HHonors.
The first DLF-Hilton hotel is expected to be ready this year at Saket in New Delhi. It will be a Garden Inn with 180 rooms, said a source. The total number of hotels planned under the DLF-Hilton alliance at present, stand at 16, comprising 3,500 rooms. These projects are in various stages of development and construction, and will come up in cities like New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Trivandrum, and Chandigarh.
In the next 5-7 years, the JV plans to set up 75 hotels. DLF will build the hotels and will be managed by an affiliate of Hilton Hotels Corporation in India. DLF hold 74% in the JV and Hilton the remaining.
