SYDNEY, Australia and MCLEAN, Va., 2015-9-4 — /Travel PR News/ — Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) today announced the signing of its first Hilton Hotels & Resorts branded hotel in Papua New Guinea. Under this management agreement with Star Mountain Plaza Ltd. (SMPL), Hilton will manage the newly built Hilton Port Moresby and convention centre in the Star Mountain Plaza development in Port Moresby. Construction of a 16-storey, mixed-use tower housing the 212-room Hilton hotel, along with office and retail space and 128 apartments, is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2015 and be completed by late 2017.
Hilton Port Moresby will be an addition to Hilton Worldwide’s existing pipeline of five hotels in the Australasia region where the global hospitality company presently operates 21 hotels under the Hilton and DoubleTree by Hilton brands.
“Hilton is a brand synonymous with hospitality and our hotels are located in key business and leisure destinations where our guests are traveling to,” said Rob Palleschi, global head, full service brands, Hilton Worldwide. “Papua New Guinea is one of the world’s last tourism frontiers, home to an incredible natural bounty of rainforest, volcanoes and islands. Port Moresby is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea, and the main port of entry into Papua New Guinea by air and sea, making it a key gateway location. Today we are delighted to fly the Hilton flag in yet another attractive leisure destination here in Port Moresby.”
“Today’s announcement bears testament to both the Hilton brand’s strength in the Australasia region as well as our management expertise, borne out of having operated here for more than 40 years, to deliver exceptional experiences for both guests and owners,” said Robert Scullin, vice president, Development, Australasia, Hilton Worldwide. “We are privileged to be partnering with Star Mountain Plaza Ltd. to launch Hilton Port Moresby as a strong addition to our current portfolio of 21 operating hotels and look to welcome travellers to this city with our world-renowned Hilton hospitality.”
Hilton Port Moresby will comprise of 164 standard rooms of 33 square metres, 46 Executive Suites of 46.5 square metres, and two 117 square-metre Chairman Suites. The complex will include four restaurants and two bars, a business centre, health club, spa and outdoor pool and event spaces as large as 2800 square metres.
Built over two stages, the entire US$400million project and operation is being overseen and controlled by Mineral Resources Development Company Ltd. (MRDC). MRDC is 100% owned by the Papua New Guinea government and manages landowners and provincial governments’ equity interests in Mining and Petroleum projects in PNG.
“Aside from being a popular leisure destination, Papua New Guinea is also increasingly attractive for business travel,” said Mr. Augustine S Mano, Managing Director for MRDC and Chairman for Star Mountain Plaza Ltd (SMPL). “With a 96-year legacy in hospitality as well as strong global commercial engines, Hilton is the perfect partner and we are confident that Hilton Port Moresby will set a new benchmark in world-class hotel experiences here in Papua New Guinea when it opens its doors in 2018.”
Star Mountain Plaza Ltd. (SMPL) is a joint venture between three Papua New Guinea land owner groups, Mineral Resources Star Mountain (MRSM), Mineral Resources Ok Tedi (MROT), and Petroleum Resources Kutubu (PRK).
About Hilton Hotels & Resorts
For nearly a century, Hilton Hotels & Resorts has been proudly welcoming the world’s travelers. With more than 550 hotels across six continents, Hilton Hotels & Resorts provides the foundation for memorable travel experiences and values every guest who walks through its doors. As the flagship brand of Hilton Worldwide, Hilton Hotels & Resorts continues to set the standard for hospitality, providing new product innovations and services to meet guests’ evolving needs. Hilton Hotels & Resorts is a part of the award-winning Hilton HHonors program. Hilton HHonors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to benefits including free standard Wi-Fi, as well as digital amenities that are available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton HHonors app. Access the latest news at news.hilton.com and begin your journey at www.hilton.com or www.hilton.com/offers for the latest hotel specials.
About Hilton Worldwide
Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxury and full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and focused-service hotels. For 96 years, Hilton Worldwide has been dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences. The company’s portfolio of twelve world-class global brands is comprised of more than 4,440 managed, franchised, owned and leased hotels and timeshare properties, with more than 730,000 rooms in 97 countries and territories, including Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Canopy by Hilton, Curio – A Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages an award-winning customer loyalty program, Hilton HHonors®. Hilton HHonors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to benefits including free standard Wi-Fi, as well as digital amenities that are available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton HHonors app, where HHonors members can check-in, choose their room, and access their room using a Digital Key. Visit news.hiltonworldwide.com for more information and connect with Hilton Worldwide at www.facebook.com/hiltonworldwide, www.twitter.com/hiltonworldwide, www.youtube.com/hiltonworldwide,www.flickr.com/hiltonworldwide, and www.linkedin.com/company/hilton-worldwide.
Contact
Audrey Wong
Hilton Worldwide, Asia Pacific
+65 6833 9763
audrey.wong@hilton.com
Christine Miller
Hilton Worldwide
+1 901 374 6462
christine.miller@hilton.com
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Hilton Port Moresby Exterior