LONDON, VENICE & MCLEAN, Va. - Hilton Worldwide has today announced the signing of a franchise agreement with VENEZIA CAPITOL Srl to open a Hilton Garden Inn hotel in Venice, Italy. Scheduled to open by summer 2010, the Hilton Garden Inn Venice/ Mestre San Giuliano will be a welcome addition to Venice Mestre, providing quality branded hotel accommodation and a second hotel for Hilton Worldwide, in this landmark European city.

Welcoming today’s announcement, Patrick Fitzgibbon, Senior Vice President Development for Hilton Worldwide, said ”Following the opening of the iconic Hilton Molino Stucky in 2007, we are delighted to be adding a second hotel to the Venice market, providing guests with greater choice which is an important aspect of our growth strategy. This latest hotel will be the ninth Hilton Garden Inn hotel in Italy, six of which are already open. The signing of the Hilton Garden Inn Venice / Mestre San Giuliano demonstrates the significant growth and popularity of this award winning hotel brand both in Italy and across wider Europe where the brand now has over 30 hotels either open or in the pipeline.”

When it opens, the Hilton Garden Inn Venice / Mestre San Giuliano will offer 136 bedrooms, all featuring the brand’s key signature offerings, including, the Garden Sleep System® bed, ergonomic Mirra® chair by Herman Miller, a 24-hour business centre and complimentary high speed Wi-Fi Internet access. A stylish lobby and reception area will feature a lounge area and bar, as well as the Hilton Garden Inn 24-hour Pavilion Pantry® which provides a selection of food and beverage options. A contemporary restaurant will also offer made-to-order breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as evening room service. The Hilton Garden Inn Venice / Mestre San Giuliano will have two flexible meetings rooms and 24 hour business centre facilities, an outdoor swimming pool and fitness facilities – appealing to both business and leisure guests.

The signing of the Hilton Garden Inn Venice / Mestre San Giuliano marks Hilton’s continued growth in Italy, with 16 hotels already open, ranging from the ultra luxurious Waldorf Astoria Collection brand, to the full service Doubletree by Hilton brand and the mid-market Hilton Garden Inn.

With a history spanning over 1500 years, Venice is an internationally renowned centre of history, culture and magnificent beauty. Venice is also a significant business destination and is one of the most economically vibrant cities in Italy. The new Hilton Garden Inn Venice / Mestre San Giuliano is well located for easy access to the famous Venice lagoon, and for the commercial and business districts of the city. The hotel will provide a quality mid-market hotel option for leisure visitors looking for good value during their trip to Venice and for business visitors demanding close proximity to the commercial areas of the Venetian mainland.

The Hilton Garden Inn Venice / Mestre San Giuliano will be conveniently located in the Mestre area of Venice, near the Park of San Giuliano and overlooking the main SS14 road which connects the airport with the city centre. The hotel will be located 4 miles from the recently renovated Marco Polo International Airport, which is fast becoming a major gateway to South East Europe, and 6 miles from Piazzle Roma – where the water taxis depart for Venice lagoon.

Adrian Kurre, Senior Vice President for the Hilton Garden Inn brand, said: “We are delighted to be signing our first hotel in Venice, and our ninth Hilton Garden Inn brand hotel in Italy; we firmly believe that we can continue to establish this brand as the leading mid-market hotel choice for both domestic and international travellers in Italy.”

Contact:
Hilton Hotels (Europe) 
Katrina Jones 
VP Communications - Europe 
Mb : +44 (0) 7966 894 287 
Tel: +44 (0)207 856 8313 
Email: katrina.jones@hilton.com

Dan Corfield 
Communications Manager - Europe 
Mb : +44 (0) 7974 229 462 
Tel: +44 (0)207 856 8547 
Email: dan.corfield@hilton.com

About Venezia Capitol Srl
Mr Giancarlo Zacchello manages VENEZIA CAPITOL Srl and is a well respected figure in the Venice business community. Most recently he was the President of the Port Authority of Venice and also holds several representative positions in public and private institutions in the Veneto Region. Other business interests include, amongst others, shipping, agriculture, real estate and energy production.

About Hilton Garden Inn
Hilton Garden Inn is the award-winning, upscale, yet affordable hotel brand that continually strives to ensure today’s busy travelers have everything they need to be most productive on the road — from our oh-so-comfortable Garden Sleep System® bed to complimentary wired and Wi-Fi Internet access in all guestrooms. So whether on the road for personal or business reasons, Hilton Garden Inn offers the amenities and services for travelers to sleep deep, stay fit, eat well and work smart while away from home. For more information about our locations around the globe, visit www.hgi.com or www.news.hgi.com.

About Hilton Worldwide
Hilton Worldwide is a leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For 93 years, Hilton Worldwide has offered business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. The company is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Its brands are comprised of more than 3,900 hotels and timeshare properties, with 650,000 rooms in 90 countries and territories and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors®. Visit www.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.