First Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Management Agreement Signed in Saudi Arabia

304-room Doubletree by Hilton, Al Khobar Scheduled to Open in Q4 2012

Hilton Worldwide today announced the signing of a management agreement with Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Almousa Trading Group for the first Doubletree by Hilton in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Al Khobar.

The 304-room new build Doubletree by Hilton, Al Khobar will be located in the Kingdom's Eastern Province and is set to open in Q4 2012. This latest deal reinforces additional Doubletree by Hilton hotel openings already scheduled for Dar Es Salaam and Zanzibar, Tanzania in Q4 2009 and Ras Al Khaimah, UAE in mid-2010.

"The Eastern Province is the industrial heart of the Kingdom's oil and petrochemical industries, resulting in ever-increasing business opportunities and an exponential growth in the number of international and regional visitors. Domestic tourism is also on the rise. As a result, hotel accommodations are in great demand. Given that Saudi Arabia is a key development market for us, we are delighted to have signed this management agreement with Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Almousa Trading Group to further the growth of the Doubletree by Hilton brand in this region," said Jean-Paul Herzog, President, Hilton Worldwide, Middle East & Africa.

With a fast-growing network that spans more than 200 locations around the world, Doubletree by Hilton will introduce business travellers in Saudi Arabia to the brand's longstanding tradition of distinctively designed hotels that reflect the destination and surrounding area. Other Doubletree by Hilton characteristic qualities include the warm worldwide welcome of the brand's legendary chocolate chip cookie to every guest at check-in, the rewards of the prestigious Hilton HHonors® loyalty programme and a unique caring commitment to the communities in which they operate.

"Doubletree offers a wide variety of distinctively designed upscale hotels and resorts in some of the most sought after business and leisure destinations around the world. There are numerous opportunities to build the Doubletree by Hilton brand further in the Middle East, and it is exciting to introduce the brand for the first time in Saudi Arabia," said Rob Palleschi, Global Head for Doubletree Hotels.

The hotel will occupy a prime position near the King Fahd Causeway, which acts as the main artery linking Saudi Arabia with nearby Bahrain, and furthermore with Qatar, once the Qatar-Bahrain causeway is completed in 2014. The Doubletree by Hilton location within the Shobily high rise development ensures the property will be in the heart of the commercial and residential districts, and in close proximity to King Fahd International Airport, downtown Al Khobar, and other recreational areas including one of the region's largest shopping malls, Shobily Grand Mall and a seven kilometre stretch of beach front.

Doubletree by Hilton, Al Khobar will feature 244 guest rooms and 60 suites, as well as four food and beverage outlets including all-day dining and specialty restaurants, a lobby lounge and a juice/snack bar. Banqueting and meetings facilities include a large ballroom, two board rooms, as well as a business centre. The health club will have separate gyms for ladies and gentlemen, whilst the swimming pool will cater to families only.

"Our business so far is focused on the real-estate sector. This signing marks our entry into the hospitality segment, and we are delighted to join hands with Hilton Worldwide to bring the Doubletree by Hilton brand to Saudi Arabia," said Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Bin Abdullah Al Mousa, Chairman, Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Almousa Trading Group.

About Doubletree by Hilton Hotels and Hilton Worldwide

With a growing collection of contemporary, upscale accommodations in more than 200 gateway cities, metropolitan areas and vacation destinations worldwide, Doubletree by Hilton hotels and resorts are distinctively designed properties that provide true comfort to today's business and leisure travelers.From the millions of delighted hotel guests who are welcomed with the brand's legendary, warm chocolate chip cookies at check-in to the advantages of the award-winning Hilton HHonors^® guest reward programme, each Doubletree guest receives a satisfying stay wherever their travels take them.

Doubletree is part of Hilton Worldwide, a leading global hospitality company, with more than 3,400 hotels and 550,000 rooms in 79 countries and more than 130,000 team members worldwide.The company owns, manages or franchises some of the best known and highly regarded hotel brands including Hilton, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Grand Vacations, Homewood Suites by Hilton, the Waldorf Astoria and the Waldorf Astoria Collection, as well as Home2 Suites by Hilton.The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors.For more information on Doubletree by Hilton, please visit www.doubletree.com.

Hilton Worldwide currently operates 42 hotels in the Middle East & Africa – 16 hotels in Egypt, nine hotels in the UAE, six in Saudi Arabia and one each in Oman and Kuwait, plus another nine hotels in Africa and the Indian Ocean. The company has an established and diverse brand portfolio in Saudi Arabia featuring Waldorf Astoria (Qasr Al Sharq), Hilton (Jeddah Hilton, Makkah Hilton & Towers, Madinah Hilton) and Hilton Garden Inn (Hilton Garden Inn Riyadh Olaya) brands.

Hilton Worldwide has a signed development pipeline of an additional 19 properties across Middle East & Africa in the U.A.E, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan, Equatorial Guinea, Uganda, Nigeria and Cape Verde, and Tanzania.

For more information about the company, please visit www.hiltonworldwide.com and www.hiltondevelopment.com

The Hilton Reservations and Customer Care telephone numbers in the Middle East are as follows:

UAE	Â	Â	- 8000 20000 11	Â	Â	Â	Qatar	Â	Â	- 8000 20 222
KSA			- 800 82000 10				Egypt			- 19009
Bahrain			- 8000 4058				Jordan			- 00202 25805927
Kuwait			- 222 56 200				Lebanon			- 00202 25805928
Oman			- 800 78 788				Syria			- 00202 25805926

Contacts:

Doubletree Hotels
Samantha Wood
Director, Corporate Communications, Hilton Worldwide, Middle East & Africa
[phone] (UAE)
[e-mail]
or
Thomas Wingham
Director – Brand Public Relations, Doubletree Hotels (USA)
[phone] (USA)
[e-mail]
or
Keren Gatty Saunt
Associate Account Director, d'pr
[phone] (UAE)
[e-mail]