Hilton Worldwide today reveals new figures which show that one in six of all rooms under construction in Europe carries a Hilton Worldwide brand. Across the hotel industry there are currently 54,587 rooms under construction in Europe, with Hilton Worldwide representing 18.2 per cent of the total room count, according to the latest data from STR Global research (i).

As was announced in January, Hilton Worldwide is now the fastest growing global hotel company based on total rate of room growth (ii).  Today in Europe it has 56 hotels, representing more than 10,000 rooms, currently under construction, and a total of 115 hotels which are due to open by the end of 2014(iii). The latest STR Global research also shows that the company has more than doubled its share of the European pipeline, from 6.9 per cent to 15 per cent of rooms, within the last two years.

Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president of development Hilton Worldwide Europe and Africa, said, “In almost 60 years in Europe we have built up a portfolio of 226 hotels across the region - today we are on track to open another 115 in less than three years. That one in six rooms under construction across Europe carries a Hilton Worldwide brand is a testament to the current investor confidence in funding projects which have behind them the strength of our industry-leading people and brands.”

The expansion of the company’s six brands across Europe will see hotel openings in strategic development markets including 27 hotel openings planned in Russia, 18 in the U.K., 15 in Turkey and 13 in Poland.

The developments span all hotel segments; with four Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts due to open; one Conrad Hotels and Resorts property; 19 Hilton Hotels & Resorts; 18 DoubleTree by Hilton hotels; 32 Hilton Garden Inn hotels; and 42 Hampton by Hilton hotels.

Simon Vincent, area president, Europe Hilton Worldwide, said, “Our record-breaking expansion across Europe has seen more rooms under construction outside the U.S. than within, for the first time in our company’s history.  Focusing on key development markets, growing our portfolio of brands and offering a strong performance advantage help make Hilton Worldwide attractive to developers, owners and guests alike.”

Key hotels due to open within the next 12 months include: Waldorf Astoria Berlin, Germany; Hilton Garden Inn Krasnodar, Russia; Conrad Algarve, Portugal; DoubleTree by Hilton Lodz, Poland; Hilton Bursa and Hampton by Hilton Bursa, Turkey; and Hilton St George’s Park, Burton on Trent and Hampton by Hilton St George’s Park, Burton on Trent, U.K.

In addition, the company’s ambitious growth plans will help create and safeguard over 11,000 employment opportunities in Europe, bucking the trend of rising unemployment figures.

(i) STR Global - Comprehensive Pipeline Outlook (Europe) - 16 February 2012

(ii) STR Global - Census; Hilton Worldwide statements based on Q4 2011 company financial reports and figures include timeshare properties

(iii) Based on Hilton Worldwide figures as of 1 March 2012