Hilton UK & Ireland confirms that the 88-bedroom Hilton Aviemore and the adjoining 62-bedroom Aviemore Inn in Inverness-shire have been sold to Macdonald Hotels, members of the Aviemore Highlands Resort consortium.  The hotels are set to take on new ownership on October 1, 2004.The 86 members of staff will remain employed at the hotels in Aviemore, which were previously part of the Stakis portfolio until Hilton acquired Stakis in 1999.

Wolfgang M. Neumann, Area President Hilton UK & Ireland, said: “Following the recent sale of the Hilton Keswick Lodore, the disposal of the Aviemore properties underlines Hilton’s commitment to streamline our UK portfolio.  This includes the disposal of certain non-core properties to allow us to strengthen the Hilton brand and focus on the on-going programme of expansion in the region.”

Hilton UK & Ireland has recently signed five new properties in the UK and Ireland, including Hilton Manchester Deansgate, Hilton London Canary Wharf, Hilton London Tower Bridge, Hilton Dublin Airport and, most recently, Hilton London Euston. With the recent opening of the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead and the signing of The Waldorf Hilton, the UK & Ireland portfolio will stand at 81.

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