Hilton hotel to open at new Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre

Aberdeen City Council and Hilton Worldwide have signed a franchise licence agreement to open a 200-bedroom Hilton at the new Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC).

The hotel, due to open in 2019, will be managed by independent hotel management company Redefine BDL Hotels. The Glasgow-based firm's portfolio also includes DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre and DoubleTree by Hilton Dundee.

Hilton Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre, set to be the fourth Hilton property in the city, will connect directly to the AECC and is expected to create approximately 350 jobs. It will include an executive lounge and up to 10 meeting rooms of variable size to complement the outstanding facilities of the adjoining conference centre. The hotel will also include a cocktail bar, speciality restaurant, fitness centre and wet leisure and spa facilities.

The AECC is part of the city councilís largest regeneration programme. It is estimated it will secure an additional 31,000 business visitors to Scotland and generate an additional £11m visitor spend per annum.

Falling oil prices earlier this year saw Aberdeen's hotel market suffer, with double-digit drops in both occupancy and revpar.

Leader of Aberdeen City Council Jenny Laing said: "We look forward to working with Hilton, whose commitment to Aberdeen is a testament to their confidence in the area and the strategic value it places on our economy as the city embarks on an exciting transformational journey."

Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president for development, EMEA, at Hilton, said: "The new Hilton in Aberdeen will enhance the city's reputation as a leading choice for conferencing and events in Scotland. Our established reputation in corporate and events hospitality will draw visitors and further events activity to the area."

Nick Harris, director at Henry Boot Developments (Aberdeen City Councilís joint venture partner for the AECC), added: "We're delighted to have secured Hilton as part of the new AECC complex. The presence of a Hilton hotel directly connecting to the new venue will make it an even more attractive proposition to both leisure and business visitors, who can travel from outlying areas safe in the knowledge they have high quality accommodation right on the doorstep."

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