The opening of the 112-room Courthouse Doubletree hotel by Hilton, in central London, marks the brand’s 200th property and paves the way for further expansion beyond North America.
Previously the Courthouse Kempinski hotel, it is now the third Doubletree property in the UK following openings in Cambridge and Aberdeen, and only the fifth in Europe. A further 20 are in the pipeline for the next few years in a mix of major and secondary cities across the country.
The next in line is the Hoole Hall Country Club in Chester which will open for business as a Doubletree hotel early next year, while the likes of Nottingham, Newcastle and Plymouth are believed to be potential future locations.
Around 40 per cent of guests at the up-scale hotels are independent business travellers, explained Dave Horton, senior vice president, brand management for Doubletree Hotels.
“This hotel launch in the heart of one of the most prominent gateway cities highlights the potential to competitively integrate our successful Doubletree by Hilton offering in the UK and around the world - enabling us to provide an extensive range and choice of premier accommodations to our customers wherever they travel," said Horton.
Doubletree properties are differentiated from the Hilton brand partly by “size and scope in terms of the number of rooms and the capacity of meetings and events facilities,” with Doubletree properties typically smaller and located in secondary cities - unlike Hilton - in addition to major destinations.
“We’re very bullish about Doubletree expansion despite the current economic climate,” says Horton. “It’s a fantastic conversion brand and independent hotels are looking for assistance to re-invest and re-brand – they need our brand, our technology and our distribution.”
