DoubleTree is only at the start of its expansion around Australasia, according to Hilton World’s Paul Hutton, who said further expansion is ‘in the near future’.
Speaking to KarryOn, the VP of Operations said since stepping into the role 10 months ago, his focus has been looking at new opportunities for the DoubleTree by Hilton brand as well as the Hilton Hotels and Resorts brands.
This year, the company announced two new properties for Australia alone, including a third new build DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Western Australia and the Hilton Port Moresby.
However, in the coming months, Hutton expects to be able to reveal newer additions possible even some new properties in Australia.
“I look forward to announcing further exciting expansion news for the DoubleTree by Hilton brand in the near future.”
Paul Hutton, Hilton Worldwide VP of Operations
This expansion of our brands is a result of the great relationships with have with our owning companies.
“Strengthening these relationships is the key to our growth and therefore a key focus for me now that I am here in Australasia.”
Check out the rest of our chat below:
What are some of the biggest initiatives you’ve assisted in?
Delivering quality experiences is paramount to exceeding customer expectations, therefore it is a priority for us to continue to review our practices across all hotels to drive quality.
One key initiative has been the introduction of our seasonal produce promotion across every hotel in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. In this initiative every hotel is focusing on including fresh, in-season produce across the restaurant menus which are updated each month.
Australia is home to a number of big hotel brands, what do you think gives Hilton an edge in the local market?
Hilton is the world’s best known hotel brand and in Australia we have been ranked by BDRC International as the number one hotel brand for 10 consecutive years. The key to the success of any brand lies in a consistent, customer focused approach.
Hilton has been present in the Australian market for forty years, and during that time we have established ourselves by delivering that consistency whilst ensuring that we constantly evolve to meet our customers changing needs.
You’re focused on MICE at the moment, how is the brand targeting meeting planners?
Hilton has sales offices in most of the key cities around the world who are responsible for ensuring awareness of Australia as a great meeting or incentive destination. We also work hand in hand with all the tourism bodies to get the message across.
Which property around the country would you say receives the most MICE events?
Our key east coast cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane do benefit from MICE business, however all our destinations get their fair share. Regional centres such as Alice Springs, Darwin and Cairns have really all enjoyed increased levels of MICE business of late.
Hilton recently launched complimentary coffee for meeting delegates – how has this been received?
Research tells us that 42 percent of executives state that they would lose customers without face-to-face meetings (Oxford Economics), whilst business travellers are twice as likely to convert prospects into customers with an in-person meeting than without one (Oxford Economics).
We also know that innovative ideas are born when we have the freedom to brainstorm in a relaxed environment, such as over coffee. In this spirit, for any meeting booked now up and completed by 31 March Hilton globally is offering a free coffee break.
Given Australia’s obsession with coffee, the promotion has been very well received by meeting planners and we are pleased to serve quality Vittoria coffee at every Hilton hotel in Australia. Interestingly we serve over 2.8 million cups of Vittoria coffee across our hotels every year.
Are you looking at rolling out any other initiatives specifically for the MICE market?
We have a number of new MICE products that have recently been launched into the market. Most significantly is the new meeting rooms at Hilton Melbourne South Wharf. The new rooms include both meeting rooms and an outdoor terrace which faces directly onto the Yarra River. The combined space is over 450 square metres
We also have new private meeting and dining rooms at Hilton Adelaide as part of the newly opened Coal Cellar + Grill restaurant which can hold up to sixty people. Whilst we also have refurbished our meeting spaces at Parmelia Hilton Perth.
Leisure and business travellers are increasingly becoming health conscious, how is Hilton catering to this growing trend?
All our hotels include fully equipped gyms that are complimentary for in-house guests. Our menu’s across breakfast, lunch and dinner all include healthy options and of course, we cater for all dietary requirements.
