The upscale resort network has also announced further expansion with 14 new resorts, (over 3,000 rooms), planned to open around the world in the next two years.
 

Ian Carter, Chief Executive, Hilton International comments, �The expansion of the resort portfolio reflects the increase in leisure business and demand for our resort product.  We will continue to explore opportunities to develop Hilton Worldwide Resorts and to offer guests an unrivalled global collection of upscale holiday destinations.� The expanded 2005 portfolio and new resort openings will see Hilton Worldwide Resorts double from just 36 resorts at its launch in 2002 to 73 resorts by 2007. 

New to the 2005 portfolio are eight Hilton Hotels Corporation resorts in the US, the Conrad Phuket Resort & Spa in Thailand and Hilton International resorts in Italy, Barbados, Egypt and the Philippines.  Philippa Gould, Product Development Director, Hilton International, comments on the growth; �Hilton Worldwide Resorts has gone from strength to strength. The 2005 additional resorts, which are a mixture of existing Hilton properties and new openings, further enhance our far reaching global choice and provide even more wonderful spa, golf, romantic, family and diving holiday experiences for guests to sample.

�We are equally excited about the 14 new openings planned for the next two years.  These include a line up of resorts in new, exotic places for Hilton such as Whistler, Evian, Portorosa, Venice, Seychelles, Fiji, Western Australia and a specialist Eco-Lodge in the Amazon Rainforest.� 

Currently, 37 resorts are operated by Hilton International, 19 by Hilton Hotels Corporation and three by Conrad.