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72-Room Hotel Designed by Architect Gerald Dixon, Composed of 19 Buildings |
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| ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - Feb. 8, 2005 -- Hilton Hotels
Corporation (NYSE:HLT) today announced the opening of the new Hilton St.
Augustine Historic Bayfront, a 72-room property in "America's Oldest City."
The hotel was designed by local architect Gerald Dixon and is composed
of 19 buildings. The unique design was inspired by the owners' vision to
return the area to the look, the charm and the feel this location offered
during St. Augustine's Spanish Colonial Period of 1784-1821.
The Hilton St. Augustine Historic Bayfront is owned by Sea Wall Motor Lodge, Inc., managed by Jalaram Hotels, Inc., and operated under a franchise license agreement with Beverly Hills-based Hilton Hotels Corporation. "The unique new Hilton St. Augustine Historic Bayfront
combines a reverence for the history of St. Augustine with the modern-day
luxuries and amenities guests expect in a Hilton," said Jeff Diskin, senior
vice president, brand management, Hilton Hotels Corporation. "The property's
intimate size and feel are reminiscent of a boutique hotel, and yet it
offers the extensive services and facilities that are usually found only
in much larger hotels."
 The charming, vibrant Spanish Colonial Period structure consists of a "hollow-square" design -- in this case, 19 different buildings set around an inner courtyard and connected by an interior corridor. The buildings were inspired by the Second Spanish Colonial historical period, with wooden balconies, cedar-shake & tile roofs, with different elevations and colors that allow it to blend in with its surroundings. Virtually all rooms offer stunning views of Matanzas Bay or the city of St. Augustine. Thoroughly modern in-room amenities include the Suite Dreams(R) bed by Hilton, 27" flat screen TV, mini-fridge, coffee maker and complimentary high-speed wireless internet access. The hotel's facilities include an outdoor pool and hot tub, fitness center, business center, concierge service and a guest laundry and valet service. The Menendez and Ponce de Leon meeting rooms, at 800 square feet of space each or 1600 square feet when combined, can accommodate meetings of up to 140 people or banquets of up to 100. Two outdoor terraces are large enough for receptions of up to 30 guests. The 250 square foot board room can accommodate 12 and offers views of the bay. The Aviles Restaurant and Lounge within the hotel features creative global cuisine with touches from the region surrounding Aviles, which is the sister city of St. Augustine in Spain. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers a comfortable outdoor seating area. Situated within the Historic District, the new Hilton has restored St. Augustine's old-world charm to the site. In keeping with its status as "America's Oldest City," St. Augustine sets stringent requirements for new structures; the design and approval process for the hotel took two and a half years, and the site had to be excavated prior to building. The hotel is located on the site of the old Monson Motel, a structure from the 1950s that had fallen into disrepair. Some of the historical artifacts discovered in the excavation, which was conducted by the city of St. Augustine will be featured in a display inside the new hotel. The Hilton is within walking distance to many of the area's finest restaurants and most popular attractions. Horse-drawn carriages and a trolley also transport visitors from the hotel through the streets of the old city. Historical points of interest include the Spanish Colonial Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, dating from 1672, the original Government House and the magnificent Victorian structures of the period built by Henry Flagler, famous for bringing the railroad to St. Augustine, and on south to the Florida Keys. Guests can also enjoy the area's miles of stunning beaches, world class golf, tennis, charter fishing and sailing, among many other recreational activities. Hilton Hotels Corporation is recognized internationally as a preeminent hospitality company. The company develops, owns, manages or franchises approximately 2,200 hotels, resorts and vacation ownership properties. |
| Contact:
The Hilton St. Augustine Historic Bayfront
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