ABILENE, Texas – (December 13, 2022) – Hilton announced today the appointment of John Kukreja as general manager of the new DoubleTree by Hilton Abilene Downtown Convention Center. Expected to open in summer 2023, the 200-room DoubleTree by Hilton Abilene Downtown Convention Center will offer the most hotel meeting space in the city, with more than 17,000 square feet of meeting space, including a ballroom that can accommodate more than 1,000 guests.

A hospitality veteran with more than 30 years of experience, Kukreja has held positions in top hotels and restaurants from coast to coast. He served as rooms manager at Trump Tower in New York City, vice president of operations at Tamarind, the London-based Michelin’s star restaurant’s Newport Beach location and director of outlets at Hotel Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica. Most recently, Kukreja served as general manager of The Oasis at Death Valley Resort in California overseeing a multi-million-dollar renovation.

Kukreja earned his MBA in marketing and operations at Tiffin University and received a certificate in hospitality management from Cornell University.

Conveniently located across the street from the Abilene Convention Center and surrounded by restaurants and bars, DoubleTree by Hilton Abilene Downtown Convention Center is steps away from the Adamson-Spaulding Storybook Garden and within a mile of the Grace and Frontier Texas museums. When it opens, the hotel will offer a a signature restaurant, cocktail bar, pool and fitness center complete with Peloton bikes.

DoubleTree by Hilton Abilene Downtown Convention Center guests will enjoy the benefits of Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest loyalty program for Hilton’s distinct hotel brands.

For more information about DoubleTree by Hilton Abilene Downtown Convention Center, visit hilton.com.