Hilton adds to Conrad's Chinese pipeline

Hilton Worldwide has signed a management agreement with Suzhou Chinaing Real Estate for a Conrad hotel in Jiangsu, China.

Scheduled to open its doors in 2013, the 290-room Conrad Suzhou is part of Hilton's ambitious expansion plans in the country which will see it increase its portfolio of Chinese Conrad hotels alone from the current one to six by 2013.

Conrad Suzhou will be part of a mixed-use skyscraper development designed to shape like an oriental gate. The development is touted to be the most iconic building in Suzhou once it is completed.

Suzhou Chinaing Real Estate is part of the Tiandi and Dongfang Groups, which has interests in technology, real estate, culture and education, as well as business services.

Christopher Nassetta, CEO of Hilton Worldwide said: "We currently have more than 70 properties under various stages of development. These 70 properties are spread throughout China's key gateway and emerging cities.

"Our entry into Suzhou is in line with our strategy to entrench our presence in the primary cities while we continue to seek out growth opportunities in the developing destinations."