Hilton Garden Inn celebrates grand opening of first hotel in Perm, Russia. Cooperation between Perm government and business to attract foreign investors continues.
Hilton Garden Inn, one of the fastest growing brands that is part of the Hilton Family of Hotels, celebrates the grand opening of the mid-priced brand's first location in Russia with the Hilton Garden Inn Perm. Today's announcement marks the launch of the second of three Hilton Family hotel brands scheduled to debut in Russia over the next twelve months.
The grand opening of Hilton Garden Inn Perm (September 11) was attended by local business leaders as well as by regional and city authorities. Apart from the traditional ribbon cutting, the ceremony featured the signing of the second franchise agreement between Hilton Hotels Corporation and Business Contact Ltd (Perm, Russia) to start construction of a second hotel of the Hilton Family of Hotels - Hilton DoubleTree, which is scheduled to open in late 2010. This is a bright example of the local government hard work to attract foreign investments into Perm.
Stanton J. Jacobs, Vice-President Hotels Performance Support Hilton Hotels Corporation: "We really appreciate the support of Perm government. Without it, the launching of Hilton Garden Inn would be almost impossible. I've been working in hospitality business for a long time, and I have often been in a situation when we had to postpone the launching of a hotel due to lack of support from the local authorities. Perm is completely different. This city is open for investors".
Anatoly Makhovikov, First Deputy City Manager: "The opening of Hilton Garden Inn in Perm is an important event for the whole region. It proves our economic growth and investment attractiveness". Currently, the city authorities are working on several other projects to attract foreign investors into the region.
Support of the local authorities is not the only reason for launching Hilton Garden Inn in Perm, Russia.
Mike Colini, Vice-President Development Northern Europe Hilton Hotels Corporation: "Russia with its economic growth is one of our five key strategic markets. Perm shows excellent economic performance. It is a very dynamic market, with a huge potential for hotel growth".
Wolfgang M. Neumann, President of Hilton Hotels Europe: "Despite being an important industrial centre with a large population and significant road, rail and shipping links, Perm has just over 500 hotel rooms in the entire city. Hilton Garden Inn Perm is the first internationally branded hotel to enter this market, so we are confident that the Hilton Garden Inn brand will become a popular choice for both business and leisure guests."
Located approximately 1,126 km (700 miles) east of Moscow, Perm is Russia's sixth largest city with a population of over one million people. The city is the administrative and commercial centre of the Kama region and has developed into an important strategic hub, linking Europe and Asia thanks to its position on the River Kama and as a main railway junction on the Trans Siberian railway.
"We are excited to launch our first Hilton Garden Inn location in Russia in the growing city of Perm," said Adrian Kurre, senior vice president - brand management, Hilton Garden Inn. "The opening of the Hilton Garden Inn Perm shows that our upscale focused service brand continues to expand at a solid pace and reinforces that Hilton Garden Inn is being recognized by hotel owners and developers alike as a dynamic and exemplary hotel brand."
The 104-room Hilton Garden Inn Perm is strategically located only 15 minutes from the city's Savino International Airport and 10 minutes to the city centre. Stolitsa, one of the largest shopping centres in Perm, is just a three-minute walk from the hotel. The new hotel will feature the brand's key signature offerings including the Garden Sleep System® bed, ergonomic Mirra® chair by Herman Miller, a 24-hour business centre and complimentary high speed Wi-Fi Internet access. The stylish lobby and reception features a relaxing lounge area and bar, as well as the Hilton Garden Inn 24-hour Pavilion Pantry® which provides a selection of food and beverage options. In addition, the hotel also will offer leisure and business travelers a bar and restaurant as well as 2,690 square feet (250 square meters) of conference and meeting facilities, business center and complimentary parking.
Back in November 2007, the award-winning mid-priced brand has entered into an agreement with Business-Contact Ltd (Perm) which involved a 10-month conversion of the existing Plaza Olympia hotel to the new Hilton Garden Inn Perm. According to Makhovikov, it is not the last joint project of Hilton Hotels Corporation and Perm region. As mentioned above, Hilton Hotels Corporation is planning to launch another hotel in Perm - Hilton DoubleTree.
Hilton has named Russia as one of its key development regions, joining the UK & Ireland, Italy, the Iberian Peninsula, Germany, Turkey and Poland as core strategic areas for the introduction of the Hilton Family of hotels in Europe. Over the next ten years, Hilton anticipates it will open more than 70 Hilton Family hotels across in key Russian cities and regional centers.
Stanton J. Jacobs: "It is like a snowball: once one famous brand enters a new market, others will decide to enter the market as well".
The Hilton Garden Inn Perm is located at Mira Street 45 B, Perm, Russian Federation 614022; phone: +7-342-227 67 87 ; fax: +7-342-229 97 61. Rooms at the Hilton Garden Inn Perm start from RUB 2900 (approx. 115 USD) per room per night. For more information or to book please visit www.perm.hgi.com.
