Scotland's hotel scene just keeps on growing. Aberdeen City Council and Hilton Worldwide have signed a franchise licence agreement to open a 200-room Hilton Hotels & Resorts property in the new Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre.
The Hilton Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre will be the fourth Hilton property in the city when it opens in 2019, and will connect directly to the new convention center.
"The signing of Hilton Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre is the next step of this major project," Aberdeen City Council Leader Councillor Jenny Laing said in a statement.
"Aberdeen City Council's strategy of broadening the local economy across a number of sectors--including tourism-and this project further demonstrates that Aberdeen is a robust market with a bright future," Patrick Fitzgibbon, SVP of development, EMEA for Hilton, said.
Hilton already has 20 properties currently operating in Scotland. Hilton Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre will join three existing Hilton hotels in Aberdeen: Hilton Aberdeen Treetops, DoubleTree by Hilton Aberdeen City Centre and Hilton Garden Inn Aberdeen City Centre.
Hilton Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre will be managed by Redefine|BDL Hotels. The Glasgow-based firm's portfolio includes DoubleTree by Hilton Edinburgh City Centre and DoubleTree by Hilton Dundee.
Bringing in Business
It is estimated the new AECC will secure an additional 31,000 business visitors to Scotland, generating an additional £11 million visitor spend per year and elevating Aberdeen into one of the top five global competitor energy cities for conferences and exhibitions.
"The presence of a Hilton hotel directly connecting to the new venue will make it an even more attractive proposition to both leisure and business visitors, who can travel from outlying areas safe in the knowledge they have high-quality accommodation right on the doorstep," Nick Harris, director at Henry Boot Developments-Aberdeen City Council's joint venture partner for the new multi-million pound Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre, said.
The new AECC is part of City Council's largest regeneration program, as the council strives to achieve the ambitions outlined in the Regional Economic Strategy, the Strategic Infrastructure plan and the City Region Deal. As part of the of the £516 million of capital investment over the next five years, Aberdeen City Council is spending £59 million on roads infrastructure projects, including more than £19 million for the Berryden corridor, a further contribution of £75 million for the AWPR, £80 million of investment for green energy, funds to invest in flood-prevention measures, and £34 million for city-center regeneration as part of the City Centre Masterplan.