Hilton launches new summer holiday promotion

Hilton International has announced at Arabian Travel Market 2005, first time strategic partnerships with global payment card leader, MasterCard, and Emirates Holidays - the tour operating arm of Emirates Airline and the largest wholesale tour operator in the Gulf and Middle East, promising exciting packages in the eighth successive year of its popular and successful summer holiday promotion, ‘Hilton For Free’. “We are delighted to welcome MasterCard and Emirates Holidays as our partners for Hilton For Free 2005. Summer holidays have never been so exciting, with travellers not only having more hotel options and exotic destinations to choose from, but they can also extend their summer escapes for free and receive additional incentives including airline miles, Hilton HHonors bonus points and further discounts when booking through MasterCard. With Emirates Holidays on board this year, travellers wishing to take up Hilton for Free can book packages with Emirates flights making their holiday much cheaper and easier to book, said Guy Epsom, Regional Sales and Marketing Director, Hilton International, Arabian Peninsula. From now through to the end of September, Middle East travellers will receive extra free room nights, when booking for three consecutive nights or more at over 140 upscale Hilton and luxurious Conrad hotels in 100 spectacular destinations. MasterCard cardholders will also enjoy a ten per cent discount when booking their holiday this summer using their credit card, and will be entered into a draw to win one of 60 weekend breaks at Hilton hotels in the region. Additionally, HHonors members will also receive 500 Hilton HHonors points and double Air Miles. “MasterCard is delighted to join hands with Hilton, one of the most recognised names in the global hospitality industry. This alliance brings us closer to our goal to be the preferred method of payment in the restaurant, travel and entertainment industries and delivers on the promise of providing unique, value-added benefits to our cardholders across the MENA region,” said Thomas Edelmann, Vice President, Strategic Alliances & Business Development, MasterCard International Middle East North Africa (MENA) Region. Travellers can see the world and recognise terrific savings whilst enjoying diverse new Hilton and Conrad destinations. Participating hotels in Hilton For Free 2005 include the latest addition to the Conrad luxury portfolio - the zen-inspired Conrad Tokyo, which is scheduled to open on July 1 this year. Starting 29 floors above the Hamarikyu Gardens and five minutes walk from the world’s most expensive real estate in Ginza, the 10-storey hotel boasts the largest rooms and the biggest urban spa in the city. It will also be home to the first Gordon Ramsay restaurant in Asia with panoramic views over the city skyline. From July 15, travellers wishing to visit the land down under, will be able to enjoy the sleek, contemporary new Hilton Sydney, which reopens following a 3-year and US$160 million top-to-toe renovation. Located in the heart of the world’s most glamorous harbour city, Hilton Sydney is on the doorstep to the city’s main entertainment, shopping and business precincts. Holidaymakers seeking total escape will find the award-winning romantic Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa, built on two tropical islands the ideal destination. The award-winning resort is surrounded by crystal clear waters and stunning coral reefs, and has recently opened the world’s first all-glass undersea restaurant which sits five meters below the waves of the Indian Ocean, offering distinctive contemporary Maldivian cuisine. An alternative Middle Eastern travel choice this summer is the tranquil 147-room Hilton Salalah Resort which overlooks the emerald green waters of the Indian Ocean and enjoys the cool climate characteristic to the Dhofar region’s monsoon season. Emirates Holidays Vice President, John Felix said: “Flexibility, affordability and quality – the hallmarks of Emirates Holidays products – continue to prove popular with our customers. With the introduction of free nights at the Hilton, the affordability and quality of our holidays is greatly enhanced. I am confident that this offer will be very well received by our customers who will view it as a terrific value-add to the overall Emirates Holidays experience.” Additional new participants to the Hilton For Free 2005 summer promotion include diverse locations such as, the Hilton on the Park, in Melbourne, the Hilton Kuala Lumpur, and the Conrad Bali Resort and Spa. In Europe, the Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona in Spain opens in July, while the Hilton Vienna and the London Hilton on Park Lane are established favourites. Closer to home, Middle Eastern travellers can enjoy summer savings at Egypt’s Hilton Alexandria Green Plaza situated just minutes away from the city's business and cultural areas. Middle East holiday makers can log onto www.hiltonforfree.com for further information or call Hilton Reservations Worldwide or Emirates Holidays for reservations.