Beyond sumptuous accommodations and top-notch service, today’s luxury travelers are looking for an experience that takes them into the heart of a destination. Hilton Worldwide’s luxury brands Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts deliver on all fronts, says John Vanderslice, global head of luxury & lifestyle brands, Hilton Worldwide. “We have many innovative programs such as the Conrad 1/3/5,” he notes, for travelers who might be tight on time, but want an inspired experience in the destination (can be requested via the Conrad Concierge APP). Vanderslice also points to the Waldorf Astoria Driving Experiences and the Taste of Waldorf Astoria as programs that set Hilton Worldwide’s luxury brands apart.
Engaging Experiences
The Conrad 1/3/5 program is a collection of curated and customized experiences for guests whose time is at a premium, but still have one to five hours to explore a destination. For example, in Beijing, if a guest has one free hour they can learn to read tea leaves in a market with over 900 tea sellers and sip organic Jade Sword green tea near the Temple of Confucius.
The Waldorf Driving Experiences, meanwhile, affords the opportunity for guests to get behind the wheel of the newest models from luxury car makers such as Automobili Lamborghini, Ferrari, McLaren, and Porsche.
A luxury trip is nothing without a culinary feast, and the Taste of Waldorf Astoria program celebrates the brand’s continued commitment to delivering gastronomic experiences while paying homage to historic dishes that were invented within the iconic hotel’s walls including The Waldorf Salad.
New Openings Around the Globe
“We have [an array of] properties coming online,” says Vanderslice, “from gateway cities and resorts on the U.S. west coast to one in India.”
Last month saw the opening of Conrad’s second property in India, the 285-room and -suite Conrad Bengaluru, soaring 24 stories above Bengaluru’s Central Business District. Closer to home, the 209-room Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach opened in December, making it the brand’s first beachfront resort in the region. “As Fort Lauderdale Beach heats up, we recognize that this city is evolving with a new focus on opulence, style and sophistication. The resort is at the helm of this movement,” said Chintan Dadhich, the resort’s GM in press materials.
This year, Conrad Hangzhou and the Conrad Shenyang will open in China; and for the Waldorf brand, openings include the Waldorf Astoria Bali, Waldorf Astoria Bangkok, Waldorf Astoria Doha West Bay in Qatar, and Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre.
For 2018, the upper upscale brand Hilton Hotels & Resorts will open Hilton Istanbul Bakirkoy in Turkey (February); the Hilton Da Nang in Vietnam (March); the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort in California (April); the Hilton Antakya Museum in Turkey (May); and the Hilton Hangzhou Xiaoshan in China (July).
Contact Information
Hilton Worldwide: hiltonworldwide.com
