SOUTHEAST ASIA BUILDING11 Mar 2025
Hilton on Track to Triple Mid-Market Presence in Southeast Asia with New Signings
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Hilton (NYSE: HLT) announced on 25 February 2025 the signing of three new hotels in Southeast Asia, reflecting the global hospitality company’s continued ambition to expand its focused service presence in the region. 

Hilton Garden Inn Hoi’An Tra Que Village will mark Hilton’s foray into Hoi An, Vietnam, while Hilton Garden Inn Kota Kinabalu Tuaran will expand Hilton’s footprint in Sabah, Malaysia. Hilton Garden Inn Bali Nusa Dua in Indonesia will reinforce Hilton’s growing presence in the holiday hotspot.

In response to the growing demand for affordable, upscale accommodations in Southeast Asia, Hilton plans to more than triple its focused service footprint in the region in the coming years, increasing the number of Hilton Garden Inn properties, as well as other mid-market branded hotels, from 12 to 40. In particular, Vietnam will witness the biggest expansion from the two focused service properties currently in operation to almost 20.

“Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam are experiencing record tourism arrivals as some of the most-visited destinations in South East Asia,” said Alexandra Murray, area Vice President and regional head of Southeast Asia, Hilton. “We are growing our focused service presence to cater to rising intra-regional travel and an upwardly mobile middle class arriving from all over the region, looking to deliver everything our customers want where they want it.” 

Hilton currently offers 102 properties in Southeast Asia and is on track to expand its portfolio by more than 50% in the coming years. 

Maria Ariizumi, Vice President, Development, Southeast Asia, Hilton, said, “Our development approach is to bring the right brand to the right place at the right time. In Southeast Asia, we see focused service hotels as a prime investment opportunity for developers driven by a growing base of middle-class, value-driven travellers finding improved ease and accessibility of travel in the region. This is an ideal moment to expand our portfolio, beginning with key gateway cities, followed by expansion into secondary markets. 

“The three new Hilton Garden Inn properties are being developed with both new and existing owners, which is also [a] testament to the confidence of our owners in the Hilton Garden Inn brand and Hilton’s robust commercial engine.”

Hilton Garden Inn Kota Kinabalu Tuaran 

Home to the famed Mount Kinabalu and diverse geological habitats, Sabah is one of Malaysia’s most popular tourist destinations. The state welcomed more than three million tourists in 2024, marking a 20% increase from 2023. 

Hilton Garden Inn Kota Kinabalu Tuaran promises to bring Hilton Garden Inn’s world-class hospitality to Sabah with its welcoming hospitality and glowing service. The new-build hotel will include 160 rooms, starting from 35 square metres, and guests can enjoy food and beverage options at the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, alongside amenities such as a fitness centre and pool to unwind and recharge.

Situated along the shores of Tuaran, a town in the west coast division of Sabah, nature lovers can look forward to direct access to unspoiled beachfronts and lush mangrove forests such as the Sulaman Wetland Mangrove Forest, a 488-acre protected wetland reserve privately managed for conservation, education, and eco-tourism. The property is located north of the state capital, Kota Kinabalu, and is easily accessible via two main thoroughfares, Route 3 and Route 606, allowing travellers to traverse between Kota Kinabalu and Northern Sabah. 

Hilton Garden Inn Bali Nusa Dua

Known for its lush landscapes and mesmerising sunsets, Bali is a highly sought-after destination for local and international travellers, with the island recording more than six million visitors last year alone. Located in southern Bali, Nusa Dua is renowned for its pristine beaches and world-class water sports. 

Hilton Garden Inn Bali Nusa Dua will be Hilton’s fifth property in Bali, joining other properties such as Umana Bali, LXR Hotels & Resorts, which opened in 2023. The resort will be a short distance from the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Centre (BNDCC) and the Bali Collection, the area’s largest outdoor shopping, dining, and entertainment complex, providing business and leisure travellers with convenient access to the area’s many attractions. 

The resort will have 159 rooms and suites spanning up to 67 square metres, with thoughtful touches throughout the rooms’ design and amenities. Guests can enjoy meals at the resort’s all-day dining outlet, Together & Co., work out at the fitness centre, or relax and rejuvenate at the pool or spa. Hilton Garden Inn Bali Nusa Dua also has an event space of over 220 square metres and three meeting rooms of 74 square metres, ideal for hosting a range of corporate and social events.

Hilton Garden Inn Hoi’An Tra Que Village 

Touted as one of Vietnam’s most beautiful places to visit, the coastal canal city of Hoi An is recognised as one of South East Asia’s most celebrated destinations. Situated between UNESCO World Heritage site Hoi An Ancient Town and An Bang Beach, Hilton Garden Inn Hoi’An Tra Que Village will serve as the ideal base for travellers to experience Hoi An’s historical significance, cultural richness and coastal beauty. The property is also close to popular tourist hotspots such as Danang City Centre and My Son Sanctuary.

The property will have 250 rooms, with rooms starting from 28 square metres. Guests can enjoy a wide variety of culinary options, with three dining outlets, two bars and an all-day dining restaurant. The hotel will also offer 100 square metres of meeting space, suitable for corporate meetings and social gatherings. Guests looking to maintain their fitness regimes during their stay can visit the hotel’s fitness centre or pool. 

Hilton Garden Inn Kota Kinabalu Tuaran, Hilton Garden Inn Bali Nusa Dua and Hilton Garden Inn Hoi’An Tra Que Village will be part of Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest loyalty program for Hilton’s world-class brands comprising more than 8,400 properties in 140 countries and territories. Hilton Honours members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount and free standard Wi-Fi.

Hilton also continues to grow its luxury portfolio across the Asia Pacific region, announcing plans last year to surpass 150 luxury hotels in the market in the coming years. Over the next two years, Hilton will open seven Waldorf Astoria properties in Osaka, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, Shanghai, Tokyo, Xi’an and Hanoi. Conrad Hotels & Resorts is expanding with upcoming properties in prime travel destinations across China, including Xi’an, Chengdu, and Nanjing, as well as in Nagoya, Japan. Hilton has also expanded its luxury offering with the recent introduction of LXR Hotels & Resorts to South East Asia with Umana Bali, its second property in the region, following ROKU KYOTO in Japan.