Hilton heads to Krakow

 
Howard Property Polska Sp. z o.o. has received a building permit to build a 4-star Hilton Garden Inn on ul. Karmelicka, informed Gazeta Wyborcza.
The company also wants to build a Silver Screen Cinemas multiplex and a multi-storied parking garage, which will be designed for 400 vehicles. The total construction costs are estimated today at over 120 mln Polish zloty.
According to the newspaper, Krakow?s Hilton Garden Inn is planned to finish construction by the end of 2008. Construction will begin in August 2007.
As the investor?s representative, Marek Paszucha, said, accent will be placed on hotel services.
?It is not going to be a business gallery,? stipulated Paszucha.
Hilton Hotels Corporation is the leading global hospitality company, with nearly 2,800 hotels and 485,000 rooms in more than 80 countries and 150,000 team members worldwide. More than 2,300 hotels are owned, managed or franchised in the U.S. with a portfolio of some of the best known and highly regarded hotel brands.
The first Hilton hotel was opened in Warsaw, capitol of Poland, in March 2007.
Hilton Garden Inn is one of the chain hotels operated by Hilton Hotels Corporation. It is an award-winning mid-priced chain designed for both business and leisure.
?It will be modern, and built with great esthetic care, a true piece of architecture of the 21st Century,? said Romuald Loegler, the project?s author and architect in Krakow. In Loegler?s opinion, it will be a key meeting place, and entertainment and shopping center in Krakow.
The changes around the Karmelicka area have been predicted for some time. Old buildings at ul. Rajska will be adapted into a multimedia informational center with books, music and press, a theatrical and concert hall, and a cinema and conference/seminar space for up to 390 people.
?Both of these investments will be superbly complemented,? considered Loegler. The two modern objects will arise soon, but the buildings will also fit in into the existing district?s character.
As Gazeta Krakowska informed earlier, Hilton was looking for a place in Krakow for several months.
The area of the Grunwald traffic circle was mentioned first, the second location proposed was the Nadwislan?s club grounds, but finally it was decided that the hotel would be built between ul. Karmelicka and Dolnych Mlynow.
Krakow presently has over 106 hotels with over 12,000 dormitory places. The total number of accommodation centers in the city is 280, but their standard is not very high.
Poland?s shortage of high standard hotels creates a market for foreign hotel chains.
A good example is the investment projects by the Starwood group owned by Sheraton hotels.
A majority of the largest international chains only have hotels in Warsaw. The Hilton investment proved that Krakow has also appeared on the Polish tourist map.

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