International hotel chain Hilton Worlwide has signed a contract with a local company to open the first Doubletree by Hilton hotel in Bucharest next year. VIS 7 Import Export SRL, the company which owns  Bucharest City Unirii Square hotel in Bucharest, the former Tulip Inn, will renovate the hotel and turn it into Doublee, which should open in the second half of next year. The Bucharest City hotel, opened in 2006, has 88 rooms.

This will be the second Doubletree unit in Romania and Hilton's fifth affiliated hotel in the country. The first Doubletree hotel in Romania will be opened at the beginning of next year in Oradea. The Doubletree brand includes four or five-star hotel units, depending on the regulations of the country where hotels are being opened.

The unit in Oradea is owend by SIF Banat Crisana, which signed a management contract with Hilton for the 147-roomed hotel, which was initially expected to be opened in fall this year.

Another Hilton hotel opening planned for 2011 is the Hampton unit in Brasov, according to the hotel chain. The hotel will be developed from scratch, with an investment of EUR 4 million into the 104-roomed economy hotel unit.

Two other Hilton affiliated hotels are running in Romania – Athenee Palace Hilton in Bucharest, controlled by local investor George Copos and Hilton Sibiu, controlled by businessman Nicolae Minea.

Romania-insider.com