Hilton and DoubleTree by Hilton have announced the signing of a management agreement with Trillion Real Estate & Properties Private Limited for a new DoubleTree by Hilton property in the Indian state of Maharashtra.

Scheduled to open in Q1 2019, DoubleTree by Hilton Shirdi will be located at Shirdi's historical town centre, marking Hilton's entry into the popular pilgrimage destination. The latest addition increases Hilton's pipeline of hotels in India to 19 properties.

"With a fast-growing, global portfolio of more than 500 upscale properties, we are delighted that our award-winning DoubleTree by Hilton brand is gaining traction in India," said Dianna Vaughan, senior vice president and global head, DoubleTree by Hilton. "With five DoubleTree by Hilton properties currently operating in India, DoubleTree by Hilton Shirdi will mark the brand's sixth property in the pipeline in this burgeoning market. As the first upscale hotel in Shirdi, we look forward to delivering exceptional experiences to guests beginning with our signature, warm DoubleTree Cookie welcome."

Shirdi, famously known as the home of late spiritual leader Sri Sai Baba, is a popular pilgrimage town and an estimated 22 million tourists from across the country and overseas visit the famous Shirdi Sai Baba temple annually. Most recently, the city saw the completion of a new Shirdi Airport, which will facilitate greater access for pilgrims to visit the destination - religious tourism is a key focus in India's tourism planning.

"Our partnership with Trillion Real Estate & Properties to manage DoubleTree by Hilton Shirdi underpins our commitment to expand our footprint in India," said Kaushik Vardharajan, vice president of development - India, Hilton. "Guided by our mission to be the world's most hospitable company, we remain focused on growing our pipeline across India with an aim to serve any type of guest, anywhere they want to be in the country, for any travel need they have. DoubleTree by Hilton Shirdi is a strong addition to our portfolio and will fill the existing gap in the town's accommodation market and give us first-mover advantage in offering our award-winning hospitality to both international and domestic tourists."

When open, the 125-room DoubleTree by Hilton Shirdi will be one of first global hospitality brands in Shirdi. It is located approximately four kilometres from the famous Shirdi Sai Baba Temple and is easily accessible to Sainagar Shirdi Railway Station, the town's main train station, and the soon-to-open Shirdi Airport. In addition to a banquet hall and four meeting rooms, hotel will have an outdoor pool, a fitness center as well as three food and beverage outlets including an all-day dining restaurant.

DoubleTree by Hilton Shirdi will participate in Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton's 14 distinct brands. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, such as an exclusive member discount, free standard wi-fi and a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of points and money to book a stay. Members can also redeem their points for free nights and can gain access to unique events through the Hilton Honors auction platform. - TradeArabia News Service