JEDDAH, 1 January — Hilton International (HI) executives discussed the recent hotel openings in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as well as plans for expansion in the region, at a meeting in Dubai recently. Anthony Harris, chief executive officer at HI, who attended the meeting with Koos Klein, president for the Middle East and Asia, Philip Bowcock, the company’s worldwide financial controller and Robert Scullin, vice president of finance for Asia Pacific, said: "This is a very exciting time for HI worldwide and especially Hilton in the Gulf, as we continue to launch new luxury hotels. "We believe that business and leisure traffic to the Gulf will continue to increase steadily in the long term, and we aim to provide luxurious hotels throughout the region offering the highest service and quality that are synonymous wit the Hilton brand," he added. HI recently undertook a regional expansion program with the opening of three new hotels in the GCC during 2001. The first was the magnificent 422-room Jeddah Hilton, which opened in summer, raising the number of Hilton properties in the Kingdom to three. Soon after, Hilton launched two further hotels — one in Ras Al Khaimah and another in Dubai — complementing the existing portfolio of six hotels in the Untied Arab Emirates. Set for opening in 2002 is a new Hilton Kuwait, which will mark the re-entry of Hilton into the country. This seafront resort situated outside Kuwait City offers one of the longest beaches in that country, stretching for 1,600 meters, with a choice of more than 60 two-bedroom chalets, 143 guestrooms and 49 self-contained studios. HI currently operates 26 hotels in the Middle East — 14 in Egypt, eight in the UAE, two in the Kingdom, and one each in Bahrain and Oman. Meanwhile, Hilton Honors, Hilton’s frequent guest program, was awarded the Hermes Award in Paris, which recognizes excellence and exemplary initiative in the worldwide hospitality industry for best customer loyalty program. The second annual Hermes awards received over 130 entries from some of the world’s top hotel chains vying for 16 coveted awards.