Prestigious agreement for Acqua Marcia: The Hilton Brand arrives in Palermo
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Prestigious agreement for Acqua Marcia: The Hilton Brand arrives in Palermo
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Category: Europe -
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2006-03-03
Agreement between Acqua Pia Antica Marcia and Hilton International. Three hotels belonging to the Group - Grand Hotel Villa Igiea, Excelsior Palace Hotel and Grand Hotel et des Palmes - will be managed with the Hilton brand through a franchising agreement.
The three hotels - all built in the years between 1877 and 1900 and situated in the prime locations of Palermo - hold a proud cultural heritage of over one hundred years. They can be considered as real monuments testifying the history of Sicily from the end of the nineteenth century. They have always been chosen as a favourite abode by the important personalities and politicians visiting the Sicilian capital. In order to ensure that all facilities are established according to the Hilton standards, a re-styling of the three hotels is underway.
Facing the splendid Gulf of Palermo, the 'Grand Hotel Villa Igiea' tells the story of the Florio family. Entrepreneurs in the pharmaceutical sector, this family built the magnificent building as a venue for recuperation, and from this derives its name Igiea, who is the Goddess of health. In 1900 the villa was completely renovated and transformed into a hotel, with neo-gothic and fifteenth century motifs with floral frescoes by Ettore de Maria Von Bergler, one of the greatest southern painters of the century. In 1929 Villa Igiea was then owned by IRI (Italian Institute for Industrial Development) and later to become a Palermitan tourism milestone, as well as one of the ten most beautiful hotels in the world. The English Royal Family and international movie stars like Greta Garbo and Sophia Loren chose it as their favourite destination.
Ideal for business and leisure stays, the 'Grand Hotel Villa Igiea' has a total of 109 rooms of which 24 superior, 70 deluxe, 8 junior suites, 5 suites and 2 single rooms. The various ballrooms, with their original furniture, are perfect venues for both private ceremonies and business meetings. The adjacent Congress Centre accommodating up to 300 delegates, the luxurious swimming pool by the splendid sea, and the refined restaurant "Le Terrazze" complete the offer. A re-styling of all rooms has reached its final phase, whilst public areas will soon be modelled to meet the Hilton standards, with the aim of opening the hotel's door, under the new brand, by the summer of 2006.
Beginning-of-the-century architecture and high speed Internet connections perfectly combine at the 'Excelsior Palace Hotel'. A total re-styling of the rooms is being done. A renovation of the public areas will follow. The hotel will become a Hilton in summer 2006. Between 1881 and 1892, it was inaugurated with the original name of 'Hotel de la Paix', on occasion of the Great National Exhibition, in the presence of King Umberto and Queen Margherita. The building had already a long history to tell. From the first years of 1600, the objective of its destination had changed many times, depending on the epoch and the local events. Firstly it was a nobility villa, later a conservatory for poor girls, a prison of Capuchin friars, and finally priest Filangieri transformed it, at the beginning of the eighteenth century, into a charity centre. With a total offer of 117 rooms and suites (available at the end of the re-styling phase), wide ballrooms, a fully equipped meeting room, a luxurious indoor restaurant, bars and banquet rooms, the 'Excelsior Palace Hotel' aims at becoming the most prestigious historical hotel in town. Its superior rooms are equipped with Internet connection and fax, the 'Manfredi' and 'Federico' meeting rooms for events hosting up to 90 delegates, make the hotel an ideal location also for business guests.
The 'Grand Hotel et des Palmes' is the most antique of the three. The hotel is currently undergoing a complete restructuring that will end in the next few months. The hotel will become Hilton at the end of 2006.
Built at the beginning of the nineteenth century, at the time of the invasion of Napoleons' troops, it was later inaugurated in 1877 as an hotel. Visited by world-wide renowned personalities, the 'Grand Hotel et des Palmes' was chosen by Wagner, the famous German musician, as the venue where he composed the last notes of his masterpiece, "Parcifal". It was here that Francesco Crispi, prominent Italian politician, laid the foundation of the future national unity of Italy.
Today it appears as a sumptuous fin de siècle building with 180 rooms, including luxury suites. All areas are characterised by decorations in gold, marble and velvet, the perfect environment to host formal events. The prestigious "Salone Wagner" and "Salone degli Specchi" are, today like once upon a time, the ideal frame for business or private meetings of international personalities. The spacious "Il Gattopardo" bar and "La Palmetta" restaurant offer local specialities and gourmet gastronomy in a relaxing and refined atmosphere.
Francesco B. Caltagirone, President of Acqua Pia Antica Marcia, declares: " We strongly sought and wanted an agreement with a solid international brand like Hilton. This partnership will allow our three Palermitan jewels to achieve the deserved role on the international tourism scenario. The history of this splendid city and of our three hotels, motivates us to do our best to make them a reference point in the leisure, business and meeting markets at European and international levels as it is for hotels in Milan, Rome, etc. Now more than ever, we are certain that, thanks to our alliance with Hilton, these objectives will be quickly achieved and will provide the best level of services, staff training and customer care".
Theodor Kreutzer, Vice President of Operations Mediterranean for Hilton International, states: "Hilton is proud to arrive in Palermo and associating its brand to these prestigious hotels, which have a strong and rich history and tradition. We are delighted to work with a company of proven experience in the hotel business such as AMT Hotels, part of the Acqua Pia Antica Marcia group our partner in Molino Stucky Hilton Venice, which opens in 2007".
Commenting the agreement, Deepak Seth, Vice President Development Europe & Africa for Hilton International, stated: " We are delighted about this new agreement which confirms our aim to further expand and to consolidate the presence of our family of brands in the Italian hotel market."
Acqua Pia Antica Marcia
The Acqua Pia Antica Marcia group is active in the tourism sector since 1998 through the acquisition of share packages of S.G.A.S. (Società Grandi Alberghi Siciliani s.p.a.) and I.T.A.C. (Industria Turistica Alberghiera Catanese s.p.a.).
The Group owns now five important hotels in Sicily: Grand Hotel Villa Igiea, Grand Hotel et des Palmes, San Domenico Palace Hotel, Excelsior Palace Hotel and Excelsior Grand Hotel, all four stars or superior for a total of about 700 rooms and thirty suites. All hotels have undergone various and appropriate restorations during 1999/2000.
The new agreement with Hilton follows the one already signed for the management of the Molino Stucky Hilton Venice, the new hotel and Congress Centre complex located on the Giudecca island to be completed at the beginning of 2007.
Acqua Marcia aims at making the tourism/hotel business one of its main sectors of interest.
Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE:HLT) is the leading global hospitality company, with nearly 2,700 hotels and 475,000 rooms in more than 80 countries, with 150,000 team members worldwide. More than 2,300 hotels are owned, managed or franchised in the USA with a portfolio of some of the best known and highly regarded hotel brands including Hilton®, Conrad®, Doubletree®, Embassy Suites Hotels®, Hampton Inn®, Hampton Inn & Suites®, Hilton Garden Inn®, Hilton Grand Vacations™, Homewood Suites by Hilton® and the The Waldorf=Astoria Collection™. Outside the USA, the company operates 262 hotels branded Hilton and 131 under the mid-market Scandic brand.
Hilton Hotels Corporation is present in Italy with the Hilton brand in Milan, Rome, Rome- Fiumicino Airport, Sorrento, Nova Yardinia -Puglia (3 hotels), Florence, Portorosa - Sicilia (opening Q3 2006), Palermo 3 hotels (2 opening summer 2006 and 1 opening end of 2006), Venice (opening beginning of 2007) and with the Scandic by Hilton brand in Bari, Siracuse, Rome - Fiumicino Airport (opening end of 2006), Florence-Novoli (opening end of 2006). Agreement between Acqua Pia Antica Marcia and Hilton International. Three hotels belonging to the Group - Grand Hotel Villa Igiea, Excelsior Palace Hotel and Grand Hotel et des Palmes - will be managed with the Hilton brand through a franchising agreement.
The three hotels - all built in the years between 1877 and 1900 and situated in the prime locations of Palermo - hold a proud cultural heritage of over one hundred years. They can be considered as real monuments testifying the history of Sicily from the end of the nineteenth century. They have always been chosen as a favourite abode by the important personalities and politicians visiting the Sicilian capital. In order to ensure that all facilities are established according to the Hilton standards, a re-styling of the three hotels is underway.
Facing the splendid Gulf of Palermo, the 'Grand Hotel Villa Igiea' tells the story of the Florio family. Entrepreneurs in the pharmaceutical sector, this family built the magnificent building as a venue for recuperation, and from this derives its name Igiea, who is the Goddess of health. In 1900 the villa was completely renovated and transformed into a hotel, with neo-gothic and fifteenth century motifs with floral frescoes by Ettore de Maria Von Bergler, one of the greatest southern painters of the century. In 1929 Villa Igiea was then owned by IRI (Italian Institute for Industrial Development) and later to become a Palermitan tourism milestone, as well as one of the ten most beautiful hotels in the world. The English Royal Family and international movie stars like Greta Garbo and Sophia Loren chose it as their favourite destination.
Ideal for business and leisure stays, the 'Grand Hotel Villa Igiea' has a total of 109 rooms of which 24 superior, 70 deluxe, 8 junior suites, 5 suites and 2 single rooms. The various ballrooms, with their original furniture, are perfect venues for both private ceremonies and business meetings. The adjacent Congress Centre accommodating up to 300 delegates, the luxurious swimming pool by the splendid sea, and the refined restaurant "Le Terrazze" complete the offer. A re-styling of all rooms has reached its final phase, whilst public areas will soon be modelled to meet the Hilton standards, with the aim of opening the hotel's door, under the new brand, by the summer of 2006.
Beginning-of-the-century architecture and high speed Internet connections perfectly combine at the 'Excelsior Palace Hotel'. A total re-styling of the rooms is being done. A renovation of the public areas will follow. The hotel will become a Hilton in summer 2006. Between 1881 and 1892, it was inaugurated with the original name of 'Hotel de la Paix', on occasion of the Great National Exhibition, in the presence of King Umberto and Queen Margherita. The building had already a long history to tell. From the first years of 1600, the objective of its destination had changed many times, depending on the epoch and the local events. Firstly it was a nobility villa, later a conservatory for poor girls, a prison of Capuchin friars, and finally priest Filangieri transformed it, at the beginning of the eighteenth century, into a charity centre. With a total offer of 117 rooms and suites (available at the end of the re-styling phase), wide ballrooms, a fully equipped meeting room, a luxurious indoor restaurant, bars and banquet rooms, the 'Excelsior Palace Hotel' aims at becoming the most prestigious historical hotel in town. Its superior rooms are equipped with Internet connection and fax, the 'Manfredi' and 'Federico' meeting rooms for events hosting up to 90 delegates, make the hotel an ideal location also for business guests.
The 'Grand Hotel et des Palmes' is the most antique of the three. The hotel is currently undergoing a complete restructuring that will end in the next few months. The hotel will become Hilton at the end of 2006.
Built at the beginning of the nineteenth century, at the time of the invasion of Napoleons' troops, it was later inaugurated in 1877 as an hotel. Visited by world-wide renowned personalities, the 'Grand Hotel et des Palmes' was chosen by Wagner, the famous German musician, as the venue where he composed the last notes of his masterpiece, "Parcifal". It was here that Francesco Crispi, prominent Italian politician, laid the foundation of the future national unity of Italy.
Today it appears as a sumptuous fin de siècle building with 180 rooms, including luxury suites. All areas are characterised by decorations in gold, marble and velvet, the perfect environment to host formal events. The prestigious "Salone Wagner" and "Salone degli Specchi" are, today like once upon a time, the ideal frame for business or private meetings of international personalities. The spacious "Il Gattopardo" bar and "La Palmetta" restaurant offer local specialities and gourmet gastronomy in a relaxing and refined atmosphere.
Francesco B. Caltagirone, President of Acqua Pia Antica Marcia, declares: " We strongly sought and wanted an agreement with a solid international brand like Hilton. This partnership will allow our three Palermitan jewels to achieve the deserved role on the international tourism scenario. The history of this splendid city and of our three hotels, motivates us to do our best to make them a reference point in the leisure, business and meeting markets at European and international levels as it is for hotels in Milan, Rome, etc. Now more than ever, we are certain that, thanks to our alliance with Hilton, these objectives will be quickly achieved and will provide the best level of services, staff training and customer care".
Theodor Kreutzer, Vice President of Operations Mediterranean for Hilton International, states: "Hilton is proud to arrive in Palermo and associating its brand to these prestigious hotels, which have a strong and rich history and tradition. We are delighted to work with a company of proven experience in the hotel business such as AMT Hotels, part of the Acqua Pia Antica Marcia group our partner in Molino Stucky Hilton Venice, which opens in 2007".
Commenting the agreement, Deepak Seth, Vice President Development Europe & Africa for Hilton International, stated: " We are delighted about this new agreement which confirms our aim to further expand and to consolidate the presence of our family of brands in the Italian hotel market."
Acqua Pia Antica Marcia
The Acqua Pia Antica Marcia group is active in the tourism sector since 1998 through the acquisition of share packages of S.G.A.S. (Società Grandi Alberghi Siciliani s.p.a.) and I.T.A.C. (Industria Turistica Alberghiera Catanese s.p.a.).
The Group owns now five important hotels in Sicily: Grand Hotel Villa Igiea, Grand Hotel et des Palmes, San Domenico Palace Hotel, Excelsior Palace Hotel and Excelsior Grand Hotel, all four stars or superior for a total of about 700 rooms and thirty suites. All hotels have undergone various and appropriate restorations during 1999/2000.
The new agreement with Hilton follows the one already signed for the management of the Molino Stucky Hilton Venice, the new hotel and Congress Centre complex located on the Giudecca island to be completed at the beginning of 2007.
Acqua Marcia aims at making the tourism/hotel business one of its main sectors of interest.
Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE:HLT) is the leading global hospitality company, with nearly 2,700 hotels and 475,000 rooms in more than 80 countries, with 150,000 team members worldwide. More than 2,300 hotels are owned, managed or franchised in the USA with a portfolio of some of the best known and highly regarded hotel brands including Hilton®, Conrad®, Doubletree®, Embassy Suites Hotels®, Hampton Inn®, Hampton Inn & Suites®, Hilton Garden Inn®, Hilton Grand Vacations™, Homewood Suites by Hilton® and the The Waldorf=Astoria Collection™. Outside the USA, the company operates 262 hotels branded Hilton and 131 under the mid-market Scandic brand.
Hilton Hotels Corporation is present in Italy with the Hilton brand in Milan, Rome, Rome- Fiumicino Airport, Sorrento, Nova Yardinia -Puglia (3 hotels), Florence, Portorosa - Sicilia (opening Q3 2006), Palermo 3 hotels (2 opening summer 2006 and 1 opening end of 2006), Venice (opening beginning of 2007) and with the Scandic by Hilton brand in Bari, Siracuse, Rome - Fiumicino Airport (opening end of 2006), Florence-Novoli (opening end of 2006).
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