The agreement has been signed with Italian company Euro Costruzioni S.p.a, and will see the opening of the Hilton Grand Hotel Portorosa in Sicily at the end of the year.

"We are extremely proud to announce that Hilton Portorosa will be the first Hilton franchise in Italy," related Theo Kreutzer, Vice President Hilton Western Europe & Mediterranean. "It is certainly a good start in the implementation of the Hilton International franchising programme in this country. This first agreement will help us achieve our objective to rapidly increase our portfolio both in selected markets and in those where Hilton International is not yet present."

The hotel will be situated on the Patti Gulf, offering 267 rooms, a 1,000 sqm congress centre, three restaurants, a piano bar, a spa, three shops, private beach, private moorings for yachts and parking for 250 cars. "Euro Costruzioni is particularly proud to have become a partner of a leading brand in the hospitality industry such as Hilton," added Giuseppe Garraffo, Chief Executive of Euro Costruzioni. "We are certain that Hilton Portorosa will soon become a reference point in the Sicilian hospitality industry."

Hilton International is offering two franchise opportunities across Europe, Hilton and Scandic, offering support in reservations, distribution, marketing and the Hilton Hhonors® loyalty scheme. It has developed the franchise concepts in consultation with its alliance partner Hilton Hotels Corporation in the United States, which operates almost 2,000 franchised hotels.