Here's some impressive news from Paris' luxury scene: Hilton Worldwide is set to rebrand the historic Concorde Opéra hotel under its Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand in late 2014.
The iconic hotel, in Paris' 8th arrondissement, was recently acquired by Blackstone Real Estate Partners Europe IV. The Concorde Opéra will undergo a significant investment to restore and reinvigorate the 124-year-old landmark prior to rebranding as the Hilton Paris Opéra next year. Hilton Worldwide will operate the 226-room hotel under a management agreement on behalf of Blackstone.
Location is key, of course, and this hotel is just minutes from top city attractions like the Opéra, The Louvre, the Sacré Cœur and the Arc de Triomphe, the surrounding area is subject to a considerable public and private investment program and is currently undergoing large scale redevelopment. Bonus: For guests who want to experience Paris like Parisians, the hotel is across the street from Europe's second largest rail station, the Gare Saint Lazare, making it easy to get all over town and the continent beyond.
This announcement follows news that Hilton Worldwide has signed a management agreement to brand a new hotel as Hilton Chantilly Hotel & Conference Centre, less than 20 miles from central Paris. The hotel, which will have substantial meeting and conference facilities as well as a signature spa, is expected to open to guests in early 2015.
"More than 70 million people travel to Paris each year, placing it in the top five most popular cities to visit globally," noted Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president, development, Europe & Africa, Hilton Worldwide. "The new Hilton Paris Opéra will take advantage of a premium location, and will complement our existing Hilton Hotels & Resorts at La Défense, Charles De Gaulle and Orly Airports, in addition to the Hilton Chantilly Hotel & Conference Centre, which is currently under construction."