SOUTHAMPTON, UK – Hilton Worldwide today announced the signing of a franchise agreement with RB Hotels Limited to open Hilton at the Ageas Bowl / Southampton at England’s latest test match cricket venue and the home of Hampshire County Cricket Club.

Hilton at the Ageas Bowl / Southampton is expected to open in early 2014 taking pride of place as part of an ongoing stadium development.  The upscale six storey property will be operated by Sanguine Hospitality, with whom Hilton Worldwide already operates a number of hotels, featuring 171 rooms and four suites, many of which overlook the pitch.  Eighty five of the rooms will double up as corporate hospitality venues on match days, offering guests a unique entertainment experience.

Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president, development, Europe & Africa, Hilton Worldwide, said, “We are delighted to be opening our second property in Southampton, complementing the existing Hilton Southampton with a new landmark hotel at the Ageas Bowl.  English cricket has experienced a period of great success; and we are excited to become a part of that in a year where Hilton Worldwide has contributed to developing a lasting legacy for sports tourism in the UK.”

“As well as this year’s signature openings, we have a successful recent record in developing hotels within sports stadia.  This includes a DoubleTree by Hilton which opened in 2009 at Stadium MK, home of Milton Keynes Dons Football Club.”

This announcement follows a summer which has seen Hilton Worldwide open two flagship properties at iconic sporting locations.  Hilton London Wembley, overlooking the famous stadium, opened in July; whilst Hilton Worldwide’s first dual branded property in the UK, Hilton and Hampton by Hilton at St George’s Park, Burton upon Trent, debuted last month at the FA’s new multimillion pound National Football Centre.

Specialist hospitality builder Denizen Contracts has secured in excess of £27m for the development, the majority of which was provided by the Co-operative Bank.  The project will be built by Denizen Contracts and is anticipated to take 18 months to complete. Work is expected to start on site within weeks.

Paul Bolton, Chairman of Denizen Contracts, said, “This has been a challenging planning and design process which leaves us looking forward to the successful delivery of an exceptional venue at this historic ground.  Uniquely, the design allows for domestic and international cricket fans to watch a day’s play from one of 85 boxes, while guests on the other side of the hotel will enjoy stunning views across the Ageas Bowl County Golf Club. There will be nothing standard about this development.”

Simon Matthews-Williams, Chairman of Sanguine Hospitality, said, “The Ageas Bowl is already recognised as one of the finest cricket venues in the country and we’re confident with the new investment it will also become a destination of choice for business, conference and leisure guests.  What’s more the development will create new jobs and increase visitor numbers which will provide a welcome boost to the local economy.”

As well as attracting thousands of travelling spectators on match days and for concerts, The Ageas Bowl site is also ideally located for both business and leisure guests.  Lying just off Junction 7 of the M27 Motorway (which links Southampton to London) and within easy reach of Southampton Parkway train station, it is an ideal venue for meetings and conferences.  The hotel will feature 1,000 sqm of events space, including a ball room of 600 sqm whilst the Ageas Bowl itself is already an established conferencing location.

Dave Horton, global head of Hilton Hotels & Resorts, said, “The Ageas Bowl has proved its credentials as one of the world’s finest cricket grounds and we are looking forward to being able to offer world class service at the stadium, in the shape of Hilton at the Ageas Bowl / Southampton.  This upscale hotel will strengthen our brand’s ties with top sporting locations in the UK, and extend our offering for visitors to the South Coast of England.”

The hotel will also appeal to leisure travelers for many of whom Southampton is a familiar destination. Over one million cruise passengers pass through the city every year whilst the Southampton Boat Show, the largest of its kind in Europe, also attracts 118,000 visitors on an annual basis. The coastal city is also a convenient base from which tourists can visit the Isle of Wight, with ferries departing on a regular basis to the island renowned for its picturesque scenery as well as events such as Cowes Week and Bestival.