Hilton opens resort in Dalaman

Hilton Hotels Corporation has announced its first Hilton Worldwide Resort brand in Turkey, and its ninth overall property in the country, with the arrival of Hilton Dalaman Golf Resort & Spa.

Culture and Tourism Minister Ertuğrul Günay on Saturday joined the opening of Turkey's first Hilton Resort Hotel in the popular resort town of Dalaman in the Aegean province of Muğla, the Anatolia news agency reported.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Günay expressed his belief that Turkey, with its history, nature and destinations for convention, health and golf tourism, will soon become one of the top tourism countries of the world.

“Hilton Hotels Corporation is very glad to be operating in Turkey,” Michael Collini, vice president of development for northern Europe, was quoted by Doğan news agency. “That is why we are preparing to invest in 13 other projects.”

The hotel was built in Dalaman's Sarıgerme hamlet, one of the most unique holiday resorts in the world with its natural beauties and history.

Göçay Tourism agreed with Hilton in 2008 to build and run the hotel.

The hotel has a 650-meter-long private sandy beach. Guests can enjoy rafting on the Dalaman River, just beside the hotel.

With modern architecture, the hotel has 12 different types of rooms and suites. The smallest room in the hotel is 36 square meters. The hotel’s large room sizes is one of the significant features of the hotel.

Complete with its own private beach, Hilton Dalaman Golf Resort & Spa is made up of a series of interconnecting buildings, pools and landscaped gardens. The resort offers a range of leisure facilities, including an integrated 7,175-square-meter health club and spa with gym and treatment rooms, seven outdoor and three indoor swimming pools and two tennis courts.

The investment will have cost some 100 million euros by the time the golf field and convention center are opened in 2010.

Hilton opened its first Turkish hotel, Hilton Istanbul, in 1955. Together with Hilton Dalaman Golf Resort & Spa, the company also operates eight more properties – seven Hilton hotels and one Conrad – across six locations: Adana, Ankara, Istanbul, İzmir, Kayseri, Mersin.

The company plans to introduce its mid-market Hilton Garden Inn brand later this year with the opening of its first property in Kütahya.