Latest news with #ConradHilton
The Age
2 days ago
- Business
- The Age
Sydney hotel turns 50, but its iconic bar is turning 132
Apart from its entertainment value – and that ran deep – the TV series Mad Men indulged in the hijinks of a 1960s US advertising agency, giving it scope to explore historic events and emerging industries and their pioneers. One such industry is hospitality, and the agency is hired by Conrad Hilton to further the interests of his burgeoning hotel group. Here, fiction meets fact, for Hilton was indeed a pioneer – in his use of advertising and public relations, but also as the person to establish the world's first international hotel chain, the concept of hotel franchising (an investor builds it, the brand runs it) and the first airport hotel. The hospitality giant's first venture into Australia was the Chevron Hilton in 1960 and later the Sydney Hilton, which opened for business in 1975 and so celebrates 50 years this year. One of its durable features is the basement Marble Bar. That bar has some history – it opened in 1893 as part of the George Adams Tattersall's Hotel and was dismantled piece by piece when that building was to be demolished, eventually reassembled to open as the basement bar below George Street as part of what is now the Sydney Hilton. If those walls could talk, one thing they'd mention is the photo shoot for Cold Chisel's 1979 album, Breakfast at Sweethearts – with the cover photograph in the Marble Bar. By some accounts, the band itself didn't love the album, but it did win 'Cover of the year' at the Countdown awards. And if Cold Chisel happened to drink a pina colada to celebrate, that cocktail combination of rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice, then they had Hilton to thank for that – the drink was created in the 1950s at their hotel in Puerto Rico. Hilton also claims to have invented the chocolate brownie, but that is more by way of inheritance. The brownie is generally believed to have been created in the kitchens of Chicago's Palmer House Hotel in 1871 and Hilton bought that hotel in 1945. In Australasia, Hilton has 47 hotels with upcoming openings including the $575 million, 227-room Waldorf Astoria Sydney at Circular Quay, claimed to be 'Australia's most luxurious hotel'. It is expected to open late next year.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Sydney hotel turns 50, but its iconic bar is turning 132
Apart from its entertainment value – and that ran deep – the TV series Mad Men indulged in the hijinks of a 1960s US advertising agency, giving it scope to explore historic events and emerging industries and their pioneers. One such industry is hospitality, and the agency is hired by Conrad Hilton to further the interests of his burgeoning hotel group. Here, fiction meets fact, for Hilton was indeed a pioneer – in his use of advertising and public relations, but also as the person to establish the world's first international hotel chain, the concept of hotel franchising (an investor builds it, the brand runs it) and the first airport hotel. The hospitality giant's first venture into Australia was the Chevron Hilton in 1960 and later the Sydney Hilton, which opened for business in 1975 and so celebrates 50 years this year. One of its durable features is the basement Marble Bar. That bar has some history – it opened in 1893 as part of the George Adams Tattersall's Hotel and was dismantled piece by piece when that building was to be demolished, eventually reassembled to open as the basement bar below George Street as part of what is now the Sydney Hilton. If those walls could talk, one thing they'd mention is the photo shoot for Cold Chisel's 1979 album, Breakfast at Sweethearts – with the cover photograph in the Marble Bar. By some accounts, the band itself didn't love the album, but it did win 'Cover of the year' at the Countdown awards. And if Cold Chisel happened to drink a pina colada to celebrate, that cocktail combination of rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice, then they had Hilton to thank for that – the drink was created in the 1950s at their hotel in Puerto Rico. Hilton also claims to have invented the chocolate brownie, but that is more by way of inheritance. The brownie is generally believed to have been created in the kitchens of Chicago's Palmer House Hotel in 1871 and Hilton bought that hotel in 1945. In Australasia, Hilton has 47 hotels with upcoming openings including the $575 million, 227-room Waldorf Astoria Sydney at Circular Quay, claimed to be 'Australia's most luxurious hotel'. It is expected to open late next year.
Zawya
03-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Africa's hospitality growth: Empowering the next generation of leaders
Africa's hospitality industry is undergoing rapid expansion with more than 100,000 rooms currently under construction – that is a 13% increase from last year, according to W Hospitality's 2025 Africa development report. This growth is fuelled by a rising middle class, a young population, and a desire to travel and prioritise experiences over consumer goods – placing hospitality at the centre of the continent's development. Hilton is proud to be leading this charge. Since opening our first hotel in Africa more than 60 years ago, we have steadily expanded our presence and introduced more of our award-winning brands to meet evolving guest needs. Today, with 63 trading hotels and plans to more than double our presence, our commitment to the continent is unwavering. And at the heart of this growth are our team members – the driving force behind our success and the very heartbeat of our hospitality. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the travel and tourism sector supported a total of 357 million jobs globally in 2024 – that is about 1 in every 10 jobs. At Hilton, we believe travel and tourism is a powerful engine of opportunity for all. With 13,000 team members across Africa, we remain steadfast in our commitment to spreading the light and warmth of hospitality to our guests and in the communities we serve. Guided by Conrad Hilton's belief that travel should be a force for good, we're helping shape the future of hospitality by investing in people, creating opportunities, and strengthening the communities where we live, work, and travel. One of the most exciting initiatives we're supporting is the Future Leaders Challenge (FLC) – a programme that brings together students, educators, and industry professionals to foster innovation and collaboration in hospitality. Following successful multi-year editions in Morocco and South Africa, with over 330 future leaders completing the programme, the challenge has now launched in Kenya, expanding its reach into East Africa. But our commitment goes beyond traditional hospitality roles. It extends into the broader social and economic fabric of the communities where we operate. In Nigeria, we're unlocking entrepreneurial potential. Long-standing partnerships with Ace Charity and the National Youth Service Corps have empowered over 50 women entrepreneurs to build successful enterprises and supported more than 400 young professionals – several of whom now hold leadership roles at Hilton. In addition, last year, the Wavecrest College of Hospitality was named a Hilton Global Foundation grantee, providing young girls technical and vocational training for careers in the hospitality industry. Meanwhile, in the Seychelles, we are using education as a pathway to opportunity. Hilton's very own Fitir Academy programme has trained over 60 students since 2022 – with nearly half now working across our seven resorts. Most recently, we launched a new engineering apprenticeship programme in partnership with the Seychelles Institute of Technology, further investing in future-ready talent. In South Africa, long-standing academic partnerships are paving the way for employment. Since 2013, Hilton Durban has supported nearly 600 students with hands-on training and career opportunities in partnership with institutions including The International Hotel School, University of Zululand, HTA School of Culinary Arts, and Durban University of Technology. These efforts have strengthened industry-academic ties and helped place students in meaningful hospitality roles at Hilton and across the broader sector. These initiatives reflect our Purpose in action – the belief that long-term success is rooted in uplifting and investing in the communities where we operate. It's also why Hilton continues to be recognised as the world's leading hospitality company to work for. From upskilling youth to empowering women, the stories emerging from our teams are proof of what's possible when we live our Purpose and invest in people. This Africa Day, we reaffirm our commitment to being more than a hospitality operator. We are a catalyst for growth, a partner in progress, and a launchpad for Africa's future hospitality leaders. Together, we are building something bigger than ourselves: a bright and promising future for Africa.
What's On
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- What's On
5 things to do in Abu Dhabi this week: May 19 to 22
Happy Monday… From offbeat menus to winning venues, here's a quick list of 5 things to do in Abu Dhabi this week. Monday, May 19 Get to know 'Connie' At Hilton's 106th anniversary cocktail celebration, at the Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers. Trivia time: Conrad Hilton was the founder of this prestigious group of hotels, and this cocktail is named after him – available at Ray's Bar, all month long. Ray's Bar, Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers, May 1 to 31. @conradetihadtowers Tuesday, May 20 Celebrate the Big 60 with PizzaExpress Enjoy unlimited pizza and exciting delivery combos to mark 60 years of PizzaExpress. Their special 'Icons of 1965' menu features timeless favourites and is available for dine-in and delivery throughout May. The best bit? A sweet '60 for 60' dine-in special, offering unlimited pizza and doughballs for 60 minutes at, you guessed it, Dhs60 PizzaExpress, throughout May, across locations in the UAE. @pizzaexpressuae Wednesday, May 21 Discover What's Off the Menu at Pickl Beginning today, May 19, Pickl is flipping the rulebook with t he launch of the ' Legendary Burger'. And here's the kicker: to take a bite, you'll need to sign an NDA (Nope, Don't Ask ) agreement. The award-winning burger brand is serving up a classified menu, and features a beef and a chicken burger you won't want to miss. Pickl, across Abu Dhabi locations, from May 19. @ Grab dinner at Brooklyn Chop House Brooklyn Chop House opened over Formula One weekend at the glittering W Abu Dhabi Yas Island last December, and with its trackside views and New York cool, has become a winning venue in the capital. Enjoy premium selections such as their melt-in-your-mouth Australian wagyu steak and grilled lamb rack, to popular Asian bites like the Kung Pao chicken (Dhs100) and fabulous dim sum. Brooklyn Chop House, W Abu Dhabi Yas Island, Tues to Sun 6pm to 11pm. Tel: (0)2 656 0000. @ Thursday, May 22 Explore an art phenomenon at teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi One of the most exciting openings of 2025 and set within the booming Saadiyat Cultural District, this unprecedented art megaproject spans 17,000 sq. metres and houses exhibits like nothing you've ever seen before. It comes to Abu Dhabi after being conceived by Tokyo-based art collective, teamLab. Check out this guide for the complete list of all their exhibits. Then head over and have an art awakening. teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, 10am to 7pm daily. @teamlab_phenomena > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
