Rome Cavalieri to join the prestigious Waldorf=Astoria collection

Hilton Hotels Corporation has announced that the Rome Cavalieri Hilton, the preferred hotel for global travelers to the Eternal City and the hub for Rome’s society set, will become the first European property to join The Waldorf=Astoria Collection.

The Rome Cavalieri is expected to re-open its doors under The Waldorf=Astoria Collection banner this spring. Throughout the coming 12 months the hotel will add a number of enhancements to its stunning facilities and services, including a third outdoor swimming pool within its extensive grounds, as well as a new state-of-the-art Congress Centre, with its own separate entrance, which will be developed in phases over the course of the year.

"For 45 years, the Rome Cavalieri hotel has been an intrinsic part of Rome’s social fabric and has astonished world travelers with its gracious hospitality, museum-standard collection of art and its grand hilltop setting offering unrivalled views over the Eternal City. This is a magnificent hotel and a pivotal addition to The Waldorf=Astoria Collection," said Mr. Wolfgang M. Neumann, President for Hilton Hotels Europe.

Welcoming this, the sixth hotel in The Waldorf=Astoria Collection, Ian Carter, President of Global Operations, Hilton Hotels Corporation, said, "Selection for The Waldorf=Astoria Collection is exclusive and only landmark hotels with a reputation for superior service, original architecture or artistic and historical significance receive such designation. Rome Cavalieri meets our parameters and sets a very high reference point for the brand in Europe. The Rome Cavalieri is the perfect first hotel for The Waldorf=Astoria Collection in Europe, and we are excited to welcome it to our growing Collection."

The company is also developing brand new Waldorf=Astoria hotels and residences in key cities around the world including, The Waldorf=Astoria at Bonnet Creek (Orlando) and Dakota Mountain Lodge both due to open in 2009, as well as The Waldorf=Astoria Sarasota and the proposed The Waldorf=Astoria Beverly Hills, which are scheduled to open in 2010.

The 370 room Rome Cavalieri is situated in a tranquil 15-acre park, with panoramic views over Rome’s historic centre. Opened in 1963 and renovated at a cost of $50 million the hotel has become synonymous with hospitality firsts: it has the largest conference facility of any five-star deluxe hotel in Continental Europe with a capacity for 5,500 delegates; it is the only hotel in Italy to boast a Michelin-rated three star restaurant "La Pergola" and it has Rome’s most luxurious Spa.

In November 2006, the luxury hotel, already legendary for its vast collection of antique art and period furniture, became home to three of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo’s most important rococo paintings, the acquisition marked the largest amount ever spent on paintings at auction in Italy.

Notes to Editors
About the Rome Cavalieri
Situated in a 15-acre private park just two miles from the Vatican, the Rome Cavalieri is hailed as a luxurious resort in the heart of the Eternal City. Featuring 370 guestrooms, including 25 suites all with private balconies overlooking the city’s monuments, the hotel is home to a highly prized private collection of furniture, paintings, tapestries, statues and artefacts exhibited throughout its public spaces and suites. The hotel also features six food and beverage outlets including the legendary "La Pergola" restaurant and bar, a Grand Spa, and the most extensive meetings space of any luxury hotel in the heart of Rome.

About The Waldorf=Astoria Collection
The Waldorf=Astoria Collection includes some of the most extraordinary properties in spectacular destinations around the world. Inspired by the legendary Waldorf=Astoria in New York, each hotel in the growing Collection has its own distinct character, timeless architecture and special history. Luxury spas, culinary excellence and world-class golf are featured at the Collection’s current properties: the beautiful Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix, tropical Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa on the Isle of Maui, Hawaii, the historic La Quinta Resort & Club in Southern California, New York’s Waldorf=Astoria and the palace hotel Qasr Al Sharq in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Each guest encounter is a discovery of unique experiences designed to last a lifetime.

Media Enquiries:
The Waldorf=Astoria Collection (US):
Danielle Pagano
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