LONDON—Hilton Worldwide has signed a franchise agreement with Société de Développement des îles Loyautés (SODIL) and will open the Hilton Lifou Wadra Bay Resort, its second hotel in New Caledonia, in 2019. The 50-room resort will be managed by GLP Hotels New Caledonia.
Lifou Island is one of the three Loyalty Islands located off the coast of the mainland of New Caledonia. The island is accessible by air and boat leaving from Noumea, the capital city of New Caledonia.
“Today we take the first step toward adding a world-class resort to the island of Lifou and Hilton is thrilled to have this opportunity; what a terrific place to continue our New Caledonia story. This beautiful country surrounded by the Pacific Ocean has a deep, rich cultural heritage. Global travelers trust the Hilton brand and together with our partners we look forward to making this destination more accessible to global travelers,” said Robert Scullin, VP, development, Australasia, Hilton Worldwide.
William Ihage, general manager of SODIL, added, “This important project has been in the works for many years and together with GLP Hotels and Hilton Worldwide we are excited to bring this unique piece of paradise in the South Pacific to both new and existing Hilton Worldwide guests.”
The resort will include 50 villas all located near the beachfront with an inland lagoon with fish, rays and turtles following an agreement with the Noumea Aquarium. Two restaurants, a health club, spa, outdoor pool and event spaces complete the resort facilities.
“Today’s announcement is a testament to both the Hilton brand’s strength in the Australasia region borne out of having had a presence here for more 40 years to deliver exceptional experiences for both guests and owners,” said Sean Wooden, VP, brand management, Asia-Pacific, Hilton Worldwide. “We are privileged to be partnering with SODIL and again with GLP Hotels to launch Hilton Lifou Wadra Bay Resort as a strong addition to our current portfolio of 21 operating hotels in Australasia, and we look forward to welcoming travelers to this beautiful island with our world-renowned Hilton hospitality.”