Modern Elegance, Aussie-Style: The New Hilton Sydney Opens as a Vibrant City-Center Destination for Business, Leisure, Dining and Events

Business Wire, July 15, 2005

Master of Wine Dr. Ron Georgiou has been appointed to create a three-dimensional "wine experience" at Hilton Sydney that reflects the best of Australian and international blue chip and boutique wines. One of only 14 Masters of Wine in Australia and 247 in the world, Dr. Georgiou has assembled a selection of over 10,000 expertly chosen bottles.

Zeta Bar is set to become a Sydney icon, both distinctively cosmopolitan and characteristically Australian. Zeta Sydney is a sister to the award-winning Zeta London, located at Hilton Park Lane, which is hailed as one of the Top 10 bars in London. Grant Collins and Mike Enright, two of Sydney's foremost bartenders, have been appointed to run the Hilton Sydney's Zeta Bar.

Staff will be dressed by internationally acclaimed Australian fashion designer, Tina Kalivas, who is most noted for her work in London during the 1990s at Alexander McQueen.

While the overall design of the Hilton Sydney offers a cool and contemporary re-think of hotel form and function, there is one place where visitors can relive the memories: the landmark Marble Bar. Hermetically sealed throughout the extensive three years of renovations, Marble Bar is a haven of Victorian excess and a stylish place to enjoy Aussie ale, fine wine or a cocktail.

Built in 1893, and now a designated national monument, the 112-year-old Heritage-listed watering hole is home to artistic beauty and architectural magnificence. The bar was relocated from Tattersall's in 1973 and Hilton Sydney's original architect J.H. Bryant has assumed the role of Marble Bar historian, having published several journal articles on the history of the bar.

LIVING WELL

Hilton Sydney is home to the biggest hotel-based health club in Australia and the largest and most luxurious health club in the Sydney city center: a fully-equipped Living Well Premier Health Club.

Spanning the entire footprint of the building, the club includes a 25-meter indoor pool, cardiovascular gymnasium equipped with the latest interactive equipment, and a free weights area. In addition, there are two group fitness studios, which run classes including the full range of Les Mills body training classes (Body Pump, Body Combat, Body Attack, Body Step and Body Balance), spinning, Tai Chi, pilates and yoga.

There are also four saunas, steam rooms, a large spa pool and pampering treatments from The Sensory, Living Well's beauty concept. The Living Well Premier Health Club is free to hotel guests and open to club membership for busy city types who need a little time out.

NOTES TO MEDIA

About Hilton International: Hilton International (HI), an operating division of the UK based Hilton Group plc, owns the rights to the Hilton brand name throughout the world, with the exception of the USA, where the Hilton brand is owned and managed by Hilton Hotels Corporation (HHC). Hilton International operates 403 hotels, with 261 branded Hilton and 142 under the mid-market Scandic brand. Under a joint venture agreement, Hilton International and the North American based Hilton Hotels Corporation (HHC) share responsibility for the Conrad brand, which includes 17 hotels in 12 countries. A global marketing alliance between Hilton International and Hilton Hotels Corporation extends the number of hotels operated by both companies worldwide to over 2,700 -- over 500 of which are branded Hilton. Hilton International employs over 71,000 staff in 80 countries.