The hotel, which first opened in 1995, is slated to commence a USD 20 million refurbishment before opening its doors as Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk, in June 2010.This latest deal will mark the ninth Hilton Worldwide hotel in Japan, as well as the entry of the full service Hilton Hotels brand into Fukuoka.

With over 1,000 rooms, the existing property is one of the largest hotels in Japan and is uniquely positioned to cater for large MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) groups and weddings. Located on the waterfront of Fukuoka, the hotel enjoys ocean views and forms part of an extensive and dynamic entertainment complex, Hawks Town, which has been established as the premier regional centre for entertainment and shopping in Kyushu.
It also includes the famous FUKUOKA Yahoo! JAPAN DOME, home stadium of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks baseball team. Fukuoka is the largest city in Kyushu and considered a strategic gateway city to East Asia, as it overlooks the Korean Strait and is Japan's closest city to Korea, China and Taiwan.

"Hilton is very proud to have been selected to manage Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk," said Martin Rinck, President - Asia Pacific, Hilton Worldwide. "This landmark deal enables us to expand our nationwide presence and ensures our guests can enjoy the legendary Hilton experience in most of the major Japanese cities. With plans for a comprehensive refurbishment, including enhancement of the executive lounge, food & beverage offerings and leisure facilities, this hotel will soon become a favorite among local, as well as international guests. We are highly committed to working closely with the hotel owner to further develop the already strong reputation of this well regarded property."

"We are delighted that Hilton Worldwide will manage this hotel which forms an integral part of the Hawks Town complex, one of Fukuoka's prominent landmarks," said Eiji Ikawa, President Hawks Town Corporation. "Hilton's extensive management and Japan market expertise and the attractive mix of facilities within Hawks Town will help ensure that this hotel continues to build on its leadership position in the market and provide guests to Fukuoka with memorable experiences of this exciting and dynamic city."

Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk will feature 1,052 guest rooms and an extensive array of food and beverage outlets, including an all-day dining restaurant, and speciality restaurants and bars.

The meeting and conference facilities comprise over 6,000 square meters of function space, including a 4,114 square meter ballroom, six function rooms and 13 meeting rooms.

Other facilities include indoor and outdoor swimming pools and a sauna. It will also feature three wedding chapels that can accommodate more than 900 weddings annually. One of the chapels is scheduled to be completely refurbished as part of the rebranding process.

www.hawkstown.com
www.hilton.com