Hilton Worldwide has signed management agreements for the first Waldorf Astoria hotels in the UAE and Spain. Scheduled to open later this year, the new-build Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah will be designed as an Arabian palace. The 349-room luxury property-part of a mixed-use development that features a golf course, private beach, and convention center-will offer an expansive ballroom, 10 restaurants and bars, numerous outdoor swimming pools, and a bespoke spa experience.
Meanwhile, Hilton is converting the existing Hacienda La Boticaria, an Andalucian-style retreat close to Seville, into a Waldorf Astoria in early summer. The 133-room resort, situated on 40 acres, contains six different private courtyard gardens of Andalucian, Egyptian, and Arabian style; one of Europe’s largest spa facilities; several indoor and outdoor pools; and an on-site equestrian center that houses 16 thoroughbred Spanish horses and an antique carriage museum.
