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Doubletree by Hilton launched its first hotel in London today and revealed global expansion plans for the brand.

The upscale brand has taken over the Courthouse Kempinski Hotel off Regent Street in central London. The hotel brings the company's total number of Doubletree Hotels to 200.

Hilton Hotels has extensive expansion plans for the brand, with 34 signed deals worldwide and a further 240 in the pipeline.

The Hoole Hall in Chester and Dunblane Hydro Hotel near Stirling, Scotland, will also become Doubletree by Hilton hotels in 2009.

Doubletree Hotels senior vice president Dave Horton said the company was in a good position to weather the economic downturn.

He said: "The bulk of our new hotels will be conversions because building new hotels is very difficult in this market. We picked up a lot of hotels during the last downturn as independents often choose to sell and banks want to invest in a strong brand like Hilton. We are still bullish about growth."

Around 35% of bookings for the existing Doubletree Hotels come from the trade.

"Travel agents are core for us, especially as we take a lot of bookings from soccer mums, family reunions and weddings."

Courthouse Kempinski photos

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