The Hilton Trinidad & Conference Centre has been saved from a potential shutdown after the Government of Trinidad and Tobago finalised a new ownership and management arrangement for the landmark hotel.
State-owned Evolving TecKnologies and Enterprise Development Company Limited (eTeCK) has acquired all outstanding shares of Hilton International Trinidad Limited. The company has been renamed HotelTT Asset Management Company Limited and is now a wholly owned subsidiary of eTeCK.
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Under the new arrangement, the State will retain ownership of the hotel and its assets, while Hilton will continue to operate and manage the property. The Hilton name will also remain, allowing the hotel to maintain its international brand and existing booking channels.
The agreement comes just two weeks before the existing lease was due to expire on September 18. Hilton had previously warned that it could withdraw from the property if a replacement agreement was not reached, placing more than 300 employees in uncertainty.
The latest deal removes the immediate threat of closure and provides reassurance for workers who had faced uncertainty over their employment. eTeCK said employees will remain in their jobs and that hotel operations will continue without interruption under Hilton’s management.
The previous lease arrangement dated back to 2003 and had already expired in 2023 before being extended. Months of negotiations between Hilton, eTeCK and the Government followed as officials sought a longer-term solution for the State-owned property.
The new structure replaces the previous landlord-and-tenant arrangement with an owner-and-operator model. HotelTT will oversee the State’s ownership interest, while Hilton will remain responsible for day-to-day hospitality operations, service standards and the guest experience.
The agreement also creates a framework for addressing outstanding emergency and renovation requirements at the property. The government has previously acknowledged the need to determine the best commercial strategy for the hotel and ensure its long-term viability.
The Hilton Trinidad, which opened in 1962 during the period of Trinidad and Tobago’s transition to Independence, has long been regarded as an important national tourism and hospitality asset. Its continued operation preserves a major hotel and conference facility in Port of Spain while giving the State greater control over its future.
For now, guests can continue making reservations and the hotel will operate under the Hilton brand. The new ownership arrangement gives the Government an opportunity to invest in the property and develop a longer-term strategy while avoiding the immediate economic and employment consequences that a shutdown could have caused.
