HILTON OPENS UK'S LARGEST CONFERENCE HOTEL

The opening of the new £100 million extension to the Hilton London Metropole has created one of Europe's largest international conference hotels. The biggest in Britain, the hotel now offers a range of new and versatile facilities unrivalled anywhere in this country or in Europe.

The result of over two years' construction work, the hotel represents another major step forward in the Paddington regeneration project and is part of one of Europe's largest urban renovation developments.

The state-of-the-art complex can accommodate, feed and provide meeting facilities for over 1000 people at any one time. The impressive range of facilities includes a choice of 37 meeting rooms, two of which can hold 1900 delegates each and a third with a capacity of over 1000; 1073 air-conditioned bedrooms, including double doubles, business rooms and serviced apartments; and Business and Executive floors, Executive Lounge and Business Centre.

The hotel also has its own LivingWell Health Club and pool, and a choice of restaurants ranging from Caffè Cino, a continental coffee shop; Fiamma, a Mediterranean restaurant and bar, and sky-high dining at Aspects, one of London's highest restaurants.

Another big advantage for guests arriving or departing from Heathrow Airport is easy access to the Heathrow Express terminal at nearby Paddington Station, where 17 international airlines offer on-the-spot check-in services.

The facilities offered by the new conference centre will play a major role in the Paddington Regeneration plan. Jackie Sadek, director of the Paddington Regeneration Partnership, said: "The Hilton London Metropole together with the Heathrow Express are blazing a trail for the Paddington Regeneration Partnership. This new facility will allow us to compete internationally in the world class conference market."

The statistics are impressive. A work force of 700 excavated some 23,150 cubic metres of earth on the Edgware Road site, adjacent to Paddington Basin, poured 17,799 cubic metres of concrete, and erected 4075 tonnes of structural steel comprising 9471 parts, including several plate girders weighing up to 80 tonnes each.

Meanwhile Hilton International is involved in a further £60 million development of the former Great Western Hotel at Paddington Station which is set to reopen in all its restored glory as the Hilton London Paddington early next year.