The luxury hotel chain has signed a multiple-year agreement with Bangkok-based Destination Properties Ltd, one of Thailand's leading resort real-estate developers, to manage an upscale 358-room golf resort and spa in Sri Racha.

The Doubletree Golf Resort and Spa, which will be located 25 minutes from Pattaya, 40 minutes from the new Suvarnabhumi Airport and 60 minutes from central Bangkok, is expected to open in early 2008. The property's rooms and suites will overlook the fairway of the Sri Racha Golf Club, with views of the golf course and the Gulf of Thailand. The golf course was designed by renowned golf-course architect Gary Player and hosted the 1993 Thailand Open.

"This Doubletree development project near Sri Racha represents the first expansion of the Hilton Family of Hotels in the Asia-Pacific. This latest management contract by our team signifies the unique growth potential for the Doubletree brand and other Hilton Family hotel products to grow in this region," said Koos Klein, president of Hilton's Middle East and Asia-Pacific operations.

Hilton currently operates four hotels in Thailand. Doubletree has a fast-growing portfolio of more than 170 full-service hotels and resorts in gateway cities, airport locations, suburban markets and leading leisure destinations throughout North and South America.

Gary Murray, CEO of Destination Properties, added that the Doubletree Golf Resort and Spa would be the first internationally branded golf resort in Thailand.

The resort will be developed in two phases, with the first phase of 223 rooms and suites to be completed over the next two years and another 135 thereafter.