Hilton is the gem of Trinidad & Tobago
October 25, 2023
Of the Hilton Trinidad & Conference Centre 405 rooms, the four Presidential Suites stand out.
During their brief stay on the island, former United States President Barack Obama and King Charles and the late Michael Jackson and former South African President Nelson Mandela have occupied the rooms.
The ‘King of Pop’ occupied the suite when The Jackson Five toured the twin-islands republic in 1978.
Mandela stayed there during his two-day visit in 2004 to advance South Africa’s bid to become the first African country to host soccer’s World Cup in 2010, King Charles and his wife Camilla spent three days at the hotel in 2008 and Obama was a guest a year later for the Fifth Summit of the Americas.
The Presidential Suite (Photo contributed)
Every head-of-state that was on the island stayed at the Hilton before the Hyatt Regency opened in 2008.
The rates for the special suites range from US$800 during low season to US$2,000 per night during the high peak Carnival season.
The first major luxury hotel in Trinidad & Tobago opened in 1962, the same year the country gained its independence.
“It was the first brand to be built in T & T and it is really the gem of the island,” said a top executive.
It is also unique in that it is the world’s first upside-down hotel.
The Studio Suite (Photo contributed)
Designed by Conrad Hilton who founded the Hilton Hotels chain and was once married to socialite/actress Zsa Zsa Gabor who died in 2016 at age 99, it is nestled at the foothills of St. Ann’s overlooking the Queen’s Park Savannah with a panoramic view of the city and the lush northern range.
He picked the site on which Government House was once located.
“This is the only one where you enter the lobby and go down to your room,” she pointed out. “The architect didn’t want to touch any part of the mountain. They built the hotel to fit into the mountain. The floors are uneven. You may be on one thinking it is the ground floor. Instead, you are on the top terrace of the mountain that is preserved.”
The Grand Ballroom (Photo contributed)
The Hilton is the only hotel on the island with a balcony outside every room.
“This is a winner because most of our guests are coming from winter destinations,” she said.
The Sunset Deck (Photo contributed)
Because of its close proximity to the Queen’s Park Savanah that is the centre stage of the annual Trinidad Carnival, guests flock to the hotel during that period.
“We have never had to do any special promotion or advertising for Carnival which sells itself,” she said.
The minimum cost of a room for Carnival is US$800 per night.
The gym (Photo contributed)
After an absence of 11 years, the hotel’s Carnival all-inclusive poolside fete returned in 2019.
In the next two years starting in 2024, the Hilton will undergo major refurbishment.
“We are going to be fixing everything and giving it a facelift,” she said.
Poolside at the hotel (Photo contributed)
To avoid traffic through downtown Port-of-Spain, guests can use the secondary Lady Young Road to the Hilton that is close to the Emperor Valley Zoo, the National Museum & Art Gallery and the Royal Botanic Gardens.
