Hilton Worldwide recently opened their 123 room Hilton Garden Inn Barranquilla in Colombia’s most important coastal city. The hotel marks the first of Hilton’s Garden Inn brand in Colombia and is indicative of Hilton’s expansion strategy for Colombia, and Latin America at large.

“Colombia is a country of the utmost importance for our growth in Latin America and we are pleased to announce our most recent opening of a Hilton Garden Inn,” explained Adrian Kurre, the global head of Hilton Garden Inn. “We are committed to global expansion and welcoming travelers, offering them a hotel with superior service and accessible prices to new destinations around the world.”

The Hilton Garden Inn is part of the Blue Gardens complex located in the north of Barranquilla, capital of Colombia’s Atlantico department. Blue Gardens is a commercial mixed use real estate development offering offices, a 126 store shopping center, seven movie theaters, and parking. The hotel is located 30 minutes from the Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport, ten minutes from the city center, 30 minutes from the new Cartagena turnpike, and the Santa Marta coastal highway.

“Hilton Worldwide recently announced our plans for Latin American expansion, which include six hotel projects in Colombia,” said Tom Potter, senior vice president for Mexico, Latin America, and The Caribbean for Hilton Worldwide. “The opening of Hilton Garden Inn Barranquilla consolidates our focus in Colombia and positions us for continued growth of Hilton Worldwide in this market.”

Amenities include an outside swimming pool, gym with cardio and resistance equipment, and event facilities with space for 100 to 190 people. Internet access is included, and there is a business center open 24 hours.

The new $210 million (USD) Blue Gardens development is a mixed use project with a business tower, shopping mall, church, apartments, convention center accommodating 1850 people, and the new Hilton Garden Inn. The project is expected to generate over 500 new direct jobs benefitting the residents and economy of Barranquilla. With this hotel, now open, Hilton Worldwide has seven hotels in Colombia and 64 in Latin America.