While the Orlando, Fla., Waldorf=Astoria [shown] won't open for another year, Hilton executives already have plans for additional new-build properties around the U.S. and abroad.

Orlando, Fla.–Even with another year to go on construction of one of the first Waldorf=Astoria properties outside New York, Hilton executives are looking to expand the brand in the U.S. and abroad.

"We're looking both in the U.S. and globally. There is more of a name presence here than abroad," said Ted Ratcliff, senior v.p., Hilton and Doubletree operations - East, at a "topping out" ceremony in the midst of construction of the joint Waldorf=Astoria and Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek project in Orlando.

"There is a tremendous amount of global opportunity," said Tim Bridwell, v.p., new projects - Florida, Hilton.

Hilton executives [from left] Ted Ratcliff, senior v.p., Hilton/Doubletree Operations-East; Mike Schugt, regional v.p. Southeast, U.S., Latin America, Caribbean sales and marketing; Tim Bridwell, v.p., new projects - Florida; and Tom Parke, director of marketing, The Waldorf=Astoria.no and Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek celebrate the Topping Out of The Waldorf=Astoria Orlando and Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek.

However, Hilton executives are first looking to expand the Waldorf=Astoria brand in Park City, Utah, with the condo-hotel Dakota Mountain Lodge, which is both brands' first ski lodge. The 197-guestroom and 65 condo-unit property is scheduled to open in spring of 2009.

Next up, the 498-room Waldorf=Astoria will open alongside the Hilton Bonnet Creek—which features more than 1,000 guestrooms—in September 2009, in Orlando. This joint project has been marketed to meeting planners for more than a year as Hilton's largest project to date, with the two properties on about 480 acres near Walt Disney World.

The next scheduled Waldorf=Astoria property is a 225-room hotel that will be built as part of a mixed-use project in Sarasota, Fla. It is scheduled for completion by late 2010.

While Hilton has not yet announced other planned Waldorf=Astoria locales, it is looking in major U.S. cities.

"We want a presence in key gateway cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York," Ratcliff said.

Meanwhile, the Orlando Waldorf= Astoria will carry through many of the characteristics that made the New York property famous, including its culture, its restaurant and foodservice offerings, and its lobby clock tower.

"The key component is to take what is culturally ingrained in New York to here [Orlando]. The look of each Waldorf=Astoria will include some original features like the clock tower but will be akin to where you are," Ratcliff said. The foodservice offerings and culture will be transferred from New York to the Orlando location with the poaching of some of the culinary staff from New York.

"We have sort of an incubator in New York, to get the service and pride we want to deliver. It is a reason we are doing hotels with the Waldorf=Astoria name. It is the iconic name value," Ratcliff said.

In addition, iconic restaurant concepts that originated at Waldorf=Astoria New York will be replicated in Orlando, including Oscar's, Bull & Bear Steakhouse and Peacock Alley.

Other features of the Orlando Waldorf=Astoria include 144,000 square feet of meeting space, an 18-hole golf course designed by Rees Jones and the Waldorf=Astoria Spa by Guerlain.

"We are attached to the first Waldorf outside New York, but we have more of a resort feel, being near Disney," said Val Baret Tate, senior sales and marketing account executive, Hilton Bonnet Creek and Waldorf=Astoria.

The Hilton Bonnet Creek also is catering its property to both business and leisure travelers, with its proximity near Disney World and its 122,000 square feet of meeting space.

hmm@questex.com