The new franchise hotels will join the three existing Hilton Garden Inn properties in Mexico located in the cities of Monterrey, Ciudad Juarez and Nuevo Laredo.

'The Mexican market represents one of the most important business opportunities for Hilton in Latin America', said Nelson Diaz, vice president franchise development, Mexico & Latin America - Hilton Hotels Corporation. 'Mexico's industrial and enterprise activities and its geographic location makes the country an ideal place for new industrial developments and hotel expansion.'

The signed agreement outlines the construction of five Hilton Garden Inn hotels in the cities of San Luis Potosi, Leon, Queretaro, Mexico City and Puebla, which will add 900 new guestrooms to the hotel chain. Construction of the first hotel will begin next year in San Luis Potosi with an opening scheduled in 2004.

According to Jorge Abud, chairman of Grupo Hotelero Azteca, 'This joint venture will significantly contribute to place Hoteles Azteca as one of the main forces of the hospitality industry in our country and show the confidence that private enterprises have in the stability of the Mexican economy.'