Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor adds a US hotel to his global portfolio. Joanna Andrews takes a look inside the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel in Springfield, Illinois.
Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor has added another bow to his string. The Founder and Chairman of the Al Habtoor Group, who also heads Al Habtoor Investment, has purchased his first hotel on US soil.
Al Habtoor recently confirmed that late 2014 he bought the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel in Springfield. Al Habtoor said, “I have been studying the US market for some time, and am pleased to have my first hotel there. I am always looking for good investments abroad. I saw the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel on my last visit to Springfield, and purchased it. It is a great addition to my international portfolio.”
He added, “I am very fond of Springfield, and have visited it many time. I am a supporter of Illinois College, which is close by, and have great friends there - including the former US Congressman Paul Findley.”
Al Habtoor added, “Operations will remain unchanged. The hotel will continue to operate under DoubleTree by Hilton brand.”
Al Habtoor has long admired Abraham Lincoln - the 16th President of the United States - so it is symbolic that the hotel bears the name. The Al Habtoor Group Chairman, who has a soft spot for Illinois, was invited to be an Honorary member of the Phi Alpha Society in 2010. The Phi Alpha is a men’s Literary Society, founded in 1845 at Illinois College, which counts among its members Lincoln and US Congressman Findley.
A PEEK INSIDE
The President Abraham Lincoln Springfield, a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, is set in the heart of historic downtown. When you arrive at the hotel, you are welcomed with a delicious freshly baked cookie. All of the beautiful guest rooms and suites feature modern amenities and thoughtful touches including a flat-screen TV, premium bedding, and complimentary WiFi access.
There are a total of 310 rooms. There is a fully equipped fitness centre - open 24 hours, and an indoor swimming pool.
You can start the day with a hearty Midwestern breakfast buffet at Lindsay’s Restaurant and visit The Globe Tavern to enjoy hand-crafted specialty drinks and watch live sports.
This hotel is connected to the Prairie Capital Convention Center, and is just minutes from corporations such as Horace Mann Companies and the State Capitol. Hotel guests ride the complimentary shuttle to and from nearby AMTRAK and the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport.
So next time you are in the US, make sure you include Springfield to your itinerary!
THE PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN SPRINGFIELD – A DOUBLETREE BY HILTON HOTEL.
701 E ADAMS STREET, SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, 62701, USA.
TEL: +1-217-544-8800.