Hilton sold to Galileo owner for $26bn

US private equity group Blackstone - owner of Galileo, Gullivers and Orbitz - is to buy Hilton Hotels Corporation in a $26 billion cash deal.

The group, which already owns 100,000 hotel rooms in the US and Europe, has pledged to expand Hilton, which has 480,000 rooms in 2,800 properties across 76 countries under brnads including Conrad, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn and the Waldorf Astoria Collection.

Blackstone said it viewed Hilton as an important strategic investment, adding: "No significant divestitures are envisaged as a result of this transaction".

Hotel workers in the US welcomed the deal, which is due to be completed by the end of the year.

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