Minister of Land and Legal Affairs Saddam Hosein said discussions are ongoing between the Government and Hilton Hotels & Resorts regarding the company’s operations in Trinidad.

Hosein gave the update in the House of Representatives on March 27 in response to a question from Opposition Leader Penelope Beckles about the US-based hotel chain’s continued presence in the country.

“Talks and conversations are actively ongoing with the Hilton and the government of Trinidad and Tobago. I would not want to give any further details of those talks in order to cause it to prejudice any future outcome of this particular matter,” he said.

The minister noted that discussions began in 2023 under the former People’s National Movement administration.

Questions about the hotel’s future follow reports in the Trinidad Guardian that the international brand may be preparing to withdraw from the State-owned property, which overlooks the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port of Spain.

According to those reports, the possible exit is linked to the need for significant capital upgrades—estimated at more than US$600,000 (TT$4.07 million)—to maintain the hotel at required international standards. Overall refurbishment costs have been estimated at about TT$400 million (approximately US$58.9 million).

Those reports indicated that the company has already taken preliminary steps toward ending the long-standing management arrangement, amid concerns over financial performance and delays in carrying out major upgrade works.

The Hilton Trinidad & Conference Centre was built between 1961 and 1962 as a flagship project under the administration of Eric Williams, opening in the year of the country’s Independence.

The property has been operated under a lease operatorship agreement dated October 1, 2003, between the Estate Management and Business Development Company (eTeck) and Hilton International Trinidad.

Under this arrangement, Hilton manages the hotel while the State retains ownership and is responsible for major capital expenditure.

That agreement expired in 2023 and was subsequently extended on a short-term basis to September 30, 2024, with an option for further continuation.

Under the terms of the deal, the State’s earnings are based on six per cent of the hotel’s gross operating profit, rather than a fixed rental fee.

Hilton once had its name on two hotels in the twin island nation, however, the Tobago Hilton closed its doors in 2008.

The sprawling hotel was later renamed the Magdalena Grand Beach Resort and reopened on June 1, 2012.