How do you build one of the biggest hotel brands in the world? Simon Vincent is president of Hilton hotels in Europe, Middle East and Africa. He is responsible for around 1,000 hotels. Vincent joined Hilton in 2007 and looks after more than 85,000 employees, 18,000 of whom are based in the UK. 

In this episode, Simon Vincent takes Dougal Shaw on a personal tour of the Park Lane Hilton, speaking to him in the luxury penthouse suite that has welcomed rock star Jon Bon Jovi and many others. Hilton reveals the detailed calculation that goes into the slow, steady expansion of hotels. This involves scouting and testing potential locations, but also figuring out the best balance between managing your own hotels and finding a franchisee to work with.

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