PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Sept 4, CMC – The Trinidad and Tobago government Friday announced that it has completed a new ownership and management arrangement for the 405 room Hilton Trinidad & Conference Centre
The state-owned Evolving Technologies and Enterprise Development Company Limited (e Teck) in making the announcement said that under the previous arrangement, e Teck was the landlord and sublet the lands and hotel to Hilton International Trinidad Limited, which operated the hotel under a long-term lease.
“The present administration inherited this arrangement as the lease approached expiry, together with an incomplete proposed Hotel Management Arrangement. Under the previous administration, no agreements had been executed between e Teck and Hilton, which resulted in uncertainty, leaving several critical legal, financial and operational matters unresolved,” e Teck said in a statement.
It said that negotiations and planning relating to the necessary emergency and renovation works at the hotel were also incomplete and in addition, the transition from the former lease arrangement required careful negotiation before a new operating structure could be established.
e Teck said the absence of completed agreements created significant uncertainty regarding the Hotel’s continued operations, its employees and the protection of this important national asset.
According to e Teck, recognising the urgency of the situation, the present administration “acted immediately and meticulously” to conclude the outstanding negotiations, resolve the inherited legal and operational challenges, strengthen the transaction and improve its overall value to the public.
It said that the completed transaction replaces the former landlord-and-tenant relationship with a clearly defined owner-and-operator model.
“Under a Share Purchase Agreement (“SPA”), e Teck acquired all the issued and outstanding shares of Hilton International Trinidad Limited. Through the Hotel Management Agreement, Hilton will continue to manage and operate the Hilton Trinidad & Conference Centre, while e Teck, through its subsidiary HotelTT Asset Management Company Limited, will own the Hotel asset.”
The state-owned company said that the execution of a Deed of Surrender formally concludes the previous lease arrangement and allows the new ownership and management framework to take effect.
“Hilton will remain responsible for the Hotel’s day-to-day management, hospitality operations, service standards and guest experience. With the execution of these agreements, all reservation systems and booking channels will also reopen, restoring full access for local and international bookings.
“This new structure maintains the Hotel’s operations and international brand while ensuring that the asset remains under State ownership and oversight,” e Teck said without providing any financial figures regarding the new arrangement.
The state owned company said that employees will continue in their jobs and the hotel will continue operating without interruption under Hilton’s management.
“There will be no immediate change to employees’ existing duties, reporting arrangements, work schedules, salaries or benefits arising from the transaction.”
Last month, the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU), which representing nearly 300 workers at the property, had raised alarms after Hilton International Trinidad Limited warned of a potential exit tied to the expiration of operating arrangements and delayed facility capital upgrades publicly urged the government and e TecK.
CWU Secretary General Joanne Ogeer had criticized the lack of definitive information provided to staff, noting that employees received provisional severance calculations while operational timelines faced repeated short-term extensions.
But in its statement on Friday, e Teck said “the Hotel Management Agreement has an initial term of six months, with provision for a further six-month renewal, subject to agreement between the parties. This provides operational continuity while e Teck evaluates the longer-term arrangements for the Hotel and advances the assessment and prioritisation of the required renovation works,” e Teck said in the statement.
It said following e Teck’s acquisition of the shares of Hilton International Trinidad Limited through the SPA, the existing company registered as Hilton International Trinidad Limited has now been renamed HotelTT Asset Management Company Limited.
“HotelTT is a wholly owned subsidiary of e Teck, which is a wholly owned State company, not a privately owned company. It will serve as the asset-holding company for the lands and hotel assets, which are operated by Hilton Trinidad & Conference Centre, and oversee the State’s ownership interest in the property.
“HotelTT’s name relates to the corporate entity holding the asset. It does not change the Hilton Trinidad & Conference Centre’s brand or Hilton’s role as the Hotel’s operator.’
CMC/kj/ir/2026