The Welsh Tourist Board has given this gwesty five stars as it did for the gwesty at Fairyhill. Hilton, like many of the large hotel groups, sets its own standards. In many ways this hotel conforms to standards appropriate to its rating. Five star hotels will be pushed to maintain their status as new openings continue. With new hotel building expanding as international tourism grows again the upward push on standards will have repercussions for hotels at all levels in the market. For a five star the equation demands space, the ultimate luxury. The Cardiff Hilton certainly has that in its’ bedrooms. Whether the design will stand the test of time without a major refurbishment is not so clear.

The high end market in Cardiff is very competitive, with there being more business rooms at this level than the number of business travellers support, and with more coming on stream from other groups the competition will only get stiffer. Fortunately for Hilton this hotel has unrivalled position in relation to the centre of Cardiff and the location is enabling it to achieve high occupancy rates (I was quoted above 80%). It is almost the first hotel of any size you see driving in from the motorway, its prominence making it unmissable. With new competitors opening soon, the additions of the new restaurant and bars will help the hotel to keep its competitive edge, as will the high standards of maintenance.