Hilton Worldwide announced the signing of a management agreement to convert Hacienda La Boticaria, an Andalucian style retreat close to Seville, into a luxury Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts property.

Hilton Worldwide has already begun operating the resort, which is set to become a Waldorf Astoria in early summer 2011 and will mark the arrival of the brand in Spain.

Located in Alcala de Guadaira, what is to become Waldorf Astoria Sevilla at La Boticaria is 20 minutes from both Seville city centre and San Pablo airport, plus only a couple of hours drive from the Costa del Sol. Originally opened in 2004, the 133-room property sits in 40 acres of private land and offers a truly authentic Andalusian experience.

The hacienda contains six different private courtyard gardens of Andalucian, Egyptian and Arabian style where guests can relax in peaceful tranquillity. As a spa resort, it has one of Europe's largest hotel spa facilities with a variety of treatment and relaxation rooms, plus several indoor and outdoor pools offering secluded comfort.

An on-site equestrian centre is home to 16 thoroughbred Spanish horses and an antique carriage museum, in celebration of the property's early nineteenth century history, with private shows plus horse and carriage rides available. The full culinary experiences are yet to be revealed but will fully utilise the beautiful hacienda setting and celebrate the best of Spanish gastronomy.

As well as exploring the resort on foot and by horse carriage, guests will have the opportunity to discover the local area on bicycle, by luxury car or helicopter, with the property benefitting from its own helipad. Golf enthusiasts can utilise the property's excellent driving range, in preparation for a round at the nearby Real Club de Golf de Sevilla, regarded as one Europe's finest golf courses and previously home to the World Golf Championships.

Waldorf Astoria Sevilla at La Boticaria will be the luxury brand's fifth property to open in Europe, joining Rome Cavalieri, Trianon Palace Versailles and London Syon Park, which opens this month. Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts includes more than 20 landmark destinations around the globe, each with its own story and identity and each inspired by the level of service that defined the legendary Waldorf-Astoria New York. Further European additions will appear in Berlin later this year and Jerusalem in 2012.

Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts