Hilton Worldwide has signed a franchise agreement with Montenegrin-based company UTIP Crna Gora for a hotel in the republic of Montenegro, southcentral Europe.

The Hilton Podgorica Montenegro is scheduled to open in 2012, with approximately 200 rooms, in the city of Podgorica, and it is Hilton's first hotel signing in the country.

The building that will house the new property is currently occupied by the 150-room Hotel Crna Gora, which opened in 1952; the hotel is to undergo an extensive renovation to bring it in line with the Hilton brand.

The new Hilton hotel will be part of a mixed-use development that will also include a casino and a retail centre.  

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