Hilton Hotels Corp. and Noble Investment Group have opened the new 152-room Hilton Garden Inn Tampa East/Brandon located in Tampa. The newly constructed hotel is owned by Noble Investments Tampa LLC and operated under a license agreement with Hilton Inns Inc., the franchise subsidiary of Beverly Hills-based Hilton Hotels Corp. The high-rise, 6-story structure at 10309 Highland Manor Drive features a signature glass-walled pavilion housing the reception desk; a restaurant offering freshly prepared breakfast, lunch and dinner; a comfortable lounge area with a television and fireplace; 5 meeting rooms representing 4,000 square feet of meeting space; a 24-hour, complimentary business center; and a laundry facility. "Our hotel will provide a unique, affordable and comfortable place to stay for travelers whether they are in the area for business or pleasure. We also are in an ideal location, only minutes from numerous corporations and many of Central Florida's Gulf Coast beaches,'' said Kevin J. Robert, general manager. Hilton Garden Inn developments represent one of the cornerstones of Hilton's franchise growth strategy. About 125 Hilton Garden Inn properties are currently open or under development in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.