Timor-Leste will get its first international hotel brand next year, when Hilton launches a new upscale property in the capital city, Dili.

Construction of the 150-room Hilton Dili Palm Springs is already underway and the hotel and is scheduled for completion in late 2018.

The move will provide a boost to travellers in Timor-Leste, whilst also giving Hilton first mover advantage in Southeast Asia’s newest country. It comes just days after Hilton reached the milestone of opening its 200th hotel in Asia Pacific and sees the company push back another regional frontier.

Located in the centre of Dili, the new-build upscale hotel is expected to be popular with corporate and government travellers. But Hilton’s vice president of brand management for Asia Pacific, Sean Wooden, said  Timor-Leste was also an “emerging leisure destination”.

“With Hilton currently operating more than 570 hotels across the globe, the signing of the Hilton Dili Palm Springs has created an additional opportunity for us to bring our renowned brand of hospitality to a new country,” Wooden added.

As the first internationally branded hotel in the country, Hilton Dili Palm Springs will offer 150 spacious rooms and suites, measuring between 40m² and 60m². It will also feature an executive lounge, restaurant, lobby lounge, rooftop bar, fitness centre, spa, outdoor pool and function space.

“Today’s announcement bears testament to both Hilton’s strength in the Asia Pacific region as well as our management expertise,” said Guy Phillips, the company’s senior vice president of development for Asia & Australasia. “Hilton Dili Palm Springs [will be] a strong addition to our current portfolio and look forward to welcoming travellers to this city.”

Timor Leste will become the eighth Southeast Asian country with a Hilton property, and earlier this year the company said it is in discussions to sign its first properties in Laos and Cambodia.