Hilton International CEO Commemorates Caribe Hilton's Grand Reopening Feb. 3

Company Press Release: Caribe Hilton

February 2, 2000
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- David Michels, CEO of Hilton International, will be on hand to commemorate and celebrate the Caribe Hilton's grand reopening on Feb. 3, 2000.

``We are very excited to host Mr. Michels and celebrate the culmination of this tremendous renovation,'' said Raul Bustamante, general manager and director of Hilton International Puerto Rico. ``All of the time and effort involved has paid off. Our re-launch of the hotel is as significant and impactful as when it first opened 50 years ago.''

The celebration will be held in the hotel's ballroom and begins at 8 p.m. Live entertainment will be provided by a bell choir, chamber music group, and Puerto Rican Danza band.

Other guests scheduled to attend include the Governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro Rossello, the president of Puerto Rico's House of Representatives, Edison Misla Aldarondo, and the executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, Jose Corujo.

The Caribe Hilton's former executive chefs, Augusto Schreiner, Emilio Graff, Hans Mosperger and Mario Ferro, the director of food and beverage, designed a gourmet menu for the event.

The resort was closed from April through December 1999, as it underwent a $50 million renovation that overhauled all guest rooms, entrances, and public spaces. A new swimming complex, pool bar and grill, a three-meal restaurant, entry drive, and redesigned landscaping were unveiled on Christmas day. The hotel also redesigned its meeting space, and now has a new executive conference center with 11 meeting rooms located on the second floor of the main building. The center is connected to meeting room floors by a glass and steel bridge that spans the new two-story lobby. The 7,400-square-foot, high- tech conference center is dedicated to meetings and convention business and offers high-tech presentation capabilities.

The Caribe Hilton will continue to grow during the year. In June 2000, the San Cristobal junior ballroom with 6,550 square feet will open. The hotel will have a total of 65,000 square feet of the finest, most flexible, sophisticated meeting space and 27 breakout rooms, including the auditorium, ballrooms and other meeting space at the property.

The Caribe Hilton's first-class, 15,000-square-foot spa, one of the most luxurious in Puerto Rico, will open in summer 2000. The full-service spa will take advantage of the hotel's natural surroundings and offer a three-lane lap pool, 14 massage and treatment rooms, an oversized Jacuzzi, a beauty salon, a juice bar, and women and men's locker rooms with steam and sauna.

Hilton Hotels Corporation and Hilton International, a subsidiary of Hilton Group PLC, have a worldwide alliance to market Hilton, the world's best-known hotel brand. Collectively offering approximately 1,900 hotels in more than 50 countries worldwide, both companies are recognized as leaders in the hospitality industry. Hilton International currently operates more than 210 hotels in over 50 countries worldwide.

For reservations, contact your professional travel agent or the Caribe Hilton at 1-800-468-8585 or e-mail, Reservations@CaribeHilton.com.

SOURCE: Caribe Hilton