Company Press Release
March 8, 2000
NEW YORK, NY--While other guest reward programs are touting new math and divine beds, Hilton HHonors® simply
is strengthening one of the leading guest reward programs in the industry. Hilton HHonors today announced that
on April 3 it will:
``A hotel guest reward program requires three elements to achieve the greatest possible success: a sizeable, loyal
membership base; a unique, stand-out customer benefit; and a large distribution of appealing hotels where members
can glean the benefits of the program,'' said Jeffrey Diskin, president and chief operating officer of Hilton HHonors
Worldwide.
``While HHonors already had one of the leading guest reward programs in the industry largely due to its unique
Double Dipping® benefit and large membership, it now has the added benefit of hotels and resorts located virtually
everywhere our HHonors members travel, making our program the unparalleled industry leader.''
With the expansion, Hilton HHonors dramatically increases reward earnings options for its members, presenting them
with more than 2,000 participating hotels and resorts for earnings and redemption worldwide -- a fourfold increase
in the number of participating properties.
The new brands -- Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, and Homewood Suites by Hilton
-- became a part of the Hilton family in November 1999 when Hilton Hotels Corp., one of the world's premier owners
and operators of hotel properties, acquired Promus Hotel Corp., a leader in managing and franchising highly regarded
hotel brands.
In addition, Hilton International boosted its number of hotels within the United Kingdom to more than 80 following
Hilton Group plc's acquisition of Stakis plc hotels in 1999, making Hilton the largest upscale hotel brand in the
U.K. Now flying the Hilton flag, the formerly Stakis hotels provide a wealth of locations within the U.K. where
members can earn and redeem Hilton HHonors points.
``Strength in numbers is only part of the evolving HHonors leadership story,'' Diskin continued. ``What makes our
quantity important is our quality. Each of the participating hotel brands has an outstanding reputation in its
class, which results in a guest reward program that offers not just more, but better. Traveling for business --
the process of earning rewards -- is as pleasurable as the rewards themselves.''
Not only did HHonors expand its number of participating hotels, the program also has significantly expanded the
number of rates at which members can earn Points & Miles. HHonors' unique Double Dip® feature now allows
travelers to earn both hotel points and airline miles at most every rate, including both business and leisure rates.
HHonors members will earn 10 points per dollar and 500 miles per stay when they Double Dip at participating Hilton,
Conrad International, Doubletree and Homewood Suites by Hilton hotels, as well as Bally's® and Flamingo gaming
resorts and the Las Vegas Hilton. HHonors members will earn 10 points per dollar and 100 miles per stay when they
Double Dip at Hampton Inn and Hampton Inn & Suites hotels.
Members will continue to enjoy additional program features unique to Hilton HHonors: HHonors Reward Exchange --
the only guest reward program to offer a two-way exchange of both hotel points for airline miles and miles for
points -- and Gaming Chip rewards through participating Hilton, Bally's and Flamingo gaming resorts.
As part of its program enhancements, Hilton HHonors has established a dedicated Hilton HHonors Guest Manager at
all hotels within all participating brands. These onsite experts are devoted to ensuring the delivery of personalized
service for HHonors guests.
In celebration of the program expansion, between now and Dec. 31, 2000, HHonors members will be offered an additional
bonus -- for every increment of $2,000 in folio spend, at any combination of HHonors hotels, members will receive
2000 points and 500 miles.
Representing the most significant initiative since Hilton's acquisition of Promus just four short months ago, the
HHonors program has been rolled out to 1,500 newly participating hotels, requiring systems changes, collateral
production, advertising support, and personnel training across all brands.
``While the bottom line of any guest reward program is a focus on numbers, it's clearly people who make a program
work,'' said Diskin. ``In the case of Hilton HHonors, it's a team of several hundred people from six brands who
have worked feverishly over the past four months to make this expansion happen. We're confident that the effort
will immediately benefit our current members and guests who are new program enrollees.''
About the HHonors Program
Hilton HHonors® is a guest reward program that gives frequent travelers a faster way to earn the rewards they
want most. Due to the unmatched flexibility, generosity and value offered by HHonors program features, as well
as the many aggressive promotions that HHonors offers each year, the program has been recognized with numerous
travel industry awards, including Best International Hotel Programme in 1999 by readers of InsideFlyer magazine.
Membership in Hilton HHonors is free. Travelers may enroll online by visiting the HHonors section of Hilton's Internet
site at www.hiltonhhonors.com. Or, to enroll instantly in the program and make reservations, consumers in the United
States and Canada may also call 800-HHONORS. Outside the United States and Canada, travelers may call the Hilton
Reservations Worldwide office in their area.
Travelers also may pick up an enrollment form with a temporary membership card at any participating Doubletree,
Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton and Conrad International
hotel worldwide.
Hilton Hotels Corp. 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 more than 2,000 hotels in over 50 countries worldwide,
both companies are recognized as leaders in the hospitality industry. Hilton International currently operates more
than 210 hotels in more than 50 countries worldwide.
Note to Editors: For copies of this and other Hilton news online, visit www.hilton.com and select ``Press Room''
from the pull-down menu.
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Contact:
Hilton Hotels Corp. (U.S.)
310/205-4545
Kendra Walker, kendra_walker@hilton.com
Jeanne Datz, jeanne_datz@hilton.com
or
Hilton International (U.K.)
Tricia Field, +44-171-856-8293
tricia_field@hilton.com
or
Douglas Cohn & Wolfe
Patricia Godefroy, 310/967-2900
patricia_godefroy@cohnwolfe.com