Press Release
June 15, 2001
MANHASSET, NY & BEVERLY HILLS, CA -- InternetWeek has recognized Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE: HLT) as the
2001 E-Business of the Year, based on the results of the magazine's second annual InternetWeek 100 survey.
Announced in the June 11, 2001, online and print issues, Hilton Hotels Corporation also secured the position of
Recognized Leader in the Travel and Hospitality Industry for the second year in a row.
The InternetWeek 100, based on a performance-focused questionnaire of major U.S. companies conducted in February
and March by InternetWeek Magazine, ranks the top 100 e-businesses in the U.S., across nine major industries that
are driving their e-business initiatives to deliver new revenues, new customers and new opportunities.
More than 400 candidates were evaluated in several critical areas, including improved relationships with customers
and suppliers, and the extent of involvement in electronic marketplaces.
``Hilton Hotels Corporation was named the travel and hospitality industry winner -- and the top e-business overall
-- because it has in the past year seen huge increases in the volume of online business booked through its brand
websites, including Hilton, Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn and Red Lion Hotels & Inns, which booked
more than $300 million total online business during 2000, double the previous year's,'' said Bob Violino, Managing
Editor/Features for InternetWeek.
``Hilton Hotels has taken what it learned from early Internet efforts and applied those lessons to major effect.
For relying on the power of e-business not only to boost sales and slash procurement costs, but also to entirely
remake itself into a multibrand powerhouse, Hilton stands out as InternetWeek's E-Business of the Year,'' wrote
Richard Karpinski, InternetWeek's Online Editor at Large in the June 11 InternetWeek issue.
Hilton's major accomplishments during the past year include an extensive website enhancement and redesign project
that will integrate and improve Internet information and transaction services on a single platform for the company's
family of nearly 1,900 hotels across North America.
``Hilton is honored to receive this year's top award from Internet Week. It represents our team's continued commitment
to explore new technology opportunities and effectively develop a community of online resources and services that
provide the greatest value and experience to our customers,'' said Bruce Rosenberg, senior vice president -- eBusiness
at Hilton Hotels Corporation. ``We have and will continue our pioneering spirit in this arena to explore the dynamic
power of e-business on all levels.''
From a business-to-business perspective, Hilton has successfully developed and implemented its web-enabled, electronic
procurement marketplace during the past year. An experienced procurement leader in the hospitality industry with
more than 35 years of experience in the supply management field, Hilton's proprietary, real-time procurement network
now links thousands of suppliers with more than 500 owned, managed and franchised hotels in the Hilton family of
brands.
``Hilton's e-procurement marketplace has enterprise-wide connectivity and a consistent intuitive platform that
everyone can use, thereby benefiting our entire portfolio of properties without the barriers typically associated
with implementing technology at multiple sites across an enterprise,'' said Anthony Nieves, Hilton's senior vice
president of purchasing and supply management. ``The reduction in cycle time, improved accuracy and forecasting
and the ability to aggregate our spend to realize economies of scale have greatly improved the way we do business
and gives us the ability to operate our organization much more cost-effectively, ultimately enhancing our value
to our hotel guests.''
Hilton's Information Technology team also has been working hard behind the scenes for internal customers -- including
back office technology initiatives that connect the company's corporate headquarters, worldwide sales and reservations
offices and regional support centers with hotels in all 50 states, Canada and Mexico.
``Everything we do in our business can have an e-business implication. Whether it's our Internet site, a reservations
call center, a meeting planner or a hotel, it is imperative that we are able to provide a consistent stream of
information to every end user in our system,'' said Tim Harvey, chief information officer for Hilton Hotels Corporation.
``I am proud of our endeavors during the past year to incorporate all of these channels with the ultimate goal
of ensuring that we provide the right information at the right time to the right customer.''
About InternetWeek
CMP Media's InternetWeek is the news and analysis source for IT and corporate managers applying Internet technologies
and strategies to transform their businesses. With a history of innovation and thought leadership, InternetWeek
is the only newspaper with an Internet/IT editorial focus -- meeting the informational needs of e-business stakeholders
charged with delivering results and driving business to survive in today's competitive marketplace.
According to the most recent Simmons and IntelliQuest readership studies, InternetWeek delivers the most powerful
audience -- it is the best-read and maintains the highest reader loyalty of all newspapers in its category. Visit
the publication's website at http://www.internetweek.com.
About Hilton Hotels Corporation
Hilton Hotels Corporation is recognized internationally as a preeminent hospitality company. The company develops,
owns, manages or franchises approximately 1,900 hotels, resorts and vacation ownership properties.
Its portfolio includes many of the world's best known and most highly regarded hotel brands, including Hilton®,
Conrad(TM), Doubletree®, Embassy Suites Hotels®, Hampton Inn®, Hampton Inn & Suites®, Harrison
Conference Centers®, Hilton Garden Inn®, Hilton Grand Vacations Company®, Homewood Suites® by Hilton
and Red Lion Hotels & Inns®.
For more information on Hilton Hotels Corporation, visit Hilton's corporate website at www.hiltonworldwide.com.
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Contact:
The Horn Group
Erin Brown, 781/356-7141
ebrown@horngroup.com
or
Hilton Hotels Corporation
http://www.hilton.com
Thomas Wingham/Brian Kuchar, 310/205-4545
thomas_wingham@hilton.com
brian_kuchar@hilton.com