Embassy Suites Hotels® Introduces Spacious One-Room Suite Concept

Embassy Suites Hotels, the international chain of upscale, all-suite hotels, unveiled its first one-room suite, designed to pack more room into a smaller space for today’s cost-conscious traveler and hotel developer. This new suite concept represents the first major room design change since the upscale brand’s launch 25 years ago.

The new one-room suite design delivers the same amenities and upscale value to Embassy Suites guests, including a complimentary, cooked-to-order breakfast, evening reception* and a spacious open-air atrium.

“Embassy Suites created the all-suite hotel concept – which was revolutionary in the 1980s – by offering a one-bedroom suite at an affordable price,” said Jim Holthouser, Global Head of Full Service Brands, Hilton Hotels Corporation. “The brand quickly became a favorite with families due to the space, complimentary breakfast and evening reception, and the dominant leader in the segment.

“While families love all the space they get with a two-room suite, a portion of our guests – mainly business travelers – have told us they don’t necessarily need all that space,” Holthouser added. “We’ve been testing this concept for a while now, and business travelers have been an integral part of the design process. We think we’ve successfully preserved the spacious feel of the suite, while reducing the suite’s footprint.”

Extensive guest research confirmed the more abbreviated design works perfectly for business travelers who still want the amenities and extras they’re used to receiving during an Embassy Suites stay—complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast and evening reception, but who don’t need or necessarily want all that extra space. The redesigned room option is spacious – approximately 370 square feet – and features the same amenities as a traditional two-room suite: a living room, wet bar, bathroom and bedroom area.

While the new suite design is geared toward business travelers, hotel developers also will benefit from the new design. Over the last few years, in response to escalating construction costs, hotel developers had approached the brand about finding a way to pack more ‘hotel’ into a conventional Embassy Suites footprint. For new Embassy Suites hotels, developers will be allowed to allocate up to 20 percent of the guestrooms as one-room suites, which will result in lower construction costs. The new suite design also lends itself to future growth, with more Embassy Suites Hotels being built in suburban office parks, downtown urban locations, adaptive reuse projects and the brand’s smaller 150-suite prototype.

Signature Smart Wall and Other Key Features

The centerpiece of the one-room suite is a smart wall that is accessible as soon as the guest enters the room and is instrumental in retaining the same spacious feel as in the traditional two-room suite. It houses a variety of compartments for business documents, presentations, or a photo from home and also includes a niche for unique local art. The wall also provides guests a space to recharge cell phones, PDAs, iPods, or other communication devices.

The 14’ x 18’ suite includes a walk-in shower, microwave, refrigerator, activity desk, 42-inch flat screen television, full size ironing board and iron. It features a sleek, finished design, with upscale furniture, sliding barn doors into the bathroom door and plenty of natural light. The one-room suite will always be located next to a traditional two-room suite with a connecting door, offering families and groups a second bedroom and living room on occasions when they need extra space.

“We experimented with dozens of designs and conducted extensive tests before finalizing the one-room suite design, which is about 20 percent smaller than the traditional Embassy Suites suite,” Holthouser added. “Guests still have access to all the other Embassy Suites amenities, including our complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast and evening reception, spacious atriums and fitness centers, only now with a choice of a one-room or two-room suite.”

The first Embassy Suites to be built with the new one-room suite design will be located in Buffalo--a converted federal office building in the downtown area. The new prototype room will begin appearing in new-build Embassy Suites Hotels during late 2009 and through 2010.

About Embassy Suites Hotels

Founded in 1984, Embassy Suites Hotels defines the upscale, all-suite segment and today has more than 200 hotels, with an additional 60 properties in the development pipeline. With spacious two-room suites, engaging team members and an inviting atrium environment, guests are allowed to put their feet up and feel right at home. To learn more, visit .

About Hilton Hotels Corporation | Hilton Hotels Corporation is the leading global hospitality company, with more than 3,300 hotels and 550,000 rooms in 77 countries and more than 130,000 team members worldwide. The company owns, manages or franchises some of the best known and highly regarded hotel brands including Hilton®, Conrad® Hotels & Resorts, Doubletree®, Embassy Suites Hotels®, Hampton Inn®, Hampton Inn & Suites®, Hilton Garden Inn®, Hilton Grand Vacations™, Homewood Suites by Hilton®, the Waldorf Astoria™ and the Waldorf Astoria Collection™, as well as the recently launched Home2 Suites by Hilton™. The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors®.For more information about the company, please visit .

*Service of alcohol is subject to state and local laws. Must be of legal drinking age.

Dawn Ray
Hilton Worldwide, Development and Trade PR
+1 901 374-5954
Hilton