Hilton HHonors Expands to More Than 2,000 Hotels Worldwide

NEW YORK -- 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:

• Broaden its program to include a significantly larger family of Hilton hotel brands: Doubletree®, Embassy Suites®, Hampton Inn®, Hampton Inn & Suites® and Homewood Suites® by Hilton in addition to Hilton® and Conrad International®;
• Expand the number of rates at which members earn Points & Miles(TM);
• Offer an additional bonus whereby members earn 2,000 points and 500 miles for every $2,000 in folio spend at any combination of HHonors hotels through 12/31/00.

"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 . 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.

Kendra Walker
310/205-4545
Hilton