Conrad Hotels NEW

INDIANAPOLIS | Conrad Indianapolis (NYSE:HLT) opens its doors on Monday, March 27, as the city's first true luxury hotel. It is the fourth Conrad hotel in the United States and the first to be constructed from the ground-up.

The 23-story tower, which includes 241 guest rooms, two dining options in the hotel's restaurant and lounge, 10,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting space and a business center, Spa Chakra(TM)+, fitness facilities, and 15 private residences, is located at 50 W. Washington St. - in the heart of Downtown Indianapolis.

Hotel resides at a pivotal and vibrant location

Located at one of the city's prominent intersections, the hotel is integrated into the innovatively designed Artsgarden, a public space for the performing arts, and Circle Centre Mall. A structure of concave glass and steel provides an uninterrupted path from the hotel's ballroom and meeting rooms to the Artsgarden and Circle Centre Mall. The hotel is within walking distance of the Indiana Convention Center and a short drive to both the Indianapolis International Airport and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Conrad Indianapolis' monochromatic limestone-colored facade echoes the classic high rises of Indianapolis. The cap of the building is punctuated by an arcade of double-height windows and a strong crown that is illuminated at night to announce the building on the skyline. The tower is terraced at the top to enhance its verticality while providing a gentle transition from the body of the tower to the smaller-scaled buildings on the street. The terraced design also creates private balconies for several of the private residences.

Entrances to the hotel and residences have been separated to create distinct identities for each. Residents enter the building on Illinois Street through an elegant steel and glass canopy that takes its cues from classic Park Avenue entries. The hotel is defined by a separate entry podium scaled to complement the historic buildings on Washington Street.

"Less than two years ago, we stood on the most coveted undeveloped block in Downtown Indianapolis and dreamed of completing the final piece of the magnificent Circle Centre Mall project - one envisioned by business and city leaders nearly 30 years ago," said Alvin Kite, president of Circle Block Partners and Conrad building owner. "The completion of this project represents more than the fulfillment of a dream for both the city and Kite. It presents the rare opportunity for Indianapolis to add one of the crown jewels in hotel offerings - the Conrad - to an already outstanding stable of hospitality assets and heighten our ability to attract more visitors, more conventions and more great events, such as the NCAA Final Four to this great city in the years ahead. The Conrad will also become a resident community for 15 families who will call it home and enjoy the stature and culture of fine urban living."

Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, said, "The Conrad represents the continuous growth and evolution of our downtown and its skyline. To see the bold vision for this development become a reality is tremendous, and it speaks volumes for the future success of our city," he said. "Indianapolis already has the reputation as a world-class host city for major events, and the addition of a premier, high-rise hotel in the heart of our vibrant downtown will certainly raise that bar for success even higher."

A series of spectacular Conrad Indianapolis grand opening festivities is planned for May 2006.

Offering true luxury

Guests arriving at the hotel will have their business needs, leisure desires, unexpected whims and personal comforts met. Upon request, a guest services representative will offer services, such as unpacking guests' belongings, offering a drink and cool towel or perhaps drawing a bath. Check-in will not be necessary for repeat guests and they will have their room temperature set to their pre-determined preference. The technology offered in-room will be highly advanced with T-1 line access as well as Wi-Fi connection available throughout the hotel and three phones with direct dial into the room and call forwarding to any number.

These details and many others are the responsibility of General Manager Jan Chovanec, who offers more than 20 years of senior hotel management experience. Chovanec's role is to anticipate the needs of guests and ensure that the hotel's 225-person team delivers consistently exceptional service in line with the reputed Conrad Service Culture Standards.

"When well-traveled guests come to a luxury hotel, they expect not only unparalleled service, but also to be pleasantly surprised. That's what we will offer at Conrad Indianapolis," Chovanec said. "We will treat guests as individuals and create the right experience for them," he added.

Additionally, all of the hotel's services and amenities are available to residents of the Conrad.

Brasserie-style restaurant and vibrant lounge

Guests dining in Restaurant du Soleil enjoy French-inspired cuisine in a relaxed atmosphere evocative of a traditional European brasserie. Renowned British chef Jonathan Wright creates classic dishes using the exploration of old combined with new to enhance the quality of traditional cuisine. Many ingredients are grown locally, and the farmers market is a great resource to the ever-changing menu.

The 200-seat restaurant is open for all three meals and incorporates distinctive sections, including private group dining in the restaurant's wine vault and a seasonal sidewalk cafe for outdoor dining. Attire is business casual.

Located on the ground floor, Vitesse (meaning "speed" in French as a nod to the city's racing heritage), the hotel's lobby lounge, is a vibrant space that changes throughout the day. In the morning, gourmet coffee and light breakfast items are served in a relaxed atmosphere or packaged for guests to take with them. During lunch, guests may choose from a selection of small plates of appetizers, as well as a selection of freshly made sandwiches. Afternoon tea is served featuring an array of specialty loose-leaf teas and infusions, petite sandwiches, tea pastries and mini desserts. In the evening, the sophisticated lounge provides a fabulous array of small plates, tapas, cheese, oysters and desserts. Guests enjoy a vast selection of caviar and a broad selection of beverages from the champagne and wine cave.

Spa and fitness center - offering conventional and holistic experiences

Spa Chakra(TM)+ provides comprehensive health and wellness care in an environment that integrates conventional and holistic methods with a sensorial experience. Spa guests undergo a systematic analysis to customize their therapies. Each treatment is individually tailored according to their self-assessment questionnaire. This tool was developed to reveal primary stresses, be they nutritional, emotional, electromagnetic or physical. Then, therapies are tailored to target individual profiles.

The spacious fitness center, enclosed swimming pool, sauna, steam room and spa with 11 treatment rooms are amenities for both guests and residents as well as the public, by appointment and/or membership. The spa will open to guests in Spring 2006. The fitness center opens March 29.

Reservations

For more information or to make a reservation at Conrad Indianapolis, visit , contact a professional travel agent or call 1-800-CONRADS from the U.S. and Canada. Outside the U.S. and Canada, please contact the nearest Hilton Reservations Worldwide office or the hotel directly.

About Conrad Hotels | With award-winning properties in the U.S., U.K., Ireland, Belgium, Egypt, Turkey, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Australia and Uruguay, Conrad has 20 luxury business and resort and spa hotels in exotic and cosmopolitan destinations around the world. Six new Conrad development projects are planned in the U.S., Indonesia, China, Thailand and the UAE for future openings between 2007 and 2008. Conrad Hotels offers value to its business and leisure customers by establishing and maintaining the highest levels of service delivery with the renowned 'Conrad Service Culture'. All Conrad Hotels customers benefit from the Hilton HHonors(R) loyalty program. Conrad Hotels is owned by Hilton Hotels Corporation.

Conrad Hotels was voted "World's Leading Luxury Hotel Brand" at the World Travel Awards 2005.

Robert Allegrini
Vice President - Communications Americas
+1 312 663-6516
Hilton