Hilton Salutes Top Hotels for Excellence in Hotel Performance During 2004

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 22, 2005--Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE:HLT) is proud to announce its top hotel performance award winners for 2004, which were presented March 15, 2005 during the Hilton General Manager/Director of Sales Conference in Houston.

Award recipients chosen from the brand's more than 230 full-service hotels across the U.S., Canada and Mexico were determined through key areas within the brand's Balanced Scorecard rating system -- customer loyalty, brand consistency, quality assurance and customer satisfaction ratings - as well as exemplary efforts in hotel renovation and diversity projects. Each hotel received a trophy and individual recognition at specially planned celebratory receptions during the conference.
"Each of the winners of this year's Hilton Performance Awards leads the way in their commitment to the fundamentals of guest service, while at the same time using innovative and forward-thinking practices to go beyond what's expected," said Jeff Diskin, senior vice president, Brand Management and Marketing, Hilton Hotels Corporation. "These award winners represent the very best of what we have to offer, representing strengths and talents that truly make them masters of the art of hospitality."

BEST OVERALL PERFORMANCE - The Connie Awards - Named in honor of company founder Conrad Hilton, these awards are presented to the top airport, commercial and resort hotels with the highest overall hotel performance scores.

AIRPORT:    Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center, Texas

     COMMERCIAL: Hilton Lac-Leamy, Quebec

     RESORT:     Hilton Cancun Beach & Golf Resort

    CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AWARD - Awarded to the top airport,
commercial and resort hotels with the highest marked improvement in
overall hotel performance scores from 2003 to 2004.

     AIRPORT:    Hilton Palm Beach Airport

     COMMERCIAL: Hilton Knoxville

     RESORT:     Hilton Oceanfront Resort Hilton Head Island

    GUEST ASSISTANCE AWARD - Awarded to hotels for outstanding
handling of guest concerns/requests.

Under 500 Rooms: Hilton Guadalajara

Over 500 Rooms:  Hilton Suites Toronto/Markham Conference Centre & Spa
 

GUEST LOYALTY AWARD - Awarded to hotels with the highest annual
customer loyalty scores.

     Under 500 Rooms: Hilton Inn at Penn

     Over 500 Rooms:  Millenium Hilton, NYC
 

HILTON HHONORS(R) GUEST RECOGNITION AWARD - Awarded to hotels that
provided the most exemplary service to members of Hilton HHonors(R) --
the company's award-winning frequent guest program.

     Under 500 Rooms: Hilton Columbia, Maryland

     Over 500 Rooms:  The Palmer House(R) Hilton

PROPERTY RENOVATION AWARD - Presented to hotel teams that made
significant and outstanding upgrades to their facilities.

     Under 500 Rooms: Hilton Little Rock Metro Center
                      A $22-million renovation closed the doors to the
                      hotel for 18 months, but it has been transformed
                      into a state-of-the-art gathering place that
                      resonates with guests. The exterior was fully
                      renovated, a new two-story lobby was created,
                      guestrooms and bathrooms were remodeled and
                      redecorated, public areas were redone and the
                      courtyards and grounds were re-landscaped.

     Over 500 Rooms:  The Palmer House(R) Hilton (The Empire Room
                      Renovation)
                      The historic Empire Room at the Palmer House
                      Hilton was painstakingly restored this year. Host
                      to dignitaries and celebrities, and one of
                      Chicago's most prestigious and well-known venues,
                      the Empire Room received new carpets, restoration
                      of the original gold-leaf paintwork, and walls
                      were removed to open up the space and make it
                      more user-friendly. All of this work was done to
                      bring the room up to modern standards while
                      remaining true to the look and feel of the
                      original room.
 

DIVERSITY AWARD - Awarded to hotels for outstanding diversity
initiatives in the local community.

     Under 500 Rooms: Hilton Alexandria Old Town
                      This hotel has championed a local effort to
                      encourage positive parenting. For the last eight
                      years, the local organization of the National
                      Association of Children's Hospitals and Related
                      Institutions has relied on this hotel to organize
                      a fund-raising and recognition party. The
                      proceeds of this effort provide support and
                      guidance to overburdened parents struggling with
                      risks, including childhood histories of abuse and
                      neglect.

     Over 500 Rooms:  Hilton New Orleans Riverside
                      This hotel hosts the most important social events
                      and the largest fund-raisers in the city,
                      bringing influential people together to unite in
                      support of common causes. The continued efforts
                      of this hotel are vital to those in need in the
                      community and to the success of the Convention
                      Center and the CVB.

Conference Backgrounder



    

Themed "Radically Fundamental," the Hilton General Manager/
Director of Sales Conference offered opportunities for hotel general
managers, directors of sales and corporate team members to learn,
network and build relationships through brand-specific meetings,
workshops, guest speakers and award presentations.



    

Company Backgrounder



    

Hilton Hotels Corporation is recognized internationally as a
preeminent hospitality company. The company develops, owns, manages or
franchises approximately 2,300 hotels, resorts and vacation ownership
properties. Its portfolio includes many of the world's best known and
most highly regarded hotel brands, including Hilton(R), Conrad(R),
Doubletree(R), Embassy Suites Hotels(R), Hampton Inn(R), Hampton Inn &
Suites(R), Hilton Garden Inn(R), Hilton Grand Vacations Club(R) and
Homewood Suites by Hilton(R).

Source: Business Editors/Travel & Hospitality Writers/Travel Editors