Hilton Hotels Corporation Announces Signing of Doubletree by Hilton(TM) in Scotland's Third Largest City

Hilton Hotels Corporation (HHC) has announced that it has entered into a franchise management agreement with Patio Hotel (Aberdeen) Ltd to introduce and open the first Doubletree by Hilton™ hotel product in Scotland. Scheduled to open later this year in Scotland’s third largest city, the 168-room Patio Hotel Aberdeen will undergo a significant hotel improvement and investment scheme, before being renamed the Doubletree by Hilton Aberdeen City Centre. Hotels across the Doubletree by Hilton portfolio pride themselves on a longstanding tradition of distinctively designed properties that reflect the local area, with the warm welcome of the brand’s legendary chocolate chip cookie at check-in, the rewards of the prestigious Hilton HHonors® loyalty programme and a unique and caring commitment to the communities in which they operate. Doubletree already features a collection of more than 45,000 rooms in more than 190 locations worldwide, predominantly in the United States to date. A rapid worldwide expansion of the Doubletree by Hilton brand has included an aggressive opening plan of upscale, full-service hotels and resorts in Canada, Costa Rica, Peru and the UK with additional hotels and resorts in Italy, Peru, Russia, Slovakia and Thailand anticipated to open during the next several months. "We are delighted at the great momentum we now have behind the Doubletree by Hilton brand in the UK and we look forward to expanding further with the same core attributes, impeccable service and a sense of contemporary style and individuality,” said Dave Horton, senior vice president – brand management for Doubletree Hotels. "This Aberdeen Scotland hotel deal represents yet another important milestone in our brand’s worldwide development and complements more than 30 full-service hotels and resorts anticipated to join the Doubletree and Doubletree by Hilton collection during 2008.” This latest development deal represents the continuing expansion of the Doubletree by Hilton brand across the UK. The first Doubletree by Hilton hotel in the UK opened this April in Cambridge. HHC also recently entered into a franchise management agreement in early May with the owners of the historic Dunblaine Hydro hotel, which anticipates converting to the upscale, full-service brand after a massive renovation in 2010. "With Aberdeen being a centre for business and industry the new Doubletree by Hilton hotel is well placed to make its mark in this market,” said Simon Vincent, Area President UK & Ireland. "Through the introduction of the Hilton Family of Brands we are looking to double the size of our existing Hilton estate from 77 to more than 150 in the UK and Ireland. Aberdeen is an excellent example of this plan in action as we already have the Hilton Aberdeen Treetops and have only recently announced plans to build a new £18 million 175-bedroom Hilton Garden Inn at Aberdeen Airport.” The Doubletree by Hilton Aberdeen City Centre will be the largest four-star hotel in the centre of Aberdeen. Located on Aberdeen's famous beachfront area, the hotel is also only half a mile from the heart of the Granite City. Built in 1996, the hotel offers the most modern facilities coupled with traditional Scottish hospitality and spacious luxury accommodation. The hotel is a short car ride away from Aberdeen's International Airport and is close to the city's major road links, railway station, ferry port and the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre. "We believe Doubletree’s success in the US will be continued here, with our development effort already geared up to identify new conversion opportunities for Doubletree by Hilton hotels. The brand is a great fit for owners who want the benefits of an affiliation without losing out on individuality. We are aiming to have at least 20 Doubletree by Hilton hotels within the UK & Ireland in the next five to ten years.” Hilton currently has 11 hotels across Scotland including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dunkeld and Dundee. This announcement today is reflective of the company’s concrete plans to further expand north of the border. About Patio Hotel Group The Patio Hotel Group was originally established in 1983 in order to develop a chain of hotels in Europe and Israel. The first three Patio hotels were built in France in the 1980’s followed by the Patio Eilat Resort Hotel in Israel and two hotels in Scotland: the Patio Hotel Clydebank completed in 1990 and the Patio Hotel Aberdeen completed in 1996 with the addition of two extensions; the Premier Club in 1998 and the Platinum Club in 2005. About Doubletree by Hilton Hotels With a growing collection of contemporary, upscale accommodations in nearly 200 gateway cities, metropolitan areas and vacation destinations worldwide, Doubletree by Hilton hotels and resorts are distinctively designed properties that provide true comfort to today’s business and leisure travelers. From the millions of delighted hotel guests who are welcomed with the brand’s legendary, warm chocolate chip cookies at check-in to the advantages of the award-winning Hilton HHonors® guest reward programme, each Doubletree by Hilton guest receives a satisfying stay wherever their travels take them. To make reservations at any Doubletree by Hilton hotel, travelers may visit our website at www.doubletree.com. About Hilton Hotels Corporation Hilton Hotels Corporation is the leading global hospitality company, with more than 3,000 hotels and 500,000 rooms in 74 countries and territories, with more than 135,000 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® and The Waldorf=Astoria Collection™. Hilton Hotels Corporation is an Official Sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Team, which will extend through the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London, the 2010/2012 U.S. Paralympic Team and the 2011 U.S. Pan American Team. The Hilton Family of Hotels adheres to founder Conrad Hilton’s philosophy that, "It has been, and continues to be, our responsibility to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality.” The company put a name to its unique brand of service that has made it the best known and most highly regarded hotel company: be hospitable®. The philosophy is shared by all brands in the Hilton Family of Hotels, and is the inspiration for its overarching message of kindness and generosity. For more information about the company, please visit www.hiltonfamily.com. Airline miles accrued and awards issued are subject to the terms and conditions of each participating airline’s reward program, as applicable. Hilton HHonors membership, earning of Points & Miles®, and redemption of points are subject to HHonors Terms and conditions. ©2008 Hilton Hotels Corporation