BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. | When Conrad Hilton opened his first hotel in Cisco, Texas in 1919, his guests were greeted with a friendly welcome that was inspired by his philosophy: "It has been, and continues to be, our responsibility to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality." 
Nearly 90 years and more than 2,300 hotels later, guests of the Hilton Family of Hotels experience that same level of commitment to genuine hospitality, now being succinctly expressed through a program called 'be hospitable™'. Through newly designed internal communications materials and external marketing efforts launching February 27, inspirational communications are being shared internally with team members and externally with travelers, respectively.
"Expressing Conrad Hilton's philosophy at its very core, the Hilton Family of Hotels has put a name to its unique brand of service that has made it the best known and most highly regarded hotel company, and summed up in two words - 'be hospitable™,'" said Tom Keltner, president of brand performance and development group for Hilton Hotels Corporation. "It is a philosophy that is shared by all nine brands in the Hilton Family of Hotels and has become the inspiration for our overarching message of kindness and generosity.
"With the 'be hospitable™message, we are drawing upon our long heritage and deep culture based on our founder's vision. We know that warmth, compassion and a smile can make a difference in a traveler's visit and so at all Hilton Family properties, our team members bring the spirit of our 'be hospitable' philosophy to every guest interaction."
The company hopes to inspire team members and others to carry the 'be hospitable' message into every aspect of their lives, with the notion that one simple gesture of common courtesy extended to one individual inspires that same individual to carry another act of kindness forward.
"Being hospitable encourages a sense of consideration and connection that more often is lacking in our hectic world," said Mary Beth Parks, vice president of marketing. "Our goal is to create an experience that is both positive and inspiring through leading by example, and showing that common courtesy and thoughtfulness can make the difference between a casual encounter and a meaningful exchange."
The 'be hospitable™ message will be introduced to the public on February 27 with television spots and print ads, online and outdoor executions created by Foote Cone & Belding. The nine brands in the company's portfolio include Hilton(R), Conrad(R), Doubletree(R), Embassy Suites Hotels(R), Hampton(R), Hilton Garden Inn(R), Hilton Grand Vacations Club(R), Homewood Suites by Hilton(R), and the newest addition, The Waldorf=Astoria Collection(TM).
The 'be hospitable' platform also is the foundation for an all-encompassing internal communications program that includes DVDs, brochures, and other materials that have been developed to provide every team member with expressions of the Hilton Family philosophy, inspiring them -- through their interaction with tens of millions of guests annually, the community, and their friends and families -- to help make the world a kinder and more hospitable place.
CONTACT
Kathy Shepard
Phone: 310-205-7676
Email: kathy_shepard@hilton.com
ORGANIZATION
Hilton Worldwide
www.hiltonworldwide.com
7930 Jones Branch Drive, Suite 1100
USA
- McLean, VA 22102