Vice Chairman Eric M. Hilton Retires After Nearly 50 Years Of Service

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif / Eric M. Hilton, whose lifetime career as a hotelier contributed significantly to the development, growth and operation of Hilton Hotels Corp., will retire as the company's vice chairman, effective immediately.

Hilton will continue as a member of the company's board of directors, having been elected for a three-year term in May 1995. In addition, he will serve as Hilton's representative of the International Rivercenter Corporation Joint Venture in New Orleans, La., operators of the New Orleans Hilton Riverside Hotel.

"Eric's contribution to the success of Hilton Hotels Corporation is significant," said company chairman Barron Hilton. "His accomplishments in the areas of domestic and international strategic planning and property development have been important to the continued growth of the company our father, Conrad N. Hilton, founded more than 75 years ago.

"Eric was involved in many of the corporation's major transactions throughout his career, including Hilton's re-entry into the international market when the luxury Conrad International brand was introduced in 1985. I am pleased we will continue to benefit from his knowledge and experience as he remains a member of our board of directors and consultant for the company."

Hilton was named vice chairman of Hilton Hotels Corporation in 1993 after serving as executive vice president and director of the company and as president and director of Conrad International. He first joined Conrad International as senior vice president - development in 1983, and was elected executive vice president in 1986. Prior to joining Conrad International, Hilton had served as senior vice president of Hilton's franchise division, Hilton Inns Inc.

Hilton began his career at the company in 1949, while still a high school student. His first position was as an engineer at the El Paso Hilton in his native Texas. He also apprenticed as a bellman, doorman, steward, cook, elevator operator, desk clerk and telephone operator.

After graduation from high school in 1951, Hilton attended Texas Western College. The Korean War interrupted his college education when he served in the Army as a radar specialist. After briefly flirting with a career as a professional baseball player, Hilton decided to follow his father's footsteps and continued his career in the hotel business, starting with positions at the Dallas Statler Hilton. By 1959, he was appointed resident manager of the Deshler Hilton in Columbus, Ohio.

The following year he received his first appointment as general manager at the Hilton Hotel in Aurora, Ill.

In 1966, he was promoted to southwest sales manager, and subsequently was named senior vice president of Hilton Inns Inc., the company's franchising division in 1969, where he remained until joining Conrad International in 1983.

Hilton is a director of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Conrad International Hotels and the Little League Foundation. In addition, he serves on the advisory boards of the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston, and the Future Business Leaders of America/Phi Beta Lambda Inc., in Washington, D.C.

Hilton has been honored with the Alumni President's Award and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University of Houston, as well as the American Vocational Association Award of Merit.

An avid golfer, Hilton and his wife, Bitten Bello, reside in Las Vegas. They are the parents of six children.