MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Hampton(TM), the national brand of mid-priced Hampton Inn® and Hampton Inn & Suites® hotels, officially broke ground today on the brand's very first small scale, mid-priced hotel prototype -- a 58-room Hampton Inn to be located in Cedar City, Utah. Designed specifically for tertiary markets, this new hotel will encompass the new break-through design of a Hampton Inn of less than 60 rooms that provides the same services, look and "feel" of the Hampton Inn product. Historically, the minimum threshold for building a quality-branded mid-priced hotel was 65 rooms.

Church Family Trust will own and manage the hotel under a license agreement with Promus Hotels, Inc., a franchise subsidiary of Hilton Hotels Corporation.

"We announced the design of our smaller hotel prototype last July and have had very strong response from developers wanting to build in rural or tertiary areas that were previously unable to support a traditional Hampton Inn," said Phil Cordell, senior vice-president, brand management, Hampton. "This new Hampton Inn concept allows developers the opportunity to enter the Hilton Family of Hotels at a lower cost to build with less construction time, and brings to travelers a new high-quality lodging choice in small markets, providing the same value and amenities of our popular mid-priced Hampton Inn hotels."

The new 58-room Cedar City Hampton Inn will showcase six large studio suites, 52 guest rooms, an indoor pool, exercise room, breakfast seating area with elevated ceilings upon entry, and a 1,000 square foot meeting room area. The hotel will be strategically located next to the largest retail, dining, and entertainment center in Southern Utah.

Located on Interstate 15, between Salt Lake City and Las Vegas – Cedar City is in the heart of three National Parks, Brian Head ski area, the state's fastest growing university (Southern Utah University), and the Tony Award winning Utah Shakespearean Festival. Cedar City is also hailed as the third fastest growing population base in Utah.

"We are excited to introduce this Hampton Inn hotel – the industry's first mid-priced hotel concept under 60 rooms – to the Cedar City area," said Barry Church, Principal Correspondent, Church Family Trust. "Travelers visiting Cedar City will be pleased to find the same value, free high-quality breakfast, free local calls and Hilton HHonors membership rewards at this property that they receive at the more than 1,100 Hampton Inn hotels nationwide."

Hampton also announced today that it has approved construction of a second small Hampton Inn prototype in the state, expected to break ground in June 2002 in Logan, Utah. In less than eight months after the new concept was announced, the company has already approved plans to build five new small market Hampton Inns.

The new prototype is designed to vary in size from 52 to 58 rooms and between two and three stories tall. Each property will offer a swimming pool (indoor or outdoor) and the option of specialty amenity packages, such as whirlpool spa suites. In addition, the design can be adapted to include meeting space and an exercise facility to meet business and leisure travelers' needs. Hampton Inn completely re-engineered the guestroom layout and design within this new concept, creating a more open feel in a slightly smaller room footprint. Featuring decor of brighter colors and textures, the guest room contains a unique repositioning of furniture to allow for ample "walk around" space; a bed that is raised higher and positioned against the inside room wall; a television armoire; and an open work desk area with ample lighting and dataport connection for internet access. Some rooms also contain a walk-in shower and separate vanity area – a popular feature among travelers that Hampton Inn discovered while researching the design of the new prototype last year.

"In small and large markets, we want Hampton Inn to represent the best hotel in town, and we anticipate travelers will seek out Hampton Inn in smaller rural markets as we continue to expand," added Cordell. "With much of the brand's growth targeted West of the Mississippi, the new prototype is an ideal hotel for many locations in this region where there is sufficient demand for a new, mid-priced hotel with a trusted brand name."

Hampton is part of Hilton Hotels Corporation, recognized internationally as a preeminent hospitality company. The company develops, owns, manages or franchises more than 2,000 hotels, resorts and vacation ownership properties. Its portfolio includes many of the world's best known and most highly regarded hotel brands, including Hilton®, Conrad(TM), Doubletree®, Embassy Suites Hotels®, Hampton Inn®, Hampton Inn & Suites®, Harrison Conference Centers®, Hilton Garden Inn®, Hilton Grand Vacations Company® and Homewood Suites® by Hilton.

Kendra Walker
Hilton Hotels Corporation Brand Communications
310/205-4545