The Hilton Family of Hotels e-Events online planning and booking tools for weddings, small meetings and reunions has more than quadrupled its online bookings for the full year 2008, compared to 2007. For 2008, e-Events revenue increased 178 percent over prior year from online bookings among the Hilton Family of Hotels. Online bookings from weddings increased 211 percent and business meetings online bookings increased 171 percent, respectively, over the prior year.

More than 250,000 users are projected to handle their events through the Hilton Family of Hotels online group tools in 2009, which was introduced two years ahead of any competition with the ability to book live inventory for groups. The Hilton Family of Hotels e-Events online planning and booking tools allow busy, tech-savvy customers to plan, book and manage groups online with real time inventory across the Hilton Family of Hotels, 24/7 booking access, meeting space, food and beverage, and audio-visual options, and instant booking with an online contract and confirmation.

From weddings and business meetings to all social gatherings, e-Events offers customers a robust online planning tool to book from 5 to 25 rooms and is accessible at more than 2,500 Hilton Family of Hotels – Hilton, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Homewood Suites by Hilton, and Waldorf Astoria Collection hotels – another feature unique to Hilton and unlike its competitors, because of its propriety software platform, OnQ.

“We developed e-Events to address the growing needs of people to plan, book and manage their events online at their convenience. Our research continues to reflect the ongoing trend of many first time planners – primarily GenX and GenY users – who drive the online booking process. With the majority of today’s consumers Internet savvy, our goal is to make online bookings of events and meetings as commonplace as online airline bookings,” said Bob Brooks, vice president – eSales Strategy and Performance, Hilton Hotels Corporation.

“Once an event is booked online with e-Events, customers have immediate access to additional online booking tools/resources that allow them to manage their rooming list and create a customized page for their event. Our focus is to make booking online group accommodations easy, convenient and seamless,” added Brooks. “In our effort to continue enhancing e-Events, Hilton also will introduce customized menus this year.”

After a customer books an event and a block of rooms online, they receive a call by the end of the next business day from a hotel staff member at the hotel, who offers additional assistance and support. All part of Hilton’s service commitment to ensure “high-touch” customer contact in the midst of a digital world.

Currently, e-Events is available at all North American Hilton Family of Hotels and will be extending its online planning and booking tools to Hilton Family hotels in the U.K. in 2009. For more information, visit .

About e-Events

e-Events is available only at participating locations and is subject to availability at participating hotels. Other terms and conditions apply. Please visit for full details.

About Hilton Hotels Corporation | Hilton Hotels Corporation is the leading global hospitality company, with more than 3,200 hotels and 545,000 rooms in 77 countries, 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®, Home2 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 .

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