Business Wire

VA-HILTON

15.12.2020 18:02:13 CET | Business Wire | Press release

Share
In a Year Like No Other, Hilton Grows to Milestone 1 Million Rooms and Responds to Pandemic with Innovations for Guests, Positive Impact for Communities

In a year when the travel industry faced challenges like never before, Hilton (NYSE: HLT) weathered the storm by staying true to its founding purpose – to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality. As the COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for the travel and tourism industry, Hilton developed industry-leading guest innovations, reached significant growth milestones and continued to positively impact communities around the world.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201215005839/en/

Even as the company faced the biggest test in its 101-year history, Hilton’s resilient, capital-light business model enabled it to organically reach its 1 million room milestone in the fourth quarter.

Three of the hotels that helped the company cross this important threshold paint a picture of Hilton’s global growth story: Hilton Garden Inn Umhlanga Arch in South Africa, illustrating the company’s expansion into Africa; Tru by Hilton Savannah Airport , showcasing the power of the fastest-growing new brand in Hilton’s portfolio; and the Hilton Garden Inn Guizhou Maotai Town in China, helping deliver on the company’s ambitious growth goals in the APAC market.

Meanwhile, Hilton’s overall development pipeline remains strong, with 2,640 hotels and more than 408,000 rooms globally*.

“It’s been a year unlike any other, but even in the face of incredible challenges, our Team Members and owners have proven that travel is an unstoppable force for good,” said Chris Nassetta, president & CEO, Hilton. “Thanks to their grit and determination, Hilton has made a difference in the lives of so many and positively impacted communities at a time when our hospitality is needed more than ever – and together we look forward to creating even more meaningful memories in the year ahead.”

Throughout 2020, Hilton, in partnership with its hotel ownership community, has found innovative and meaningful ways to adapt to the changing needs of its guests, Team Members and communities:

Guest Experience

The pandemic rapidly changed guest behavior, priorities and concerns. Hilton responded with start-up style speed, grounded in more than a century of hospitality know-how to provide reassurance to travelers.

Among the innovations:

  • Launched Hilton CleanStay TM , an industry-defining standard of cleanliness and disinfection in collaboration with RB, maker of Lysol and Dettol and in consultation with Mayo Clinic
  • Redesigned meeting and event experiences and set new standards for event cleanliness and customer service with the launch of Hilton EventReady with CleanStay TM
  • Modified cancellation policies and took a number of steps to provide even more flexibility for Hilton Honors members including status and Points extensions
  • Created opportunities for Hilton Honors members to respond to the global pandemic by donating their Points to convert into cash and send directly to organizations including World Central Kitchen , Clean the World , Project Hope or Direct Relief
  • Provided alternative remote working options through the launch of WorkSpaces by Hilton in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom
  • Continued to provide contactless guest experience options through the free Hilton Honors app , enabling guests to personalize their experience with the ability to choose their rooms, check-in and out digitally and use their phones as digital keys. Guests have now used Hilton’s Digital Key to open more than 100 million doors worldwide
  • Inspired travelers to make new memories with the global launch of our insights-driven marketing campaign, “To New Memories
  • Revealed, for the first time ever, DoubleTree by Hilton’s official chocolate chip cookie recipe so guests could create an at-home version of this iconic travel treat

Response to Communities

Hilton continued to find inventive ways to address some of the most critical, immediate needs of the communities where it operates.

  • Partnered with American Express to donate up to 1 million hotel room nights across the U.S. for frontline medical professionals leading the fight against COVID-19
  • Expanded partnership with American Express through a $1 million contribution from American Express to World Central Kitchen , to provide healthy, freshly prepared meals to the frontline healthcare professionals who stayed at Hilton properties in cities across the U.S. during the coronavirus pandemic
  • Revealed 2020 Hilton Effect Foundation Grants and reached more than $1 million in global COVID-19 community response efforts
  • Extended Hilton’s hospitality to help the travel industry come together to overcome the global pandemic including sharing countless stories of teams around the world supporting each other and helping their communities
  • Supported Hilton Team Members searching for virtual and remote volunteer opportunities, including during its annual Hilton Effect Week volunteer event and through innovative partnerships with groups including Clean the World, Meals on Wheels and more
  • Remained committed to the company’s Travel with Purpose 2030 Goals to cut the company’s environmental footprint in half and double its social impact investments worldwide. These efforts led to Hilton being named the global industry leader in sustainability for the second consecutive year on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices

Continued Global Growth and Expansion

Hilton kept dreams of traveling alive by opening exciting new properties around the world. All the while, the company advocated on behalf of owners, many of whom are small businesses, who struggled with the travel decline.

Response to Team Members

2020 saw Hilton go from being named the #1 Best Company to Work for in the U.S. to, weeks later, having to furlough thousands of Team Members due to the impact of COVID-19 on travel and tourism. At every turn, the company leaned into its values to navigate these tough decisions.

  • Activated Hilton’s Team Member Assistance Fund to support Hilton Team Members who have been directly impacted by COVID-19 or have a family member impacted by the virus
  • Reversed its recruitment engine to connect Team Members impacted by furloughs and layoffs with access to more than a million job opportunities through the Hilton Workforce Resource Center
  • Launched a new Hilton Alumni Network portal with access to relevant career opportunities, resources, news and information
  • Committed to an expedited recruitment process for Team Members who reapply for future roles when conditions allow
  • Extended Team Member Hilton Honors status and access to Go Hilton, Hilton’s industry-leading Team Member travel program, for departing Team Members, and offered improved Honors status to current Team Members
  • Continued to earn recognition as a top workplace, even as the pandemic continued, including being named to the top spot on the 2020 list of Best Workplaces in Greater China
  • Recognized the heroic actions of frontline Team Members with the creation of a new Hospitality Heroes Award
  • Listened to Team Members and relaunched the network of eight Team Member Resource Groups committed to building communities across the organization, and introduced a Courageous Conversation series to foster meaningful dialogue to bring about lasting change in the midst of an evolving social justice landscape

To learn more about Hilton, please visit: newsroom.hilton.com .

* Unless otherwise indicated, all hotel data reflects Hilton’s third quarter 2020 announcement (November 4). More information can be found on Hilton’s Investor Relations website.

About Hilton

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 18 world-class brands comprising more than 6,300 properties and more than one million rooms, in 118 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its mission to be the world’s most hospitable company, Hilton has welcomed more than 3 billion guests in its more than 100-year history, earned a top spot on the 2020 World’s Best Workplaces list, and was named the 2020 Global Industry Leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. In 2020, Hilton CleanStay was introduced, bringing an industry-defining standard of cleanliness and disinfection to hotels worldwide. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, the more than 110 million members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money can’t buy, plus enjoy instant benefits, including contactless check-in with room selection, Digital Key, and Connected Room. Visit newsroom.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn , Instagram and YouTube .

Link:

ClickThru

About Business Wire

Business Wire
Business Wire
101 California Street, 20th Floor
CA 94111 San Francisco

http://businesswire.com

Subscribe to releases from Business Wire

Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Latest releases from Business Wire

Jazwares Partners With Sanrio to Expand Its Hello Kitty and Friends Range to EMEA16.9.2026 18:00:00 CEST | Press release

Plush Toys, Figures, and More Inspired by the Beloved World of Hello Kitty and Friends to Launch in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa Jazwares, one of the world’s leading toy companies, today announced a licensing agreement with Sanrio GmbH, extending Jazwares successful Hello Kitty and Friends toy line to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). The agreement will bring Sanrio’s beloved Hello Kitty and Friends characters to even more fans in the region through playful, imaginative products designed for kids and collectors. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260916913201/en/ Jazwares partners with Sanrio to expand its Hello Kitty and Friends range to EMEA Available across key EMEA markets, the collection of trendy plush and figures, playsets, vehicles, and seasonal items reimagines Hello Kitty alongside fan-favorite friends including Cinnamoroll, Kerokerokeroppi, Pompompurin, Tuxedosam, My Melody, Kuromi, Po

Schneider Electric Concludes Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa, Highlights Energy Intelligence as the Next Phase of the Energy Transition16.9.2026 15:30:00 CEST | Press release

As AI, electrification and industrial expansion reshape energy demand across the Middle East and Africa, Schneider Electric today concluded Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa by positioning energy intelligence as the next phase of the energy transition - where infrastructure becomes more connected, resilient and software-defined. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260916593883/en/ Walid Sheta, President, MEA Zone at Schneider Electric, releasing the company's 2026 Industrial AI in CPG Study for the UAE, at Schneider Electric Innovation Summit MEA (Photo: AETOSWire) Held at ADNEC in Abu Dhabi, the two-day summit convened over 2,500 attendees, including government leaders, industry analysts, customers, partners, students, and media, under the theme ‘Advancing Energy Tech to Power Intelligence and Resilience.’ Industry leaders explored how electrification, AI-ready data centers, cybersecurity, and digital innova

The Opening of Jayasom Wellness Resort Advancing AMAALA’s Wellness Vision16.9.2026 14:23:00 CEST | Press release

The latest addition to AMAALA’s wellness ecosystem integrates evidence-based practices with Arab and Eastern healing practices complemented by personalized wellness programs Red Sea Global (RSG), the regenerative tourism developer, has opened Jayasom Wellness Resort AMAALA, bringing a distinctive holistic health offering to the destination. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260916231950/en/ Outdoor relaxation area at Jayasom Wellness Resort AMAALA, where serene design and sea-facing spaces create a setting for rest and renewal. Designed by Heah & Co., with interiors by Studio Carter, Jayasom Wellness Resort AMAALA is located on Triple Bay’s largest cove and comprises 153 keys alongside 24 residences. The resort forms part of AMAALA’s secluded wellness core on the Red Sea coast, where nature and hospitality come together in a setting designed for reflection and renewal. “As we launch the first Jayasom globally, w

Rubedo Life Sciences Announces Clinical Study to Treat Hair Loss with GPX4 Modulator RLS-1496, First Human Ex Vivo Evidence Demonstrates Robust Hair Follicle Growth16.9.2026 14:01:00 CEST | Press release

AGA clinical trial to begin in Fall 2026 led by David Pariser, MD, FACP, FAAD, former President of the American Academy of Dermatology and Principal Investigator in more than 450 dermatology clinical trialsRubedo’s RLS-1496, the first and only GPX4 modulator currently in clinical trials, demonstrates superior hair follicle restoration in human ex vivo androgenetic alopecia (AGA) model, matching or outperforming finasteride; findings consistent with dual SenoAdaptive mechanism that activates dormant hair follicle Rubedo Life Sciences, Inc. (Rubedo) today announced a new clinical study of investigational RLS-1496 in patients with androgenetic alopecia (AGA), beginning October 2026, with initial data expected in the first half of 2027. The study marks the first-ever clinical evaluation of a GPX4 modulator in hair loss, extending the program that established RLS-1496 as the world’s first GPX4 modulator to enter human clinical trials of any kind. This press release features multimedia. View

NetApp and Tampa Bay Buccaneers Partner to Enable Data-Driven Operational Excellence16.9.2026 14:00:00 CEST | Press release

New sponsorship expands NetApp’s presence across the NFL, delivering trusted data, intelligence, and the ability to perform in critical moments NetApp® (NASDAQ: NTAP), the Intelligent Data Infrastructure company, today announced that they have been named an Official Partner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This new relationship builds on NetApp’s status as the Official Intelligent Data Infrastructure Partner of the NFL, helping the league and its teams quickly and confidently access, manage, and activate their data. The Buccaneers will leverage NetApp technology to support the experience for Buccaneers fans in the stadium on game days and beyond. “NetApp will serve as a trusted technology partner that will help us elevate the customer experience for all Buccaneers fans,” said Buccaneers Chief Commercial Officer Atul Khosla. “Reliable and secure access to data plays an essential role in the overall game day experience at Raymond James Stadium. NetApp’s industry-leading intelligent data infr

In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.

Visit our pressroom
World GlobeA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.HiddenA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.Eye