Hitlon Hotel

Hilton Hotels

Hilton Empire. Probably everyone in the world of tourism has heard about this company. Hilton hotel chain – is one of the largest and best known in the world. In recent times, the glory of the Hilton brand has pale into insignificance due to the efforts of the owner’s daughter – Paris Hilton, who has become a symbol of the world of glamour. But, somehow or other, Hilton hotels are still among the most prestigious hotels in the world market.

The full name of the company is Hilton Hotels Corporation. Hilton is considered one of the oldest hotel chains in the world. It was established in 1919. Throughout the twentieth century, Hilton firmly held the position of one of the leaders in the hotel business. As of today the corporation operates a total amount of 2 600 hotels, the number of rooms in which exceeds 480 thousands. Hilton hotels can be found in 80 countries around the world. Besides the <> brand the corporation owns a dozen of other brands, including the famous luxury Waldorf-Astoria hotels.

The founder of Hilton chain, Conrad Hilton, is famous in the hotel business not less than another historical figure – the founder of Ritz hotel chain – Caesar Ritz. Conrad Hilton bought the first hotel in the town of Cisco, Texas. And a date of birth of the Hilton brand can be considered 1925. At that time the name of the owner was given to the hotel opened in Dallas.

During its lifetime, Hilton has earned the title of one of the most innovative hotel chains in the world. Among the boons, which were first used in the Hilton hotels were air-conditioners, automatic door locks and room booking via Internet. In 1973 Hilton first used the special booking system Hiltron, which allowed clients to book hotel rooms as well as air tickets. In 2002 Hilton initiated the creation of the intercorporate online booking resource Worldres.com, where besides own hotels for booking the rooms in the other major hotel chains were represented - French Accor and English Six Continents.

Hilton chain – is a gambling business as well. Hilton was the first hotel chain, which suggested using the concept of the hotel-casino, which soon spread throughout the world. The best-known hotel-casinos of the hotel chain today are two hotels in Las Vegas: as Vegas Hilton and the Flamingo Hilton.

Hilton Corporation is not doing quite well recently. An increasing competition from the other hotel chains, such as Marriott and Best Western, as well as a downturn in the tourism industry slightly affected the company’s earnings. In 2007 the decline in profits was recorded. In the same year the Hilton family business was sold for 26 billon dollars to the American investment fund Blackstone Group.

Photo: wikipedia