Embassy Suites Hotels Best-in-Brand

McLean, Va. (USA) – 8 March 2012 – Embassy Suites Hotels has announced the recipients of its 2011 Brand Awards and honored many of these winners at an awards dinner at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. A mix of qualitative and quantitative metrics were used to select properties and leaders that have demonstrated best in class performance as it relates to revenue generation, guest service and leadership, while embodying the brand’s service culture to Make a Difference with guests, team members and the communities in which they live.

“These hotels truly live up to our brand promise to consistently deliver more of what our guests want,” said Jim Holthouser, global head of Embassy Suites Hotels and full service brands, Hilton Worldwide. “Our team members live and breathe the brand’s culture and values and continually raise the bar on standards of service for which the Embassy Suites brand is known.”
The Hervey Feldman Award, named in honor of the brand’s first president, recognizes a hotel general manager who demonstrates superb leadership, accountability, business sense and creativity. 2011’s Hervey Feldman Award / General Manager of the Year went to Robert Kisabeth of Embassy Suites Denver – Downtown/Convention Center.

Other winners from the brand’s 213-hotel portfolio include:

Director of Sales of the Year: Judy Esterbrook, Embassy Suites Denver – Downtown/Convention Center
Make a Difference Hotel of the Year: Embassy Suites Charlotte – Concord/Golf Resort & Spa. This category represents the best in positive guest responses, team member satisfaction and community initiatives.
Sustainability Hotel of the Year: Embassy Suites Denver – Downtown/Convention Center
Sales Team of the Year: Embassy Suites Indianapolis – Downtown
Sales Promotion of the Year: Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk

The I Can Make a Difference Award recognizes those hotels that have proven dedication to philanthropic involvement, supporting Conrad Hilton’s philosophy of always giving back. The winning hotel is granted up to $7,000 to further the work they are doing to make a difference. This year’s I Can Make a Difference Award finalists include:

Embassy Suites Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for developing the “Bake a Difference” cookbook in partnership with the Puget Sound Down Syndrome Community, to raise awareness and money to support individuals and families whose lives include a person with Down syndrome.
Embassy Suites Tulsa – I-44 for their plans to host the 2nd Annual Turkey Trot to Make a Difference – a 5k walk/run and one mile “fun run” scheduled for the day after Thanksgiving, to raise money for the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless.
Embassy Suites Charlotte – Concord/Golf Resort & Spa for their work repurposing pillow cases to make clothing for children impacted by the earthquake in Haiti in partnership with the Greater Providence Baptist Church in Charlotte.

The first place recipient will be voted on by global team members during a video conference broadcast to all Embassy Suites Hotels later this month.

Also honored last night were the brand’s annual Connie Award winners, named after Hilton Worldwide’s founder, Conrad Hilton. Previously announced in January, these hotels scored highest in quality assurance audits and satisfaction scores:

Embassy Suites Omaha-La Vista/Hotel & Conference Center (Nebraska)
Embassy Suites Loveland-Hotel, Spa & Conference Center (Colorado)
Embassy Suites Murfreesboro-Hotel & Conference Center (Tennessee)

About Embassy Suites Hotels
Embassy Suites Hotels, one of Hilton Worldwide’s ten market-leading brands, gives guests more during every stay. The full service, upscale brand offers spacious two-room suites, free cooked-to-order breakfast and a nightly Manager’s Reception with complimentary appetizers and beverages. Both leisure and business travelers looking for an approachable, upscale experience feel right at home in the brand’s inviting atrium environment. Embassy Suites Hotels has 213 properties across the Americas and an additional 27 in the pipeline.

About Hilton Worldwide
Hilton Worldwide is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For 93 years, Hilton Worldwide has offered business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. The company is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Its brands are comprised of more than 3,800 hotels and timeshare properties, with 630,000 rooms in 88 countries and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations.

Media Contact:
Maggie Giddens
703 883 5346
Maggie.Giddens@hilton.com