Doubletree Hotels Begins 2005 With Strong Portfolio Growth and Development Activity.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Doubletree(R) Hotels today announced that between September 2004 and January 2005 the brand has added six new hotels and resorts to its growing roster of hotels. An additional 15 hotels are scheduled to join the brand's current collection of more than 150 full-service properties in 2005. With approximately 25 Doubletree deals in various stages of planning and/or development, Doubletree has set an aggressive goal to increase their current hotel portfolio by more than 25 percent to 200 full-service hotels throughout North America and Latin America by 2008.

"Whether converting an existing property to re-energize its product performance or building a hotel from the ground up, the Doubletree brand provides hotel owners and developers with a great vehicle to grow their investment and acquisition opportunities," said Dave Horton, senior vice president - brand management for Doubletree. "Our development team has received significant interest from hoteliers throughout the U.S. and Canada who appreciate the flexibility and affordability of our brand's turnkey development tools, as well as the opportunity to reposition their assets with the worldwide recognition of the Hilton Family of hotels."

Doubletree hotels benefit from an experienced hotel support team as well as a global marketing, sales and technology infrastructure that are considered one of the strongest in the hospitality industry today. This important combination provides owners and developers with the rewards they're looking for to drive business to their hotels, build and retain customer loyalty and manage their business for maximum results.

Horton noted that with the Doubletree brand's aggressive expansion plan, markets in selected geographical areas are filling up quickly. "There is no better time for developers to consider Doubletree franchise opportunities available throughout North America. Nearly 70 percent of our hotels are located in the 25 largest U.S. metropolitan areas as well as Toronto, Canada's largest city. This provides Doubletree with a well-positioned portfolio that has even greater potential for future growth," added Horton.

The six newest additions to the Doubletree collection will operate under franchise agreements with Doubletree Hotel Systems, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE:HLT), and include:

DOUBLETREE METROPOLITAN HOTEL NEW YORK CITY -- Located at Lexington Avenue and 51st Street, in the heart of Manhattan's fashionable East Side, this 755-room hotel received a $35 million renovation before becoming a Doubletree. The "metro-morphosis" of both the hotel's interior and exterior design celebrates the distinctively Modernist style influences incorporated by the hotel's original architect, the legendary Morris Lapidus. The Doubletree Metropolitan Hotel New York City is owned and managed by W2001 Metropolitan Hotel Realty, LLC, a joint venture of Highgate Hotels and Oxford Capital Group/Oxford Lodging Group.

DOUBLETREE HOTEL CHICAGO/ALSIP - Just 10 minutes from the convenience of Chicago's Midway Airport, this new 193-room Doubletree is less than 30 minutes from all major business and tourist centers in the Chicagoland area. Formerly a Radisson hotel, the hotel received a $7 million hotelwide renovation, including the expansion of its meeting and event facilities to more than 15,000 square feet, before becoming a Doubletree in mid-September. The hotel is owned and managed by Alsip Hotel Investors LLC.

DOUBLETREE HOTEL HISTORIC SAVANNAH -- Located only steps away from City Market and just a short stroll to River Street in "Georgia's First City," the Doubletree Hotel Historic Savannah welcomes guests with a subtle Celtic design and 150 guestrooms that feature four-poster mahogany beds, Italian granite countertops, crown moldings and custom wood furnishings. Formerly a Radisson hotel, the Doubletree Hotel Historic Savannah is owned and managed by Flotel II, Inc.

DOUBLETREE HOTEL ATLANTA/ROSWELL ALPHARETTA AREA - Positioned on a hilltop with views of Historic Roswell, this newly restored 172-room Doubletree is in the heart of North Atlanta's most popular business and entertainment districts and features more than 10,000 square feet of newly renovated meeting and event space. Formerly a Holiday Inn, the hotel is owned and managed by DHG Roswell, LLC.

DOUBLETREE HOTEL CARSON CIVIC PLAZA - This 224-room hotel Doubletree is the official lodging destination for the Home Depot Center and L.A. Galaxy professional soccer team. Conveniently located halfway between Los Angeles and Long Beach, this Doubletree features more than 5,600 square feet of onsite meeting facilities, which complements more than 40,000 square feet of event facilities available at the adjacent Carson Convention Center. Formerly a Hilton, the Doubletree Hotel Carson Civic Plaza is owned and managed by Sunstone Hotels.

DOUBLETREE MIAMI OCEAN POINT RESORT - Just 25 minutes from Fort Lauderdale and Miami International Airports, the 152-room Doubletree Miami Ocean Point Resort is positioned along one of South Florida's most desirable beachfronts in North Miami Beach. This latest addition to the Doubletree collection of full-service resorts offers an array of relaxing, recreational facilities and 12,000 square feet of flexible function space - all with panoramic ocean views. The Doubletree Miami Ocean Point Resort is owned by Kelco/FB Ocean Point and managed by Boykin Management Company.

With a growing collection of contemporary, upscale accommodations in more than 150 gateway cities, metropolitan areas and vacation destinations throughout the U.S., Canada and Latin America, Doubletree Hotels, Guest Suites and Resorts are distinctively designed properties that provide true comfort to today's business and leisure travelers. From the millions of delighted hotel guests who are welcomed with the brand's legendary, warm chocolate chip cookies at check-in to the advantages of the award-winning Hilton HHonors(R) guest reward program, each Doubletree guest receives a satisfying stay wherever their travels take them. For more details on Doubletree franchise opportunities, visit our online development resource website at www.doubletreefranchise.com. For further information or make reservations for any Doubletree hotel, visit our consumer website at www.doubletree.com or call l-800-222-TREE in the U.S. and Canada.