Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center Cleared for Takeoff After Completing $56 Million Expansion and Renovation Project.

Business Editors

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 26, 2001

Hilton Hotels Corp. today celebrated the completion of the Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center renovation and expansion project, reinforcing the Hilton brand's fine portfolio of more than 75 full-service hotels at or near major airport locations worldwide.

The extensive, 15-month, $56 million project included a complete refurbishment of the existing hotel structure as well as the development of additional guestroom and meeting space.

Conveniently located directly across the street from Seattle/Tacoma International Airport, the hotel now features 396 guestrooms and suites and a state-of-the-art conference center with 26 conference rooms and nearly 40,000 square feet of meeting space, a state-of-the-art fitness center and a year-round, heated swimming pool.

The hotel is owned and managed by Hilton Hotels Corp. Completion was a result of seamless cooperation between Hilton and local companies involved with the project including: CM&D, the project manager; Absher Construction, the general contractor; and HNTB, the architect.

"Nearly 40 years ago, the Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center debuted as one of our company's first airport hotels and has since enjoyed a rich history of providing Seattle visitors and the local community with a fine hospitality experience," said Robert E. Dirks, senior vice president, brand management & marketing for the Hilton brand.

"As the Emerald City has grown exponentially since that time, the people of the Seattle/Tacoma metro area deserve a world-class airport hotel to represent their community. And the completion of the Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center reinforces our brand commitment to providing the world's travelers with first-class accommodations in all of North America's major gateway destinations," said Dirks.

First-Class Meeting Facilities

The new Hilton Conference Center is Seattle's only accredited member of the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC). The conference center features a floor-to-ceiling glass foyer leading to 15 conference rooms with nearly 24,000 square feet of newly built meeting and pre-function space.

Designed to meet the diverse needs of large or small meetings, the centerpiece of the complex will be the 11,000 square-foot Emerald Ballroom, which holds up to 1,200 people in a reception setting.

Meeting rooms in the new facility offer fully integrated audiovisual connections, high-speed Internet access and videoconferencing capabilities. An on-site conference team is dedicated to ensure all meetings run seamlessly. In addition, the hotel features a fully equipped conference and business center offering computer, copying, Internet access and fax services.

State-Of-The-Art Guest Rooms

The Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center's 396 guestrooms, including five luxury suites in the new Olympic Tower, are luxuriously appointed with state-of-the-art amenities, including dual telephone lines with voicemail, dataports with high-speed Internet access and conference call capabilities.

For travelers' added comfort and convenience, standard in-room amenities include mini-bars, coffee makers, irons and ironing boards, hair dryers and 27-inch televisions with in-room entertainment and information services.

A Sumptuous, New Dining Experience

The Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center is proud to introduce Spencer's for Steak and Chops, a U.S. prime steakhouse, which is fast becoming one of the most popular restaurants in South Seattle. Enjoy the sounds of Jazz and Big Band music, which add to the ambience and buzz of a fine Pacific Northwest dining experience.

Location Location Location!

"The Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center is a fresh, new departure from other airport hotels in this region, offering guests a wide range of facilities to suite all types of travelers," said Brad Jencks, area vice president, Alaska and Washington for Hilton Hotels Corp. and hotel general manager.

"Our perfect location -- just 15 miles from the downtown business districts of Seattle, Tacoma and Bellevue -- also provides visitors with easy highway access to any point of interest in the Puget Sound region. We are very proud of this facility and feel that it adds a new dimension to leisure and business travel in the Pacific Northwest," said Jencks.

Fly in to Seattle and Reward Yourself Twice!

Members of the Hilton HHonors(R) guest reward program can earn Points & Miles(TM) for every qualifying stay at the Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center. HHonors is the only hotel program that allows any of its members to reap Double Dip(R) earnings by simultaneously accumulating both airline miles and hotel points with each qualifying stay.

Hilton HHonors(R) partners with more than 70 major airline, car rental and other travel-related companies.

Located near the intersection of Interstates 5 and 405 along State Highway 99, the Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center's address is 17620 Pacific Highway South, Seattle, Washington 98188-4001; telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone].

The hotel is ideally situated in the heart of the Airport Commerce Center and convenient to such points of interest as the famed Space Needle(R), Seattle Waterfront, Pike Place Market, Museum of Flight, Safeco Field(R), the Tacoma Dome and Mount Rainer National Park. The hotel provides complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport.

Hilton Hotels Corp. is recognized internationally as a preeminent hospitality company. The company develops, owns, manages or franchises approximately 1,900 hotels, resorts and vacation ownership properties.

Its portfolio includes many of the world's best known and most highly regarded hotel brands, including Hilton(R), Conrad(TM), Doubletree(R), Embassy Suites Hotels(R), Hampton Inn(R), Hampton Inn & Suites(R), Harrison Conference Centers(R), Hilton Garden Inn(R), Hilton Grand Vacations Co.(R), Homewood Suites(R) by Hilton, and Red Lion Hotels & Inns(R).

To find out more about Hilton's collection of full-service hotels or to make reservations, visit the company's Web site at www.hilton.com or call 800/HILTONS from the United States and Canada.