Jan Chovanec Named General Manager of the Conrad Indianapolis.

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- Conrad Hotels announced today that Jan Chovanec has been appointed general manager of the Conrad(R) Indianapolis, which is scheduled to open in March 2006. Chovanec's appointment coincides with the "topping off" of the new-build property, which will occur on June 16, 2005.

The Conrad Indianapolis, located at 50 West Washington Street in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, is slated to be the city's first full-service luxury property, and it will be the third Conrad hotel in the United States, after New York and Miami. In addition to state-of-the-art accommodations, the facility will offer upscale dining, a sophisticated spa and fitness center, and over 10,000 square feet of meeting space. Sixteen high-end residences will also be added to the hotel.

With 20 years of senior management experience in the hotel industry, Jan Chovanec joins Conrad Hotels from Raffles International Hotels, where he was most recently general manager of Swissotel The Bosphorus and area manager responsible for Turkey and the Middle East. Between 2000 and 2002 he served as general manager of the Swissotel Watergate in Washington, D.C., and between 1998 and 2000 he was general manager of the Swissotel Chicago.

An American national, Chovanec began his career in Europe, but returned to the United States to take up senior management roles, including general manager positions with the American Hospitality Company in New York in 1981, the Lafayette Swissotel Boston in 1985 and the Ritz Carlton Boston. He moved to Washington, D.C. in 1991 for Ritz Carlton. In 1993, he founded a hotel consulting company, the Dunhill Management and Consulting Group, Ltd., where he advised hotel owners and investors until 1998.

At the Conrad Indianapolis, Chovanec will be responsible for the launch and operation of the hotel.

Jan Chovanec holds an MBA from the University of Economics in Bratislava, Slovakia. Chovanec is a past president of the Executive Committee of the Istanbul Convention and Visitor Bureau. He also holds memberships with the Istanbul Hotel Association, the Chaine des Rotisseurs, SKAL, the American Society of Quality Control, and the Bratislava University alumni association.

Indianapolis, the capital of Indiana, is the twelfth largest city in the United States. It is a focal point of commerce, transportation and manufacturing for the region. Electronics, pharmaceuticals and food service are leading industries in the city.

Conrad Hotels has 18 luxury award-winning hotels around the world that offer the highest levels of service to both business and leisure travellers, delivered through the renowned "Conrad Service Culture." Conrad continues to explore opportunities to further enhance and expand the brand's presence in the luxury hotel segment in suitable locations around the world. Conrad hotels under development include Conrad Tokyo (2005), Conrad Phuket and Conrad Indianapolis (2006), Conrad Las Vegas (2007), Conrad Dubai (2008).

Guests also benefit from the award-winning Hilton HHonors(R) guest reward program, where HHonors members can earn Points & Miles(R) for every qualifying stay.

For more information or reservations, visit www.ConradHotels.com, contact your professional travel agent or call 1-800-HILTONS from the U.S. and Canada. Outside the U.S. and Canada, please contact the nearest Hilton Reservations Worldwide office or the hotel direct.