RED LION HOTEL IS NOW CALLED HILTON GLENDALE.

Byline: Lee Condon Staff Writer

GLENDALE - The Red Lion Hotel was rechristened the Hilton Glendale on Monday, reflecting a change of ownership.

The 350-room hotel, located at 100 W. Glenoaks Ave., was purchased by Hilton Hotels Corp. in late November.

It was part of Hilton's $4 billion purchase of the Promus Hotels Group, including the Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inns and Suites, and Homewood Suites hotel chains.

With the purchase, Hilton expanded its number of U.S. hotels from 280 to 1,700, said Kathy Shepard, vice president of corporate communications for Hilton Hotels Corp.

No staff changes are planned at the hotel, said Michael Hirsch, the hotel's general manager. The hotel has about 300 employees, and all will stay, he said.

``It's a new name but with the same faces,'' said Hirsch, who has been with the hotel since it opened in 1992.

Rooms at the hotel go for about $189 a night on weekdays and $129 a night on weekends.

In all, Hilton bought 29 Red Lion Hotels, but so far, the Glendale site is the only one to have its name changed. Shepard said the Glendale Red Lion is bigger and more luxurious than a typical Red Lion Hotel and fits the standards that have been set for the Hilton name.

``It's a great hotel to carry the Hilton name for a number of reasons. It's in a central location. It's a fine property, and it has all the amenities of a Hilton,'' Shepard said.

Hirsch agreed.

``It was an anomaly. Our hotel aligns with the Hilton name better than with Red Lion,'' Hirsch said.

Hilton officials are still trying to determine if other newly acquired hotels should have their names changed. Most Red Lion hotels, however, will likely keep the name, officials said.