Hilton Hotels Corporation Updates Status Of Hotels Affected By Hurricane Katrina; Hilton Employee Relief Fund Established

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF (Monday, September 19, 2005) - Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE:HLT) continues to monitor the status of Hilton, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites by Hilton hotels in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

"As the clean-up and rebuilding efforts begin in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, our thoughts and best wishes continue to be with those who have been impacted by the tragic events in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina," said Stephen F. Bollenbach, co-chairman and chief executive officer, Hilton Hotels Corporation. "I am incredibly proud of the compassion and generosity shown by our employees company-wide; it has been overwhelming. We have established the Hilton Employee Relief Fund(a) to collect funds to distribute to Hilton Family of Hotels team members affected by Hurricane Katrina. We have funded it with an initial contribution of $2 million from Hilton Hotels Corporation. It is our hope that, by donating to this fund, our employees will be able to further assist fellow team members at the 29 owned, managed and franchised hotels that have been closed due to the hurricane."

Additionally, employees of the company's closed owned and managed hotels in the New Orleans area are being compensated at their normal rate of pay through the end of September 2005. Every effort is being made to assist employees evacuated from the hurricane-ravaged areas with resources to find housing and transportation.

For displaced team members and families of guests trying to locate current and evacuated guests, the Hilton Family Hurricane Emergency Guest Assistance number is: 1-888-240-6152.

The company also has established a team member job network, whereby hotels throughout the country that have open positions, as well as Hilton Family team members needing jobs, can communicate: www.KatrinaJobs.hilton.com. To date, more than 100 hotels within the Hilton Family have submitted over 600 open jobs that are being offered to team members impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

HHonors Point Donation to American Red Cross

Effective September 1, members of the Hilton HHonors(R) guest reward program who wish to contribute to the American Red Cross hurricane relief effort may do so by sending an email to americanredcrossHH@hilton.com or calling their area HHonors Customer Service Center, detailing the number of points to be donated (must be in increments of 10,000; each donation of 10,000 Hilton HHonors points represents a $25 donation to the American Red Cross).

Reservations and Group Bookings

Guests with reservations whose travel plans have been disrupted directly by the storm, or who are planning to travel to nearby areas where evacuees are being relocated, are encouraged to contact Hilton Family toll-free reservations at 1-800-HILTONS to determine hotel availability.

The Hilton Family of Hotels also is waiving group cancellation damages for meetings through December 31, 2005 at hotels in the New Orleans area and Gulf Coast of Mississippi. The company has established a Hurricane Group Bookings Hotline for inquiries: 1-866-973-8030.

Status of Hilton Family Hotels in Hurricane-Affected Areas

No major guest or team member injuries have been reported at the Hilton Family of Hotels. Most hotels have reported water leaks, broken windows and minor stucco damage in various areas. Some hotels will be closed longer-term due to cleanup efforts and water damage, particularly in New Orleans.

As of mid-September 2005, following is the status of Hilton Family Hotels in Hurricane-Affected areas:


Louisiana

Hilton New Orleans Riverside - Closed to arrivals for undetermined
time based on direction from local officials. The hotel is
partially operational and is housing relief workers.
Hilton New Orleans Airport - Open - housing relief workers
Doubletree Hotel New Orleans - Closed for undetermined time based on
direction from local officials
Embassy Suites Hotel New Orleans - Closed for undetermined time based
on direction from local officials
New Orleans Lakeside Hotel - Closed for undetermined time based on
direction from local officials
Embassy Suites Hotel Baton Rouge - Closed to arrivals through
10/15/05; accommodating evacuees
Hampton Inn Baton Rouge - Closed to arrivals through 12/31/05;
currently accommodating evacuees
Hampton Inn Houma - Closed to arrivals through 9/30/05; currently
accommodating emergency crews
Hampton Inn LaPlace - Closed to arrivals through 9/30/05; currently
accommodating emergency crews
Hampton Inn New Orleans Convention Center - Closed for undetermined
time based on direction from local officials
Hampton Inn New Orleans Downtown French Quarter - Closed for
undetermined time based on direction from local officials
Hampton Inn & Suites New Orleans Elmwood - Closed to arrivals through
12/31/05
Hampton Inn St. Charles/Garden District - Closed to arrivals through
12/31/05
Hampton Inn New Orleans Metairie - Closed completely through 12/31/05
Hampton Inn Six Flags Area - Closed to arrivals through 12/31/05
Hampton Inn Slidell - Closed to arrivals through 4/30/06
Hilton Garden Inn New Orleans French Quarter - Closed for undetermined
time based on direction from local officials
Hilton Garden Inn New Orleans Convention Center - Closed for
undetermined time based on direction from local officials
Hilton Garden Inn New Orleans Airport - Closed for undetermined time
based on direction from local officials
Hilton Garden Inn Baton Rouge Airport - Hotel is operating, but closed
to arrivals through 9/30/05
Homewood Suites by Hilton Baton Rouge - Closed to new arrivals through
10/31; currently housing emergency crews and evacuees
Homewood Suites by Hilton New Orleans - Closed for undetermined time
based on direction from local officials


Alabama

Hilton Garden Inn Orange Beach - Reopened September 3, 2005


Florida

Doubletree Coconut Grove, Miami - Reopened 9/10/05


Mississippi

Hampton Inn Biloxi - Closed to arrivals through 12/31/05
Hampton Inn Gulfport - Closed to arrivals through 12/31/05;
accommodating guests, evacuees and emergency crews
Hampton Inn Ocean Springs/Biloxi - Closed to arrivals through 10/1/05;
accommodating guests and evacuees
Hilton Jackson - Reopened 9/9/05


The company will provide periodic updates based on any changes in reservations and opened or closed status when appropriate.

Hilton Hotels Corporation is recognized internationally as a preeminent hospitality company. The company develops, owns, manages or franchises more than 2,300 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(R), Doubletree(R), Embassy Suites Hotels(R), Hampton Inn(R), Hampton Inn & Suites(R), Hilton Garden Inn(R), Hilton Grand Vacations Club(R) and Homewood Suites by Hilton(R). For information and reservations, please contact: hiltonfamily.com.

(a) Hilton Employee Relief Fund (the "Fund") is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation organized to collect funds to distribute to Hilton employees affected by Hurricane Katrina. The address of record of the Fund is 9336 Civic Center Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. The fund is tax exempt under federal and California tax laws. All contributions will benefit the fund and contributions are tax deductible as charitable contributions to the extent permitted by state and federal tax laws.

CONTACT:
Hilton Hotels Corporation
Kathy Shepard, 310-205-7676
http://www.hiltonworldwide.com

SOURCE:
Hilton Hotels Corporation

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