Hilton Garden Inn® Celebrates National Garden Month By Growing "veggie" Gardens With Schools Across North America And Enjoying Healthy Recipes

Renowned Chefs, National Gardening Association and Hilton Garden Inn® Teach Young Students Good Nutrition Through Schoolyard Gardening Projects

(Friday, April 21, 2006) - Today, thousands of students across the United States, Canada and Mexico are learning how to grow and prepare their own healthy recipes in honor of National Garden Month. Hilton Garden Inn properties across North America are working with the National Gardening Association (NGA) to show children how to prepare delicious tasting and healthy veggie tacos and quesadillas by adding fresh vegetables grown from their own school gardens. The Hilton Garden Inn brand's system-wide "Grow A School Garden" community outreach program is an annual event designed to teach children the importance and benefits of gardening, while also helping them "grow" good eating habits.

"We're thrilled to celebrate National Garden Month and teach students about the importance of eating healthy through gardening," said Mark Nogal, vice president - marketing and sales for Hilton Garden Inn. "Through our national 'Grow A School Garden' program, Hilton Garden Inn is not only giving students an opportunity to learn the principles of gardening, we're also teaching young kids an invaluable lesson about where food comes from and the importance of incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables into their daily diets because we know good eating habits need to start early. "

The messages about good nutrition and the importance of adding vegetables to make meals healthier comes at a time when childhood obesity rates are soaring and school-age children face alarming health risks as a result of poor nutrition. In fact, according to the American Obesity Association, approximately one out of every three children ages six to 11 are overweight and slightly more than 15 percent are obese. Overweight children are at greater risk for developing many chronic diseases - such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers - in adulthood.

The "Grow A School Garden" program consists of a special garden education package provided to schools by one of more than 260 local Hilton Garden Inn hotel properties. The package provides classrooms with all the tools necessary to grow and maintain an indoor or outdoor garden. Additionally, hotel volunteers visit classrooms each year to provide the personal teamwork and dedication needed to help the students learn to grow their gardens.

This year's gardening events will begin with special lessons from local chefs about how food is grown, and the difference between healthy and less healthy food choices. Following these student assemblies, the children will be offered the opportunity to participate in various gardening exercises and even have the chance to help the local chefs prepare vegetable-filled lunches featuring veggie tacos and quesadillas.

At the Los Angeles-area event being held at Monte Vista Early Education Center, renowned Los Angeles chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, Food Network's "Too Hot Tamales" and owners of the popular Border Grill and Ciudad restaurants, will deliver the healthy-eating messages to a captive audience of more than 208 students, ages 2 to 6. Charlie Nardozzi, chief horticulturist for the NGA and chief gardening officer consultant for Hilton Garden Inn, who oversees the "Grow A School Garden" program, also will be on hand to garden with students at the Los Angeles-area event. He will help students expand their existing schoolyard garden plots to add ingredients needed to create nutritious veggie tacos and quesadillas, including a variety of vegetable fillings and an array of herbs.

"Through the 'Grow A School Garden' program, we're giving children a chance to spend time outdoors, learn about where food comes from and how to care for the environment while getting physically active," said Charlie Nardozzi. "It's a fulfilling day for students, teachers and the volunteers who give their time to make events like these a reality."

About the "Grow A School Garden" Program

The "Grow A School Garden" program is a community outreach initiative designed by Hilton Garden Inn and the NGA to teach students the many facets of gardening and the importance of the global environment. Through the program, local Hilton Garden Inn hotels across the country donate garden education packages that include all the tools necessary to grow and maintain an indoor or outdoor garden. Hilton Garden Inn employees also offer personal teamwork and dedication needed to help grow the garden.

About Hilton Garden Inn

Hilton Garden Inn is the award-winning mid-priced brand that is part of Hilton Hotels Corporation; recognized internationally as a preeminent hospitality company. Hilton Garden Inn developments represent one of the cornerstones of the Hilton franchise growth strategy. Hilton Garden Inn is the award-winning, mid-priced brand that's obsessed with ensuring today's busy travelers have everything they need to be most productive on the road - from complimentary high-speed Internet access in all guestrooms and secure remote printing to the hotel's 24-hour business center to getting the perfect night's sleep. Hilton Garden Inn is obsessed with ensuring guests achieve the best travel experience every time.

For more information about the "Grow A School Garden" project and Hilton Garden Inn hotels in the U.S., Canada or Mexico, please visit www.StayHGI.com or call 1-877-STAY-HGI.

Editorial Note: Photos are available by calling Alexia Allina at 213-996-3796.

CONTACT:

Agnes Sibal
Hilton Garden Inn Brand Communications
(310) 205-4545
agnes_sibal@hilton.com

Alexia Allina
PainePR for Hilton Garden Inn
(213) 996-3796
aallina@painepr.com

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