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 With Opening One Year Away, the 800 room
Hilton Austin Reports $55 million in
Pre-opening Sales Activity
Downturn In Economy Doesn�t Dampen Excitement Over New Hotel

AUSTIN, Texas (November 4, 2002) -- With the scheduled opening of the latest convention hotel in Texas� Capital City approximately one year away, the Hilton Austin has reported more than $55 million in  pre-opening sales activity, placing the sales effort well ahead of schedule. 

Although the local and national economies continue to be challenging, indicators point toward a solid opening for the 800-room state-of-the-art convention hotel.  A promising 6,000 room nights already are booked for January 2004, the very first month of the hotel�s operation, according to Tyler McDonald, Director of Marketing for the new Hilton Austin.

�We are pleased by the amount of room nights and meeting space currently confirmed for the hotel.  The first month we are open we�ve exceeded our goal substantially with an incredible number of room nights booked � more than 6,000�, said McDonald.

Perhaps the most interesting statistic is that 76 percent of the business booked and being pursued has never considered Austin previously, according to Andy Slater, Hilton Hotels Corporation Area Vice President.  Slater points to several primary reasons for Hilton Austin�s early booking successes, particularly with this new business.  

�Austin has a very positive reputation in the market.  People have heard about the city and they�re curious to check it out. Also, the completion of the expansion at the 900,000-square-foot Austin Convention Center combined with the new 800-room adjacent Hilton Austin is very attractive to meeting and convention groups�.

Austin has consistently been rated one of the country�s best places to live, conduct business and now host a meeting or convention. Outstanding new facilities, the natural beauty of the Texas hill country and a vibrant downtown entertainment district are all reasons for the emergence of Austin as a new convention destination.  Bob Lander, President and CEO of the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau recently reported that the organization set new records for confirmed business during the recently completed 2001-2002 fiscal year.  During the past year, amid economic turmoil, the Austin CVB sales force contracted nearly 339,000 room nights, a 35 percent increase over the same period the previous year.

The Hilton Austin will open January 2004, is located adjacent to the newly expanded Austin Convention Center.   The hotel features 800 guestrooms, including 25 suites, equipped for both business and leisure travelers, 60,000 square feet of technologically sophisticated meeting and event space, an extensively equipped 16,000 square foot fitness center and Finn & Porter?, Liberty Tavern? and Java Coast? restaurants.  The hotel is owned by Austin Convention Enterprises Inc. and operated by Hilton Hotels Corporation. 

Contact:
Tyler McDonald 
Hilton Austin Pre Opening Sales Office 
512 482-8000 
[email protected]
Jeanne Datz / Thomas Wingham 
Hilton Hotels Corporation 310-205-4545
[email protected]
Also See: The 630-room Radisson Hotel Astrodome, Two Others, Being Foreclosed on by Lehman Bros. / Nov 2002
City of Austin, TX Successfully Markets $262.5 million in Bonds for the new 802 Room Hilton Austin Convention Center Hotel / June 2001


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