MCLEAN, Va. – May 18, 2011 – A Blue Paper published today by Hilton Hotels & Resorts indicates 42 percent of upscale travelers in the United States will book within three months of departure. Titled Blue Paper: Resort Trends Summer 2011, the study provides an outlook of 2011 summer resort travel and global trends related to the leisure segment. Hilton Hotels & Resorts uses proprietary qualitative and quantitative global research, third-party data and its own global expertise to offer a view of the resort segment of the hotel industry, citing valuable global traveler preferences and current guest booking patterns.

In addition to confirming the trend of shorter booking cycles, even at resorts, the study outlines emerging global trends in the resort space and consumer expectations. The comprehensive research conducted throughout the past year includes findings from 2,500 online interviews in four countries (United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Russia), specifically targeting travelers who have stayed at a resort for leisure in the past two years. Hilton Hotels & Resorts also conducted resort-specific focus groups in five cities (Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, London and Berlin) to gain deeper insights into the resort market. Most recently the flagship brand of Hilton Worldwide completed a supplementary survey, specifically related to summer 2011 resort travel among U.S. adults who regularly stay in full-service and luxury hotels and resorts. Media can download the Blue Paper at www.hiltonglobalmediacenter.com/resorts .

“Leisure travel remains a key area of focus for us on a global scale. In listening to our guests and travelers around the world, we identified clear expectations among customers in multiple global markets that are defining what the contemporary resort experience should be. This information will be helpful to travel agents, industry professionals and our partners as we begin the 2011 summer season,” said Andrew Flack, vice president, global brand marketing, Hilton Hotels & Resorts.

Hilton Resorts, a specific collection of premier properties within the Hilton Hotels & Resorts portfolio, includes more than 70 resorts located throughout 26 countries. Earlier this month Hilton launched www.hilton.com/resorts , a new portal for travelers seeking resort experiences. The site includes special tools to allow guests to search for a resort by activity desired, or by geographic location, creating an enhanced user experience.

Additionally, Hilton Resorts offers a new pre-arrival planning service intended to help guests get the most out of their resort vacations. The service helps Hilton Resorts guests learn about their destination; book spa appointments, tee times and other leisure activities; and answer pre-departure questions.

About Hilton Hotels & Resorts
One of the most recognized names in the industry, Hilton Hotels & Resorts stands as the stylish, forward thinking global leader in hospitality. From inaugural balls and Hollywood award galas to business events and days to remember, Hilton is where the world makes history, closes the deal, toasts special occasions and gets away from it all. The flagship brand of Hilton Worldwide continues to build upon its legacy of innovation by developing products and services to meet the needs of tomorrow's savvy global travelers while more than 144,000 Team Members shape experiences in which every guest feels cared for, valued and respected. Today, the Hilton Hotels & Resorts portfolio includes more than 540 hotels in 76 countries and the brand remains synonymous with "hotel." Access the latest Hilton news at www.hiltonglobalmediacenter.com or begin your journey at www.hilton.com. Social media users can engage with Hilton at www.twitter.com/hiltononline, www.facebook.com/hilton and www.youtube.com/hilton. Hilton Hotels & Resorts is one of Hilton Worldwide’s ten market-leading brands.

About Hilton Worldwide
Hilton Worldwide is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For 92 years, Hilton Worldwide has been offering business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. The company is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Its brands are comprised of more than 3,700 hotels and 610,000 rooms in 82 countries and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors®. For more information about the company, visit www.hiltonworldwide.com.