Speaking at the grand opening festivities were: Stephen Bollenbach, president and chief executive officer of Hilton Hotels Corp.; Thomas Keltner, executive vice president, Hilton Hotels Corp. and president�franchise hotel group; Phil Cordell, senior vice president�brand management for Hampton Inn; Mike Bhukhan, president, Metro Hotels Inc; and the Honorable Roberta Cooper, mayor of Hayward.

�We believe that Hampton Inn was the catalyst for creating a whole new segment in the lodging industry, featuring affordable, quality guest rooms, supported by targeted, but limited service,� said Keltner. �We�ve reached the 1,000 hotel mark in record time�faster than any other hotel brand�by establishing and maintaining high-quality standards that we attribute to excellent franchise relations. That formula has gained momentum since we opened our first hotel on August 1, 1984.�

Hampton Inn averages more than 100 hotel openings per year�more properties than the total size of most hotel chains. It expects to continue that record pace in the future. The hotel brand continues to aggressively seek expansion opportunities, especially in the western half of the United States. Currently, more than 60 percent of the Hampton Inn portfolio is located east of the Mississippi River.

�As we continue our expansion into the western United States, it is fitting that California is the setting for the 1,000th opening,� said Cordell, who opened the second Hampton Inn as a general manager in 1984. �Hampton Inn development interest continues to rise in the West and we are responding aggressively to that demand.  �We believe the introduction of the Hilton HHonors program, which provides the industry�s best rewards for its guests, will attract even greater development interest in the Hampton Inn brand,� Cordell continued. Stronger operating results are highly attractive to the development community.� 

Located at 24137 Mission Blvd. in Hayward, the 70-room Hampton Inn Hayward is within minutes of California State University at Hayward and the Silicon Valley. The three-story hotel�s amenities include an outdoor pool, on-site laundry, state-of-the-art exercise facilities and one meeting room featuring approximately 840 square feet of meeting space.

Guest rooms are equipped with voice mail and microfridges. In addition to clean and comfortable rooms, Hampton Inn hotel guests receive a complimentary breakfast, a free in-room movie channel, and free local phone calls made from the room. The Hampton Inn Hayward is owned by Bhukhan.

The chain has received numerous awards, including the 1999 �Nation�s Number One Mid-Priced Hotel Chain� by J.D. Power and Associates. The Hampton Inn hotel brand was the first to back its quality and consistency with an unconditional 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, which states that if guests are not completely satisfied with their stay, they are not expected to pay for that night�s stay.  Hampton Inn is a part of Hilton Hotels Corp., an internationally recognized, preeminent hospitality company.