BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. and MEXICO CITY, Jan. 17, 2001 - Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE: HLT - news), one of the world�s leading lodging hospitality companies, and Hoteles Camino Real, S.A. de C.V. (HOCASA), Mexico�s preeminent and most respected hotel chain, today signed an agreement to affiliate 14 Camino Real hotels and resorts in Mexico and Texas with the Hilton® family of brands.

Effective April 1, 2001, Camino Real hotels will become active participants in the award-winning Hilton HHonors® guest reward program, and receive sales and reservations support from Hilton Sales Worldwide and Hilton Reservations Worldwide offices around the globe.

With the signing of this agreement, the Hilton family of brands features the largest collection of four- and five-star hotels in Mexico, and the second largest major hotel chain presence in that country overall. In total, Hilton will be represented in Mexico with 21 hotels and 5,190 rooms. The Camino Real portfolio, widely recognized as Mexico�s finest hotels, earned �Gran Turismo� status from the Mexican Tourism Ministry, which is similar to a �five star� rating in the U.S.
 

�Domestic and international travelers alike are comforted by brands with which they are familiar, knowing that they can expect a certain level of quality and service. Camino Real is truly the most prestigious hotel brand in all of Mexico, and uniting with Hilton � one of the world�s most prestigious hotel companies � will only raise the level of excellence that our hotels can provide to the thousands of guests that visit our hotels each year,� said Juan Manuel Perez Gomez, CEO of Camino Real. �Outstanding worldwide customer recognition and trust in the Hilton family of brands, affiliation with the acclaimed Hilton HHonors guest loyalty program, along with our exciting systemwide renovation plans will ultimately lead our properties to quickly outperform their competitive set throughout Mexico and will give us increased presence in the U.S. market.�

Hilton Hotels Corporation continues to pursue development and conversion opportunities that will create one of the most geographically diverse hotel systems throughout Mexico. The Hilton family of brands currently has nine four- and five-star Mexican properties with 1,788 guestrooms operating in Cancun, Chihuahua City, Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey (4). Other Hilton properties currently under development in Mexico include locations in Los Cabos, Mazatlan, Mexico City/Santa Fe, Nuevo Laredo and Puerto Vallarta.

�We believe that this strong, new business relationship with Hoteles Camino Real, one of the largest domestic hotel companies in Mexico, will be mutually beneficial for Hilton Hotels Corporation, the Mexican economy and the traveling public,� said Tom Keltner, president � brand performance & development of Hilton Hotels Corporation. �With greater national distribution, Hilton will be able to provide more choices to customers and attract more in-country business and leisure travelers. Secondly, the recognition of the Hilton flag, along with the support of our team members at Hilton Sales Worldwide and Hilton Reservations Worldwide offices and more than 10 million loyal Hilton HHonors members, will undoubtedly draw a larger international base that is confident in our family of brands. And a strong, stable, globally recognized set of brands attracts a greater cross-section of visitors.�

Grupo Empresarial Angeles, the parent company of Hoteles Camino real, is a 100 percent Mexican-owned company with extensive holdings in Mexico including 11 of the nation�s finest hospitals, the Hermanos Vazquez furniture chain and the 56-outlet Coffee Stations. GEA, through an association with Group Aeroportauario del Pacifico, also owns and operates 12 airports.

Hilton Hotels Corporation is recognized internationally as a preeminent hospitality company. The company develops, owns, manages or franchises approximately 1,900 hotels, resorts and vacation ownership properties. Its portfolio includes many of the world�s best known and most highly regarded hotel brands, including Hilton®, Conrad®, Doubletree®, Embassy Suites Hotels®, Hampton Inn®, Hampton Inn & Suites®, Harrison Conference Centers®, Hilton Garden Inn®, Hilton Grand Vacations Company®, Homewood Suites® by Hilton, and Red Lion Hotels & Inns®.