BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Feb. 18, 2003 � Hilton Garden Inn®, the upscale mid-priced brand targeted to today�s growing segment of mid-market travelers, recently recognized its top hotels and their team members for outstanding performance in loyalty and customer service during 2002 with the brand's second annual Hilton Garden Inn Hotel Performance Awards.  The accolades were presented at the Hilton Hotels Corporation Focused-Service Brand Conference held in Las Vegas.

�With 161 Hilton Garden Inn properties now open across United States, Canada and Mexico, we wanted to recognize our top performing hotels and general managers who have exceeded our expectations and became outstanding models of excellence for the brand,� said Adrian Kurre, senior vice president - brand management - Hilton Garden Inn. �We are very proud of each of our hotel�s accomplishments during 2002 and hope that the Hotel Performance Awards will be great incentives for all of our properties to continue to give their all and strive to be the best in the mid-market hotel segment.�

2002 HOTEL OF THE YEAR � HILTON GARDEN INN WICHITA
Walter Brosch, general manager of the Hilton Garden Inn Wichita -- Kansas, accepted on behalf of the hotel.  The Hilton Garden Inn Wichita was recognized, as a result of their top overall 2002 results on the Balanced Scorecard above all other 161 Hilton Garden Inn hotels.  Brosch is an active participant in many community organizations and activities.  Through his involvement, he has been able to establish relationships with those who were able to refer or place business in the hotel. 

2002 GENERAL MANAGER OF THE YEAR
Roger Greene, general manager of the Hilton Garden Inn Cleveland/Twinsburg -- Ohio, received the brand's General Manager of the Year Award.  Greene was selected from several nominations by Hilton Garden Inn hotel owners, regional directors and brand support teams across the country.

�Greene is a general manager who knows how to get things done and when it comes to Ultimate Service, he walks the talk,� said Kurre.  �He�s actively involved in his community as well as with the Grow A School Garden Project with the National Gardening Association.�

The following Hotel Performance Awards were presented as a result of year-end 2002 scores and results from the Hilton Garden Inn Balanced Scorecard, a tool used by the brand to measure and track overall performance of each Hilton Garden Inn hotel in various key performance indicators: Customer Loyalty Tracking Survey, Quality Assurance, and Brand Management and Product Standards.

RAMP-UP AWARD
The Hilton Garden Inn Houston/Bush Intercontinental Airport -- Texas was awarded the brand's Ramp-Up Award for 2002. Philip Cunningham, hotel general manager, accepted the award, which reflects the hotel�s quality operations and product, aggressive sales and marketing efforts and strong consistent performance from the moment the hotel opened its doors. 

MOST IMPROVED HOTEL AWARD
The Hilton Garden Inn Rock Hill -- South Carolina received the Most Improved Hotel Award having shown the greatest improvement in their Balanced Scorecard over a 12-month period from 2001 to 2002. Alan Roberts of Panos Hotels�which owns the property�accepted the award on behalf of the hotel.

SERVICE RECOVERY AWARD
The Hilton Garden Inn LAX/El Segundo -- California, represented by general manager, Barbara Bejan, and the Hilton Garden Inn Hershey -- Pennsylvania, represented by Steve Wennick, general manager, tied for the first Hilton Garden Inn Service Recovery Award showing that these two hotels were at the top of their class in resolving guest concerns and service recovery.

MOST IMPROVED LOYALTY AWARD
The Most Improved Hotel Award was presented to general manager, Dennis Burton, and the Hilton Garden Inn San Francisco Airport/Burlingame -- California for an increase in Loyalty Scores over the year.  The hotel also has a tremendous track record for employee retention.

HILTON HHONORS LOYALTY AWARD
The Hilton HHonors Loyalty Award was presented the Hilton Garden Inn San Mateo -- California.  Hotel owner, Soloman Tsai, accepted the award.  The hotel has gone above and beyond its role in Ultimate Service by merging the Ultimate Service DVD with a special Powerpoint presentation that explained how each module applies to the guest and the hotel. 

PRIDE MERIT AWARD
A second place Pride Merit Award for overall 2002 results was presented to the Sal Rivera, general manager of the Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta/Johns Creek -- Georgia and a third place Pride Merit Award went to Judy Judkins, general manager of the Hilton Garden Inn Ft. Myers -- Florida. 

GUEST LOYALTY AWARD 
The best performance in Guest Loyalty Award was presented to general manager Jay Prater and the Hilton Garden Inn Auburn/Opelika -- Alabama which received the highest scores for a 12-month period - systemwide - on the brand's guest survey system, the Customer Loyalty Tracking Survey. 

OWNER OF THE YEAR
The Owner of the Year accolade was presented to Bob Voelker and his company, Gateway Hospitality Group. Voelker is a pioneer supporter of Hilton Garden Inn and is a member of the brand�s Advisory Council.  Gateway Hospitality Group opened three of the 36 Hilton Garden Inn hotels in 2002, and is frequently opening doors to potential Hilton Garden Inn investors.

Hilton Garden Inn has received the distinguished �Highest Guest Satisfaction Among Mid-Price Hotel Chains with Full Food Service� award in the J.D. Power and Associates 2002 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction StudySM.  Hilton Garden Inn developments represent one of the cornerstones of the Hilton franchise growth strategy. More than 225 Hilton Garden Inn properties are currently open or under development in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. 

The Hilton Garden Inn brand is part of Hilton Hotels Corporation; recognized internationally as a preeminent hospitality company.