Odawara, Kanagawa Japan - April 28, 2011 - Hilton Worldwide has appointed Mr. Naoki Oto as General Manager of the Hilton Odawara Resort & Spa as of April 11, 2011.

A Japanese national born in 1958, Mr. Oto started his hospitality career in 1978 at the San Francisco Airport Hilton. In 1985, after graduating from the University of California in Los Angeles, he moved back to Japan and joined the then Hilton Tokyo in Food and Beverage.

When the hotel changed management and was renamed Capital Tokyu Hotel, Mr. Oto continued his career there and held various positions. In 1988, he moved to Tokyu Hotel’s Corporate Office in New York, where he was tasked with developing the North American market and heading up the sales office. In 1996, Mr. Oto came back to Japan and joined the Tokyu Hotels Corporate office in Tokyo, later being appointed as Executive Assistant Manager of the Capital Tokyu Hotel in 2002.

In 2003, Mr. Oto rejoined Hilton, this time in Osaka as Director of Operations, where he was responsible for operating 520 guest rooms and 9 restaurants and bars. His contribution to increasing operational efficiency and to enhancing revenue management, were key achievements that lead to his appointment in conjunction with the opening of the Conrad Tokyo in 2004, first as Director of Business Development and thereafter he was promoted to Executive Assistant Manager in 2007. He was then appointed as the Hotel Manager of the Hilton Tokyo, where he was based until his recent appointment.

As General Manager, Mr. Naoki Oto will assume responsibility for managing Hilton Japan’s first resort hotel – Hilton Odawara Resort & Spa, located just minutes away from Tokyo. With 172 guest rooms located in 230,000 square meters of lush green gardens, the hotel features the country’s finest water parks, 5 restaurants & bars, 15 banqueting rooms and various sports and leisure facilities.

About Hilton Odawara Resort & Spa
Opened in April 2004 as the first Hilton Worldwide tranquil resort, is surrounded by the majestic Hakone Mountains, overlooking a breathtaking ocean view across Sagami Bay. It offers hydrotherapy spa pools, sauna, a 25-meter swimming pool, Japanese-style natural hot spring baths, sports facilities, an esthetic salon, banquet rooms, restaurants, a bar and 172 guest rooms with a panoramic ocean view. For more information about Hilton Odawara Resort & Spa, visit www.hilton.co.uk/odawara

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 91 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 3,600 hotels and 599,000 rooms in 81 countries and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton, Doubletree, 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