MEMPHIS, Tenn., Feb. 7, 2012-- Hilton Garden Inn, the worldwide brand of upscale, yet affordable, hotels announced today its top hotels of 2011. Nearly 70 individual and hotel awards were presented to hotels chosen from the brand's portfolio of more than 530 hotels worldwide. The 2011 Hotel of the Year and Connie Award Winner was the Hilton Garden Inn Salt Lake City/Downtown .

"Our guests can count on Hilton Garden Inn for a successful stay whether they're travelling for business or leisure. Each of the team members at our hotels worldwide work tirelessly to make that happen," said Adrian Kurre, Global Head, Hilton Garden Inn brand. "They provide a great sleep experience and delicious cooked-to-order breakfasts, but it's also the small things they do that demonstrate the special Hilton Garden Inn touch and create loyal guests. It is our pleasure to recognize the Hilton Garden Inn hotels that embody what this brand is all about -- guest satisfaction and a high level of customer service."

The Connie Award, named in honor of company founder Conrad Hilton, is awarded to the top hotel of the year based on three key components, including: quality assurance audits measuring cleanliness, condition and brand standards; customer scores rating staff service; and customer service scores rating the quality of the hotel's physical accommodations. The winner represents the highest scores in the brand system in all of these categories. The 2011 Hilton Garden Inn Connie Award winner was the Hilton Garden Inn Salt Lake City/Downtown . 2011 marks the third consecutive year the hotel was awarded this honor.

The top hotel awards were presented based on year-end 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: Satisfaction and Loyalty Tracking (SALT) survey, Quality Assurance, and Brand Management and Product Standards.

2011 marks the third consecutive year the Hilton Garden Inn Salt Lake City/Downtown received the coveted Connie Award. The 132-room hotel opened in 2006 and is managed by Boise-based Ameritel Inns, Inc. The hotel is located in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City and is 100 percent smoke-free.

The Pride Merit Awards are given to the hotels in the 2nd and 3rd ranked position based on three components: quality assurance audits measuring, condition and brand standards; customer scores rating staff service; and customer service scores rating the quality of the hotel's physical accommodations. The winners of the 2011 Pride Merit Awards are the Hilton Garden Inn Tifton, Ga. and the Hilton Garden Inn Milwaukee Airport, Wis.

The Hilton Garden Inn Tifton opened its doors to guests in 2009 and has been delighting guests with their southern hospitality in the "friendly city" ever since. It includes 105 rooms with 10 suites and is managed by Stafford Hospitality, Inc.

Hilton Garden Inn Milwaukee Airport is managed by Raymond Management Company, Inc. The 143-room hotel offers more than 3,000 square feet of meeting space and has focused on satisfying airport travelers since opening in 2010.

About Hilton Garden Inn
Hilton Garden Inn is the award-winning, upscale, yet affordable hotel brand that continually strives to ensure today's busy travelers have everything they need to be most productive on the road -- from our oh-so-comfortable Garden Sleep System® bed to complimentary wired and Wi-Fi Internet access in all guestrooms. So whether on the road for personal or business reasons, travellers can count on the brand to support them on their road to success. Log on to www.hgimediacenter.com or visit www.hgi.com for more information.Connect with Hilton Garden Inn at www.facebook.com/hiltongardeninn, www.twitter.com/HGI_INNsider.

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 93 years, Hilton Worldwide has offered 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 3,800 hotels and timeshare properties, with 630,000 rooms in 88 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®. Visit www.hiltonworldwide.com for more information and connect with Hilton Worldwide at www.facebook.com/hiltonworldwide, www.twitter.com/hiltonworldwide, www.youtube.com/hiltonworldwide, www.flickr.com/hiltonworldwide and www.linkedin.com/company/hilton-worldwide