McLEAN, Va. (March 7, 2012) – Embassy Suites Hotels has announced the recipients of its 2011 Brand Awards and honored many of these winners at an awards dinner at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., last night. A mix of qualitative and quantitative metrics were used to select properties and leaders that have demonstrated best in class performance as it relates to revenue generation, guest service and leadership, while embodying the brand’s service culture to Make a Difference with guests, team members and the communities in which they live.

“These hotels truly live up to our brand promise to consistently deliver more of what our guests want,” said Jim Holthouser, global head of Embassy Suites Hotels and full service brands, Hilton Worldwide. “Our team members live and breathe the brand’s culture and values and continually raise the bar on standards of service for which the Embassy Suites brand is known.”


Other winners from the brand’s 213-hotel portfolio include:

• Director of Sales of the Year: Judy Esterbrook, Embassy Suites Denver - Downtown/Convention Center
• Make a Difference Hotel of the Year: Embassy Suites Charlotte - Concord/Golf Resort & Spa. This category represents the best in positive guest responses, team member satisfaction and community initiatives.
• Sustainability Hotel of the Year: Embassy Suites Denver - Downtown/Convention Center
• Sales Team of the Year: Embassy Suites Indianapolis - Downtown
• Sales Promotion of the Year: Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk

The I Can Make a Difference Award recognizes those hotels that have proven dedication to philanthropic involvement, supporting Conrad Hilton’s philosophy of always giving back. The winning hotel is granted up to $7,000 to further the work they are doing to make a difference. This year’s I Can Make a Difference Award finalists include:

• Embassy Suites Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for developing the “Bake a Difference” cookbook in partnership with the Puget Sound Down Syndrome Community, to raise awareness and money to support individuals and families whose lives include a person with Down syndrome.
• Embassy Suites Tulsa - I-44 for their plans to host the 2nd Annual Turkey Trot to Make a Difference – a 5k walk/run and one mile “fun run” scheduled for the day after Thanksgiving, to raise money for the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless.
• Embassy Suites Charlotte - Concord/Golf Resort & Spa for their work repurposing pillow cases to make clothing for children impacted by the earthquake in Haiti in partnership with the Greater Providence Baptist Church in Charlotte.

The first place recipient will be voted on by global team members during a video conference broadcast to all Embassy Suites Hotels later this month.

Also honored last night were the brand’s annual Connie Award winners, named after Hilton Worldwide’s founder, Conrad Hilton. Previously announced in January, these hotels scored highest in quality assurance audits and satisfaction scores:

• Embassy Suites Omaha-La Vista/Hotel & Conference Center (Nebraska)
• Embassy Suites Loveland-Hotel, Spa & Conference Center (Colorado)
• Embassy Suites Murfreesboro-Hotel & Conference Center (Tennessee)

Other awards were issued in the areas of revenue management, customer relationship marketing, satisfaction and loyalty. For a full listing of 2011 Brand Award winners and images from last night’s awards dinner, please visit the Embassy Suites Media Center embassysuitesmediacenter.com.

About Embassy Suites Hotels
Embassy Suites Hotels, one of Hilton Worldwide’s ten market-leading brands, gives guests more during every stay. The full service, upscale brand offers spacious two-room suites, free cooked-to-order breakfast and a nightly Manager’s Reception with complimentary appetizers and beverages.  Both leisure and business travelers looking for an approachable, upscale experience feel right at home in the brand’s inviting atrium environment. Embassy Suites Hotels has 213 properties across the Americas and an additional 27 in the pipeline. For more information, visit www.embassysuites.com, and connect with Embassy Suites at www.embassysuitesmediacenter.com, www.facebook.com/embassysuiteshotels and http://www.twitter.com/EmbassySuites .

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.