ATLANTA (March 25, 2013)—DoubleTree by Hilton, Hilton Worldwide’s fastest growing full service brand, today announced the rebranding of the Atlanta Marriott Downtown hotel to the DoubleTree by Hilton brand on April 1. The opening of the DoubleTree by Hilton Atlanta Downtown marks the brand’s first hotel offering in downtown Atlanta, just steps from the city’s most popular business and tourist destinations. Following the conversion, the hotel will commence a property-wide renovation, which will conclude in late 2013. The hotel continues to be operated by Interstate Hotels & Resorts.

Originally opened in 1962, the hotel is well-known for being the first racially-integrated hotel in downtown Atlanta, and was for years the go-to destination for prominent guests, including Elvis Presley, Richard Nixon and Pearl Bailey. As the 312-room hotel transforms into the new DoubleTree by Hilton Atlanta Downtown, business and leisure travelers will continue to enjoy the hotel’s convenient location, as well as the rewarding guest experience that has long been synonymous with the DoubleTree by Hilton brand.

“This transformation creates an opportunity for us to extend our hotel’s commitment to outstanding personalized service – which dates back more than half a century,” says Mark Gallagher, general manager – DoubleTree by Hilton Atlanta Downtown. “We look forward to bringing our guests the special comforts and acts of kindness that are unique to the DoubleTree by Hilton brand – starting with the warm chocolate chip cookie welcome and spreading through every stage of the guest’s stay.”

Among the amenities that guests to the DoubleTree by Hilton Atlanta Downtown will now enjoy are a refreshing array of CITRON body care products by Crabtree & Evelyn, the signature Sweet Dreams bedding package, Café Express in-room coffee and tea service, and an industry-recognized service culture which is built around the idea of CARE (Create a Rewarding Experience for guests, team members and the community).

As a participant in the Hilton HHonors guest loyalty program, the hotel will offer all guests the ability to earn and redeem Hilton HHonors points. All Gold and Diamond HHonors members will receive complimentary breakfast in the hotel restaurant during weekday stays, as well as complimentary in-room WiFi internet during their stay.

Situated in Atlanta’s thriving downtown district, the contemporary nine-story hotel is located just nine miles from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and only a few blocks from MARTA Peachtree Center. DoubleTree by Hilton Atlanta Downtown is also conveniently located within walking distance of some of the city’s most popular destinations, including Georgia Aquarium, CNN Center, Philips Arena and Centennial Olympic Park. Corporate travelers will continue to benefit from the hotel’s close proximity to the Georgia World Congress Center – the fourth largest convention center in the U.S.

“Currently, DoubleTree by Hilton offers eight hotels in the Metro Atlanta area, including Atlanta Airport, Northlake, North Druid Hills – Emory Area, Buckhead, Galleria, Marietta, Roswell and Alpharetta,” said John Greenleaf, global head – DoubleTree by Hilton. “The remarkable history and convenient location for business and leisure travelers makes DoubleTree by Hilton Atlanta Downtown the perfect addition to our area portfolio.”

DoubleTree by Hilton Atlanta Downtown offers more than 14,000 square feet of flexible meeting and banquet space outfitted with the latest audio visual equipment. Additional amenities include an outdoor pool, a 24-hour fitness center, a 24-hour business center and complimentary WiFi internet access for guests in public areas of the hotel.

When the renovation to the public areas of the hotel complete later this year, the hotel will achieve a fresh, contemporary design, including a total makeover of the lobby and front desk areas and the addition of a new meeting space on the ground floor. The popular custom mural created by renowned American artist, Eric Zener, will become the focal point in the new meeting space. Additionally, the hotel’s contemporary lobby bar, Liquid Lounge, will transform into the hotel’s primary restaurant, offering classic American fare daily.

To mark the opening, DoubleTree by Hilton Atlanta Downtown will offer double Hilton HHonors points for travel completed Thursday through Sunday, between April 1 – September 30, 2013. For reservations or to inquire about meeting packages, visit www.doubletree.com, contact your preferred travel professional or call 855-243-1342.

About Interstate Hotels & Resorts
Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of a 50/50 joint venture between subsidiaries of Thayer Lodging and Jin Jiang, is the leading U.S.-based global hotel management company, operating branded full- and select-service hotels and resorts, convention centers and independent hotels worldwide. Interstate and its affiliates manage 344 hotels with more than 65,000 rooms in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, including six wholly owned hotels. In addition, Interstate has executed agreements to manage 45 hotels with more than 8,300 rooms under construction or development throughout the world. For more information, please visit www.interstatehotels.com. Connect with Interstate at www.linkedin.com/company/interstate-hotels-resorts, www.facebook.com/InterstateHotels, and http://jobs.interstatehotels.com.

About DoubleTree By Hilton
With a fast-growing, global collection of more than 325 upscale hotels in gateway cities, metropolitan areas and vacation destinations across five continents, every little thing we do at DoubleTree by Hilton inspires us to create a rewarding experience for our hotel guests, our team members and the communities we proudly serve. Our hospitality begins with a warm chocolate chip cookie welcome upon arrival and continues with the award-winning Hilton HHonors guest loyalty program, an array of fine services and amenities and our longstanding CARE Culture tradition that empowers more than 65,000 team members to provide the special comforts and acts of kindness that make the traveler feel human again.

To make reservations at any DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, travelers may visit our brand website at www.doubletree.com. Social media users may connect with us at www.facebook.com/doubletree, www.twitter.com/doubletree and www.youtube.com/doubletreehotels. For the latest news, story starters and fact sheets about our brand, reporters and bloggers may visit our DoubleTree by Hilton Global Media Center at www.doubletreebyhiltonglobalmediacenter.com.