BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--June 18, 1998--Hilton Hotels Corp. Thursday announced the opening of the Hilton Guadalajara, its second full-service hotel in Mexico, franchised and managed by Grupo Chartwell de Mexico.

Chartwell acquired the former Continental Plaza as part of the expansion program under its franchise agreement with Hilton Inns Inc., the franchising subsidiary of Hilton Hotels, with the objective to open hotels in key business cities throughout Mexico under the Hilton brand.

Built in 1994, the deluxe 422-room hotel located in the Guadalajara World Trade Center is only 20 minutes from the airport and provides direct access to the Convention Center and Expo Guadalajara. It is also conveniently located five minutes from Plaza del Sol, the city's largest and most traditional shopping plaza. "Hilton is delighted with how our alliance is proceeding with Chartwell and based on our strategy, the addition of Hilton Guadalajara is right on target for both Hilton and Chartwell," stated Jim Abrahamson, senior vice president, franchising, Hilton Hotels.

"Their experience and knowledge in hotel operations throughout Mexico has allowed Hilton to expand quickly and smoothly beyond our initial expectations. We are well on schedule to meet the projected goals of our expansion plan to open 24 hotels throughout Mexico in five years."

The opening of the Hilton Guadalajara follows soon after the opening of the Mexico City Airport Hilton in February 1998, the first full-service franchise Hilton hotel in Mexico. Currently under construction and scheduled to open in 1998 are two Hilton Garden Inn hotels in Monterrey and Juarez.

The full-service hotels, as well as the Hilton Garden Inn hotels, will be owned and managed by Chartwell under a franchise agreement. "I am particularly pleased with the opening of our second full-service Hilton hotel," said Francisco Zinser Cieslik, chief executive officer, Grupo Chartwell de Mexico.

"The Guadalajara location is ideal. While business travelers will find all of the major industries in the city are conveniently accessible, leisure travelers will be able to experience the traditional and cultural side of Guadalajara at the nearby Plaza del Sol or they can just relax by the hotel pool."

The hotel's beautifully appointed rooms, featuring easy access connections for computers and faxes, remote control satellite television and the convenience of 24-hour room service, in addition to a specialty restaurant, coffee shop and lobby lounge, create the perfect oasis for both business and leisure travelers.

Room rates range from $130 (USD) to $170 (USD). Special weekend leisure packages to help weary travelers unwind will also be available starting at $99 (USD).

For those who need to finish up business before they relax, an exclusive Executive Lounge provides all the speed and service the traveling executive desires. From a private reception and registration to express check out and payment, executives can avoid unnecessary waits, while amenity upgrades, daily complimentary continental breakfast and complimentary newspapers and magazines help provide the comforts of home.

Executives will also appreciate the business center and convention facilities. The Business Center features eight meeting rooms as well as three private offices for interviews, food and beverage services, trilingual secretarial service and full computer audio and video equipment.

Convention facilities include a main ballroom which can easily accommodate a banquet of 1,500 or be divided into five rooms with sound-proof partitions. A fully equipped auditorium houses special events and video projections for up to 300 people and several meeting rooms are available for groups from 20 to 120 people.

Reservations for the Hilton Guadalajara or at more than 400 Hilton, Flamingo, Bally's, Conrad International and Vista hotels can be made on the Internet at www.hilton.com or through a professional travel agent or by contacting Hilton Reservations Worldwide at 800/HILTONS in the United States and Canada. Outside the United States and Canada, reservations can be made by calling the Hilton Reservations Worldwide office or any Hilton International hotel.

In Mexico, Hilton Reservations Worldwide can be reached at 627-0211 in Mexico City and in the remainder of the country at 01-800-00314 00. Reservation can also be made by calling the Hilton Guadalajara directly at 52-3-678-0505; fax: 52-3-678-0511.

Hilton Hotels is recognized internationally as the preeminent lodging and gaming company. The company owns, develops, manages or franchises hotel-casinos, resorts, vacation ownership and hotel properties.

Along with Hilton International, owner of the Hilton name outside the United States, and with which Hilton Hotels has a global strategic alliance, the companies operate more than 400 hotels in 50 countries under the world's most respected hotel brand name.