BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 14, 2006--Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE:HLT) today celebrated the grand opening of the 150-suite Embassy Suites Hotel(R) - Fort Myers/Estero in Florida, representing the 1,000th hotel opened by the company since Hilton's highly successful acquisition of Promus Hotel Corporation at the end of 1999. Embassy Suites Hotels is one of the brands that joined the Hilton Family of Hotels from Promus as a result of the transaction.

The Embassy Suites Hotel Ft. Myers/Estero is owned by Carroll Hotel 21, LLC and is managed by Fort Myers-based Carroll Property Investments, Inc.

"Despite a challenging economy earlier in this decade, Hilton Hotels Corporation has opened a new hotel approximately every other day since the turn of this century," said Tom Keltner, president - brand performance and development group, Hilton Hotels Corporation. "We are on pace to break that record by adding another 1,000 hotels by the end of this decade."

"The Ft. Myers/Estero Embassy Suites exemplifies the type of property that has helped the Hilton Family of Hotels achieve this milestone," said Jim Holthouser, senior vice president - brand management, Embassy Suites Hotels. "Embassy Suites is the leader in its segment and offers business and leisure travelers the finest in service and accommodations. This hotel will be the premier upscale hotel in this market. Its design will appeal to every type of guest, and with 4,500 square feet of meeting and function space, is destined to become a major meeting and social event venue for the area."

The company celebrated the milestone at a Grand Opening ribbon cutting event including: James P. Carroll, founder, Carroll Property Investments, Inc.; Bill Fortier, senior vice president-development group, Hilton Hotels Corporation; Jim Holthouser, senior vice president - brand management, Embassy Suites Hotels; Brad Wymer, general manager; Fort Myers Mayor Jim Humphrey, and Florida Gulf Coast University president Dr. Bill Merwin.

As part of the grand opening festivities, hotel owners Carroll Hotel 21, LLC, along with Embassy Suites Hotels, donated $100,000 to the Resort and Hospitality Management Program at Florida Gulf Coast University. The school, with an enrollment of more than 8,000 students, offers the only resort and spa management course in the region. The funds will be used to help fund the construction of a new classroom specifically for the college's hospitality program, to be named the "Embassy Suites Fort Myers/Estero Lecture Hall."

"We are firm believers in giving back to the community at large and supporting, where possible, the hospitality industry of tomorrow," noted James P. Carroll, founder, Carroll Property Investments, Inc. "With additional funds provided by the State of Florida Major Gifts Trust Fund program, the school will receive a total of $150,000. In addition, we are committed to working closely with the school to provide internships and classroom assistance to further cement our relationship with the university."

Located at 10450 Corkscrew Commons Drive, Estero, Fla., the seven-story Embassy Suites Hotel is minutes from downtown Ft. Myers, Bonita Beach, Florida Gulf Coast University and the Southwest Florida International Airport. The hotel provides a business center; fitness center; 4,500 square feet of meeting space; outdoor pool and spa; complimentary wired and wireless high speed Internet access in each guest room and complimentary shuttle service. Additionally, each two-room suite is equipped with 32-inch flat-panel televisions; signature, oversized desk with ergonomic chair; two phones with data port modems; a wet bar; refrigerator; microwave; and an iron and ironing board. Guests also receive a complimentary, cooked-to-order breakfast each morning and a two-hour Manager's Reception(a) each evening featuring complimentary beverages and light snacks.

"Our (Hilton Hotels Corporation's) current development pipeline is the largest in the industry, with approximately 700 hotels and 100,000 rooms, as of June 30, 2006," Keltner added. "Approximately 90 percent of the hotels in the development pipeline are in the Americas (U.S., Canada, Mexico and South America). In 2006 alone, we expect to add 225 hotels and 36,000 rooms to our system. With our recent acquisition of Hilton International, we see tremendous growth opportunities on a global scale."

About Carroll Property Investments, Inc.

James P. Carroll founded Carroll Property Investments, Inc., a family-owned hospitality management company in 1966. This Embassy Suites project represents their 21st hotel development and management transaction. Dedicated to sound hospitality and property management principles and to each other James P. Carroll and Patricia Carroll, both officers of Carroll Property Investments, Inc., have been married for 47 years. Together they developed their first hotel in 1966 while living in Cincinnati, OH. Since that time their management operations have expanded from their first modest 21-room hotel to several 200 plus room hotels, hotel suites, marinas, and RV parks in Florida and Ohio. Their corporate offices and company's address is 12734 Kenwood Lane, Suite 35, Ft. Myers, FL 33907. The Corporate Office telephone number is 239-278-5900.

About Hilton Hotels Corporation

Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE:HLT) is the leading global hospitality company, with nearly 2,800 hotels and 475,000 rooms in more than 80 countries, including 150,000 team members worldwide. The company owns, manages or franchises a hotel portfolio of some of the best known and highly regarded brands, including Hilton(R), Conrad(R), Doubletree(R), Embassy Suites Hotels(R), Hampton Inn(R), Hampton Inn & Suites(R), Hilton Garden Inn(R), Hilton Grand Vacations(TM), Homewood Suites by Hilton(R), Scandic and The Waldorf Astoria Collection(TM). For more information, please visit www.hiltonworldwide.com.

Copyright Business Wire 2006

Hilton Hotels Corporation

Hilton Hotels Corporation

With nearly 500 hotels on six continents, Hilton Hotels continues to be an innovative leader in the full-service hospitality segment and the most recognized name in the industry. Hilton celebrates the accomplishment, enlightenment, renewal and celebration that travel enables. This commitment to personal guest achievement infuses all decisions about products, programs and amenities, and is underscored by the belief that travel can and should be transformative. Each unique Hilton Hotel was designed to reflect the sense of place of its location; each team member chosen to reflect the local culture and community. For more information, please visit www.hilton.com.

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