ADDING MULTIMEDIA The Hilton Family of Hotels Preps U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hopefuls...

Tue May 13, 2008 9:15pm EDT

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ADDING MULTIMEDIA The Hilton Family of Hotels Preps U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hopefuls on Cultural Understanding for 2008 Beijing Games

Hotelier Enlists International TV News Correspondent Gideon Yago
and Travel Etiquette Expert Roger Axtell to Lead Hospitality Training
Program for Team USA
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.--(Business Wire)--
In the next few months, Team USA will train diligently for Beijing
without even breaking a sweat. Hilton Hotels Corporation, official
sponsor of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams, today announced it
will extend its global hospitality expertise to U.S. Olympians and
Paralympians - offering important tips on Chinese customs, culture and
etiquette in preparation for the upcoming Beijing Games.

For U.S. Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, the benefit of the
hospitality training is real. More than 40 percent of U.S. athletes
admit they have inadvertently committed a cultural faux pas (a slip in
etiquette, manners or conduct) while traveling abroad to compete,
according to a new survey conducted by The Hilton Family of Hotels.

"Athletes are usually so focused on physical training that we
forget to prepare for the new and often drastically different
environment we'll encounter when we travel abroad," said Paul Hamm,
2004 U.S. Olympic gold medalist in men's gymnastics.

U.S. Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls will convene at the U.S.
Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs on Tuesday, May 13 to
learn valuable travel etiquette and cultural lessons as part of the
hotelier's "be hospitable(R) Traveler Program." Designed to promote
cultural understanding and hospitable behavior among Team USA and
general travelers alike, the program issues a call to ACT and
emphasizes three core principles of hospitality: Awareness, Character
and Thoughtfulness.

"Even the smallest of details can directly impact an athlete's
performance when competing at the Olympic level so we try to prepare
our athletes in every way possible," said U.S. Olympic Committee Chief
Executive Officer Jim Scherr. "The Hilton Family is helping to ensure
our U.S. athletes are on top of their game both on and off the field."

The Hilton Family has enlisted international TV news correspondent
Gideon Yago to share his personal travel insights and experiences,
reinforcing the need for cultural sensitivity and understanding. In
addition, Roger Axtell, acclaimed international protocol expert and
best-selling author of the popular Do's and Taboos Around the World
book series, will guide athletes through various cultural nuances and
traditions they can expect to encounter in China.

"The idea of the 'ugly American' comes from our tendency to think
we do everything the right way and everybody else should do things the
way we do," Axtell said. "We aren't ugly, but unprepared, and that's
why this program is so important. Our entire nation will be judged
based on the behavior and actions of these U.S. athletes representing
our country on the world stage in Beijing."

Developed in collaboration with Axtell, Yago and other travel and
cultural experts, "the be hospitable Traveler" program equips
travelers with helpful hospitable tidbits via an interactive and
mobile-friendly tool available at www.behospitabletraveler.com. Some
China-centric tips include "Long eye contact is considered
disrespectful in China; do not be offended if a new acquaintance does
not look you directly in the eye when shaking hands. Leaving a clean
plate can be perceived to mean you were not given enough food. And, at
dinner, never start conversations with business matters."

Hotel concierges, front desk managers and other team members from
each brand within The Hilton Family of Hotels contributed to the
program curriculum.

"Hospitality is our gold standard," said Jeff Diskin, Senior Vice
President, Hilton Hotels Corporation. "Our founder, Conrad Hilton, was
committed to the belief that international travel can break down
cultural barriers and we are honored to extend this philosophy to U.S.
Olympians and Paralympians representing our country in Beijing."

Diskin says business and leisure travelers can also take advantage
of the interactive tool and hopes it will help enhance and encourage
international travel among Americans. Currently, only about 30% of
Americans have valid U.S. passports, according to the U.S. Department
of State.

For more information or to experience the be hospitable(R)
Traveler program online, visit www.behospitabletraveler.com.

About Hilton Family of Hotels

Hilton Hotels Corporation is recognized internationally as a
preeminent hospitality company. The company develops, owns, manages or
franchises more than 3,000 hotels, resorts and vacation ownership
properties. Its portfolio includes many of the world's best known and
most highly regarded hotel brands, including Hilton(R), Conrad(R)
Hotels & Resorts, Doubletree(R), Embassy Suites Hotels(R), Hampton
Inn(R), Hampton Inn & Suites(R), Hilton Garden Inn(R), Hilton Grand
Vacations(R), Homewood Suites by Hilton(R) and The Waldorf=Astoria
Collection(R). The following service marks are owned by Hilton
Hospitality, Inc.: Hilton(R), Doubletree(R), Embassy Suites Hotels(R),
Hampton Inn(R), Hampton Inn & Suites(R), Hilton Garden Inn(R), Hilton
Grand Vacations(R), Homewood Suites by Hilton(R) and The
Waldorf=Astoria Collection(R). Conrad(R) Hotels & Resorts is owned by
Conrad Hospitality, LLC.

About the U.S. Olympic Committee

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) is recognized by the
International Olympic Committee as the sole entity in the United
States whose mission involves training, entering and underwriting the
full expenses for the U.S. teams in the Olympic, Paralympic, Pan
American and Parapan American Games. In addition to being the steward
of the U.S. Olympic Movement, the USOC is the moving force for support
of sports in the United States that are on the program of the Olympic,
Paralympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games.

Hilton Family of Hotels
Kendra Walker, 310-205-4545
Kendra.Walker@hilton.com
http://www.hiltonworldwide.com
or
Cohn & Wolfe
Julia McQueen/Katie Wittenburg
310-967-2966/310-967-2952
julia_mcqueen@cohnwolfe.com/
katie_wittenburg@cohnwolfe.com
or
U.S. Olympic Committee
Nicole Saunches, 719-866-2236
Nicole.saunches@usoc.org