Hilton Sparks Major Expansion of Charging Stations for Electric Vehicles

MCLEAN, Va.-- Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) today announced a major electric vehicle (EV) charging program, which will be available at 50 U.S. hotels by the end of this year with plans to rapidly expand to 100 U.S. hotels by the end of 2016. The program will cover all types of electric vehicles, including Teslas. Current, powered by GE, will provide stations to charge other car makes.

"By teaming with leading organizations like Tesla and GE to add more electric vehicle charging stations, we're making the travel process easier for a growing number of our guests"

Electric vehicle owners can now road trip from New York City to Los Angeles with the peace of mind that multiple Hilton properties will be along the way to accommodate their charging needs. This is one of many cutting-edge amenities that give our customers choices to customize their stay. Over the past year, Hilton has also rolled out several exciting enhancements to its highly-rated Hilton HHonors app, including Digital Key and digital check-in with room selection.

"By teaming with leading organizations like Tesla and GE to add more electric vehicle charging stations, we're making the travel process easier for a growing number of our guests," said Jim Holthouser, executive vice president, Global Brands, Hilton Worldwide. "We believe technology can and should take the friction out of travel – no matter if you're road-tripping in an electric vehicle or flying into town and need to find the best way to get to one of our hotels. Our goal is to support our guests in their travels no matter what technology they're using."

These charging stations are available at a range of Hilton Worldwide properties from luxury to focused service, including The Waldorf Astoria New York, DoubleTree by Hilton Durango, Hampton Inn by Hilton Reno, and Hilton Los Angeles Airport. Hilton also plans to expand its charging program internationally in the coming year.

As part of the charging program, Hilton hotel owners can receive free charging equipment to accelerate the adoption of charging solutions at qualifying hotels and resorts. Hilton is working with property owners to install the charging stations, with the only associated cost being installation and electricity usage.

EV sales have increased dramatically in the last few years as the number of affordable vehicle options have increased. Since 2010, more than 350,000 EV's have been sold in the U.S. and approximately 120,000 of those were sold in 2014 alone, according to InsideEVs Monthly Scorecard. Opportunity abounds for Hilton property owners as guest use of EVs continues to increase.

Providing hotel guests with even more choices to manage their environmental footprint while on the road is just one of the ways Hilton is incorporating responsible business options into the guest experience. Earlier this year, Hilton launched Meet with Purpose, a meeting concept focused on sustainable choices for meetings and events. Hilton also manages its own environmental performance through a series of programs, partnerships and hotel activations that improve its overall impact on the environment.

About Hilton

Hilton is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 22 world-class brands comprising more than 7,500 properties and nearly 1.2 million rooms, in 126 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its founding vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, Hilton has welcomed over 3 billion guests in its more than 100-year history, was named the No. 1 World's Best Workplace by Great Place to Work and Fortune and has been recognized as a global leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for seven consecutive years. Hilton has introduced industry-leading technology enhancements to improve the guest experience, including Digital Key Share, automated complimentary room upgrades and the ability to book confirmed connecting rooms. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, the more than 180 million members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money can't buy. With the free Hilton Honors app, guests can book their stay, select their room, check in, unlock their door with a Digital Key and check out, all from their smartphone. Visit stories.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. 

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