"Opening five hotels in the West in the last two months is a perfect example of where our development interests are growing overall," said Phil Cordell, senior vice-president, Hampton brand management. "Our brand also continued to expand in Latin America with the opening of a fabulous Venezuela property, our second in that country. In addition, Hampton opened its third small-town prototype, in Richfield, Utah. The first half of 2003 has been quite a good year for development," said Cordell. 

"Our growth pipeline remains quite active, as is evidenced by the opening of two Hampton hotels or more per week during the month of June," said Phil Cordell, senior vice-president, brand management, Hampton. "Hampton remains an attractive development product for new and returning hotel developers, and we continue to see growing interest nationw

"Through the recent economic downturn of the last two years hotels have seen a slowing in opening, but in the past two years, we continue to be in the top of our segment in the number of rooms that we open, and our pipeline is building," said Cordell. Hampton saw the groundbreaking of 15 new hotels in the past two months.

The Hampton brand is part of Hilton Hotels Corporation, recognized internationally as a preeminent hospitality company. The company develops, owns, manages or franchises more than 2,000 hotels, resorts and vacation ownership properties. Its portfolio includes many of the world�s best known and most highly regarded hotel brands, including Hilton®, ConradâÔ, Doubletree®, Embassy Suites Hotels®, Hampton Inn®, Hampton Inn & Suites®, Harrison Conference Centers®, Hilton Garden Inn®, Hilton Grand Vacations Company® and Homewood Suites by Hilton®. 

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of federal securities law, including statements concerning business strategies and their intended results, and similar statements concerning anticipated future events and expectations that are not historical facts.