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Hilton Launches HILSTAR, 
Central Reservation System
 
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif - April 6, 1999--Hilton Hotels Tuesday announced the successful launch of its new $30-million state-of-the-art central reservations system (CRS), creating a network of more than 440 hotels worldwide this past weekend.

This new CRS, called HILSTAR, represents the latest success in Hilton's global distribution strategy bringing enhanced value to business and leisure travelers, as well as to the owners/partners of hotels affiliated with the Hilton brand.

HILSTAR supports Hilton's overall strategy, feeding real-time information directly into HRW (Hilton Reservations Worldwide), industry global distribution systems (GDS), individual Hilton hotels and www.hilton.com. In addition, the new system will facilitate global sales and marketing initiatives for Hilton's worldwide network of hotels in more than 50 countries. REZsolutions Inc., developed and operates the system for Hilton Reservations Worldwide.

Developed and funded jointly by Hilton Hotels Corp. and Hilton International, via their strategic alliance, this new CRS has successfully cut over from NORTH, the reservations system used by HRW for the past 27 years. NORTH will be completely decommissioned April 30. A 17-month implementation period culminated with the last 10 hotels migrating to HILSTAR the weekend of April 3-4, 1999.

"HILSTAR provides the technology platform that will create a sustainable, competitive advantage for individual Hilton hotels," said Sam Perry, president of Hilton Reservations Worldwide. "We congratulate our Hilton team members around the world on working together to achieve this tremendous accomplishment on time and under budget."

New Functionality

HILSTAR will increase hotel revenues through better selling capabilities, positioning hotels to take advantage of ongoing technological advances; improve RevPAR through sophisticated inventory and rate management features; and enhance call conversion rates through improved cross-selling features and more extensive search capabilities, while delivering consistent data across all global distribution channels.

HILSTAR's functionality provides single image inventory (same information and rates available through any of Hilton's reservations channels worldwide), in real-time, with instant confirmation capabilities. Up to an additional 50 different room types are also confirmable, further expanding Hilton's ability to meet the specific needs of travelers throughout the world.

For travel agents using the new CRS, the user-friendly screen information in HILSTAR makes booking easier than ever. One important feature is the ability to use travel agency IATA numbers to secure late arrivals. In addition, users can now view particular rate categories, such as promotional rates, on a HILSTAR "Seamless Availability" display, rather than just standard rates as before on the NORTH system.
 

HILSTAR Facts
500,000 rates were loaded into two reservations systems, four global distribution systems and multiple Internet sites, including significant restructuring of rates and rate displays
Most advanced use of multimedia, computer-based training on reservation processing for more than 4,000 team members
30,000 hours of training brought key hotel personnel up to speed on advanced reservations procedures and system availability controls over a 90-day period
HILSTAR required 17 months of dedicated preparation time by nearly 100 Hilton implementation and migration team members
More than 440 hotels in over 50 countries completely migrated to the HILSTAR system within a 90-day period
Every weekend during the 90-day period, approximately 35-40 hotels were cut over worldwide
The new HILSTAR system will process nearly 20 million bookings per year
HILSTAR is accessible through more than 7,700 terminals worldwide

Hilton Reservations Worldwide offices are located around the world in Brussels; Buenos Aires; Carrollton, Texas; Dubai; Hazleton, Pa.; London; Mexico City; Singapore; Sydney; Sao Paulo; and Tokyo. Operating out of the United States and with more than 1,000 reservations agents worldwide, HILSTAR will service customers 24 hours per day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Reservations can be made at all Hilton and Conrad International Hotels worldwide, online at www.hilton.com, through a professional travel agent or by contacting Hilton Reservations Worldwide at 800/HILTONS. Hilton Hotels Corp. and Hilton International, a subsidiary
of Ladbroke Group PLC, have a worldwide alliance to market Hilton, the world's best-known hotel brand. Collectively offering more than 440 hotels in over 50 countries worldwide, both companies are recognized as leaders in the hospitality industry.

REZsolutions Inc. is the leading provider of technology systems, branding solutions, private label services plus reservations and marketing programs for the hospitality industry worldwide. In addition to its corporate headquarters in Phoenix, REZsolutions operates regional business centers in 54 cities in 39 countries worldwide.

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Contact:
Hilton Hotels Corp. Communications
Jeanne Datz 
([email protected])
Kendra Walker ([email protected])
310/205-4545, United States
or
Hilton International Communications
Hilary Baker 
([email protected])
+44 171 856 8102, The United Kingdom
http://www.hilton.com
 --
 
Also See: Candlewood Hotel Company, Inc., Selects Lexington® Services For Global Reservations / Feb 1999
Spain�s NH Hoteles and Germany�s Quality Reservations Choose WizCom for Leading Edge Technology / Feb 1999 
Carlson Hospitality Worldwide Introduces New Generation Central Reservation System; Curtis-C Sets New Industry Standards in Technology Sophistication / Jan 1999 

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