Hilton Hotels Corporation and its Co-Chairman and CEO Stephen Bollenbach will receive Southern California Minority Business Development Council’s (SCMBDC) 2006 Leadership Award.SCMBDC, the region’s leading minority business advocacy group, will recognize the company and Bollenbach at its 22nd Annual Leadership Awards dinner on Friday, October 13. The event will be held at The Beverly Hills Hotel, located at 9641 Sunset Blvd. The reception begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m.

This year’s honorary dinner chair is John Bryson, chairman, president and CEO of Edison International.

The council is paying tribute to Hilton Hotels Corporation and Bollenbach “for their overall outstanding performance and leadership in the hospitality industry,” according to John W. Murray, Jr., president of the council. “Hilton’s commitment to the community, environment, and diversity - both within the company and outside with supplier diversity - make the company truly deserving of our 2006 Leadership Award.”

“Steve Bollenbach takes corporate responsibility seriously, with the company involved in numerous activities, such as charitable giving, programs that conserve energy and water, and diversity initiatives that go beyond just establishing and maintaining a diverse workforce,” Murray says, adding, “Hilton’s supplier diversity program ensures that minority business enterprises have an open door to do business with the company.”

“Diversity is an important part of Hilton Hotels Corporation’s culture. First championed by our founder Conrad Hilton and reinforced by our team members’ accomplishments over the years, the company continuously seeks ways to achieve meaningful diversity in every aspect of its operations - from supplier diversity to hotel ownership. I am proud of our many accomplishments,” says Bollenbach.
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