BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. Feb. 19, 2003 - Hilton Hotels Corporation announced its top developers during its Focused-Service Brand Conference for Hampton In®, Hampton Inn & Suites®, Hilton Garden Inn® and Homewood Suites by Hilton® held in Las Vegas, January 28-30, 2003. The conference was attended by more than 2,800 guests, including owners, operators and Hilton corporate team members.
Each brand recognized a Developer of the Year for the developer who had the greatest number of project approvals or who developed one or more unique hotels that helped enhance a brand`s image in 2002. Together, the brands also recognized a multi-brand developer with a Developer of the Year award who made significant contributions to the Hilton Family of Hotels with the most number of project approvals in 2002. To be considered, all hotels in the candidates` Hilton Family portfolio had to be rated high-quality and in good status, and could represent a combination of new projects, renovations and conversions.
The recipients of the Developer of the Year award were:
* Multi-Brand Award Winner/Ê Shamin Hotels
* Hampton Inn/ÊVisions Hotels LLC
* Hilton Garden Inn/ ÊMEI Hotels, Inc.
* Homewood Suites by Hilton/ ÊTharaldson Companies

Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites by Hilton owners also were presented awards for the Deal of the Year which recognize the tremendous commitment of time and effort many owners devoted to building a hotel.
The recipients of the Deal of the Year award were:
* Hampton Inn Ê
* The JBG Companies
* Hilton Garden Inn Ê
* Economos Properties
* Homewood Suites by Hilton Ê
* H & S Properties Development Corporation

Hilton Hotels Corporation Focused-Serviced Conference Franchise Development Awards 2-2-2-2 : “We are delighted to bestow the Multi-Brand Developer of the Year award to Shamin Hotels as a way of expressing our appreciation for their commitment to our Hilton Family of Hotels,” said Bill Fortier, senior vice president - franchise development, Hilton Hotels Corporation. “Additionally, each of our three focused-service brands is thrilled to recognize their respective Developer of the Year and Deal of the Year award recipients as a way to express appreciation for the franchisees` brand loyalty and overall dedication to excellence, from the design stage to post-opening.”
Multi-Brand Developer of the Year: Chester, Va.,-based Shamin Hotels has developed a number of hotels, including two Homewood Suites by Hilton properties in Chester, Va., and Richmond, Va., that have exceeded all expectations upon completion. The developer also owns four Hampton Inn hotels, and continues to develop additional properties within the Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites by Hilton brands.
Hampton:  Hampton presented an award for Developer of the Year to Visions Hotels, LLC. Based in Painted Post, New York , Visions Hotels, LLC applied for three new Hampton Inn projects in 2002, including the new Hampton Inn in Cortland, NY. Vision Hotels, LLC also owns two Hampton Inn hotels in upstate New York. The Deal of the Year award was bestowed upon The JBG Companies, based in Washington, D.C., for development of a 220-room flagship Hampton Inn hotel in Washington, D.C. - arguably one of the most challenging areas of the country for new development. The property represents a first in the District for Hampton.
Hilton Garden Inn: Hilton Garden Inn bestowed its Developer of the Year award to MEI Hotels, Inc., which opened three Hilton Garden Inn hotels in 2002. Comprised of Bert and David Moyer, MEI Hotels, Inc. leads the development effort and has acquired, constructed and developed more than 17 hotels, including three Hilton Garden Inn hotels in Fairfax, Va. Miramar, Fla., and Boca Raton, Fla. MEI Hotels, Inc. is based in Cleveland, Ohio.  Nick Economos and Economos Properties was presented with the Deal of the Year award. Nick successfully navigated zoning requirements to make the Hilton Garden Inn Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood Airport property in Fla., happen. He has led his company in many developing projects that includes 11 motor lodges, two full-service hotels, three focused-service hotels, one condominium project, one office building, three apartment complexes, two night clubs and 15 restaurants.
Hilton Hotels Corporation Focused-Serviced Conference Franchise Development Awards 3-3-3-3 —- Homewood Suites by Hilton: Homewood Suites by Hilton also presented its second annual Developer of the Year Award to Tharaldson Companies. The four Homewood Suites by Hilton hotels owned by Tharaldson Companies provided immediate distribution in several markets where the Homewood Suites by Hilton brand previously was not represented and were excellent conversion opportunities due to their high level of quality from the outset.  The Deal of the Year award was bestowed upon H & S Properties Development Corporation, based in Baltimore, Md., as a way of commending the developer for having the foresight to expand mixed-use properties within the Baltimore Inner Harbor area. Their proposed Homewood Suites by Hilton hotel would represent the first extended-stay product in Baltimore.
Conference Backgrounder: Themed “Be!,” the conference offered opportunities for participants to learn, network and build relationships through general sessions, brand-specific meetings, workshops and award presentations. Owners also had the chance to attend a private Development Session that included a special presentation by former President George H. W. Bush.
Company Backgrounder: Hilton Hotels Corporation is 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®, Conrad®, Doubletree®, Embassy Suites Hotels®, Hampton Inn®, Hampton Inn & Suites®, Hilton Garden Inn®, Hilton Grand Vacations Company® and Homewood Suites by Hilton®.
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