National Survey Reveals Booking Meeting Space Offsite Takes Up to Two or More Hours for Some

Responding to Demand, Hilton Worldwide Launches Meeting Simplified and Kicks Off #MeetingsMonday Twitter Sweepstakes

MCLEAN, Va. - A new national Hilton Worldwide survey of more than 600 U.S. meeting planners reinforces the need for small meeting solutions with nearly a third of business professionals spending an average of two or more hours booking hotel meeting space for an offsite meeting. Launching today, Meetings Simplified offers groups of 25 attendees or less ease of use, convenience and per-person pricing at more than 1,800 properties in the U.S.

“Our hotels accommodate groups for meetings and events of all sizes, and Meetings Simplified provides our customers with increased flexibility through a process that’s easier and quicker than ever before”

Additionally, the survey reveals:

• Only 21 percent of business professionals book offsite business meetings in an average of 30 minutes or less.
• 63 percent say meetings outside of the office are more productive.
• 67 percent saying they would book meetings outside of their normal work space to enhance their company’s image.

“Our hotels accommodate groups for meetings and events of all sizes, and Meetings Simplified provides our customers with increased flexibility through a process that’s easier and quicker than ever before,” said Andrew Flack, vice president, product marketing solutions, Hilton Worldwide. “A key benefit to business professionals is that Meetings Simplified offers per-person pricing and it’s easier to book.”

Designed with feedback from meeting planners, on-the-go workers, entrepreneurs and administrative professionals, Meetings Simplified streamlines the process for booking meetings:

• Visit www.hiltonworldwide.com/simplified to see a list of participating properties
• Call the hotel in advance of your planned meeting
• Book and confirm your meeting with one of our hotel associates

The Meetings Simplified basic meeting package includes everything from Wi-Fi and flip charts to soft drinks, tea and coffee included in the per-person pricing, as well as additional offerings from select participating brands. Meals and snacks, LCD projectors with monitors and guest rooms may be also added through an a la carte menu. Hilton Worldwide brands participating in the Meetings Simplified offering include Hilton Grand Vacations, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotel, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels and Homewood Suites by Hilton.

The Hilton Worldwide-commissioned survey also found that business professionals place high importance on having a professional environment in which to meet. In addition to 67 percent of respondents who said they would book meetings outside of their normal work space to enhance their company’s image, 87 percent say meeting at hotels versus other locations has the benefit of a “relaxed” environment. Eighty-six percent say hotel meeting spaces are “fresh” compared to other meeting spaces.

#MeetingsMonday Twitter Sweepstakes

With just 29 percent of survey respondents saying the most appealing meeting time is Monday morning, versus 54 percent who say Thursday mornings are best, Hilton Worldwide is striving to make Monday meetings more enjoyable over the next month. As a part of the Meetings Simplified launch, Hilton Worldwide is launching a weekly Twitter contest between November 18 and December 9 where followers @HiltonWorldwide can respond to Twitter challenge questions on how they use and book meetings. Followers must answer the question and use the #MeetingsMonday hashtag between 11:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) and 3 p.m. EST every Monday through Dec. 9 for a chance to win the following:

Nov. 18: 30,000 Hilton HHonors points
Nov. 25: A Be My Guest Gift Card for a free one-night stay at a Hilton Worldwide property
Dec. 2: 10,000 frequent flyer miles on any one of Hilton’s U.S. airline partners
Dec. 9: A Be My Guest Gift Card for a free one-night stay at a Hilton Worldwide property

For the official rules of the #MeetingsMonday Twitter Sweepstakes, click here: http://news.hiltonworldwide.com/index.cfm/page/11088.

To learn more about Meetings Simplified, visit www.hiltonworldwide.com/simplified.

Survey Methodology
Hilton commissioned Braun Research to field a survey among 607 adults (ages 18+) who served as the booker or decision maker for a small offsite business meeting booked within the past year, in support of Hilton’s Meetings Simplified launch. The survey gauged opinions and behaviors related to booking offsite meetings. For the purposes of this survey, a small offsite business meeting was defined as a professional gathering of 10-25 people at a third party location.

About Hilton Worldwide
Hilton Worldwide is a leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxury and full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and focused-service hotels. For 94 years, Hilton Worldwide has been dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences. The company’s portfolio of ten world-class global brands is comprised of more than 4,000 managed, franchised, owned and leased hotels and timeshare properties, with more than 665,000 rooms in 90 countries and territories, including Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages an award-winning customer loyalty program, Hilton HHonors®. Visit www.hiltonworldwide.com for more information and connect with Hilton Worldwide at www.facebook.com/hiltonworldwide, www.twitter.com/hiltonworldwide, www.youtube.com/hiltonworldwide, www.flickr.com/hiltonworldwide and www.linkedin.com/company/hilton-worldwide.