Stephen Bollenbach to Receive AH&LA Heritage Award

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. October 14, 2008

OCTOBER 3, 2007. Stephen Bollenbach, chairman and CEO of Hilton Hotels Corporation, will be honored with the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) Hospitality Heritage Award at the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF) Dinner Tribute, November 13 at the New York Hilton in New York City. Proceeds from the dinner benefit the research and scholarship efforts of AH&LEF, the not-for-profit affiliate of AH&LA.

Since Bollenbach became co-chairman and CEO of Hilton Hotels Corporation, the Hilton family of hotels has grown to include more than 2,800 hotels in 80 countries, making it one of the largest hotel companies in the world. Bollenbach oversaw the acquisition of Bally Entertainment, which made Hilton the world's largest gaming company, a venture that was subsequently spun off to form Park Place Entertainment. He is a director of the Hilton Hotels Corporation, and lends his talents as a member of the boards of Harrah's Entertainment and Time Warner, Inc.

At the end of 2007, Bollenbach is stepping down as CEO of Hilton Hotels, but will serve as co-chairman of the board through 2010, and continue to provide consultation services through 2012.

Prior to joining Hilton, Bollenbach was senior executive vice president and CFO for the Walt Disney Company where he was instrumental in their acquisition of Capital Cities/ABC. Before Disney, Bollenbach was president and CEO of Host Marriott Corporation. In addition, he spent several years as CFO of the Trump Organization, and as CFO and a member of the board of directors of Holiday Corporation. His hospitality background was enhanced by his many years in the financial services industry.

Bollenbach is active in the community as a member of the board of Teach for America, and as former chairman of the Los Angeles World Affairs Council.

"Steve is a great example of how a commitment to serving the industry and a vision for the future can reap tremendous results in terms of growth and prosperity," said AH&LA President/CEO Joseph A. McInerney, CHA. 'He is an innovator who has demonstrated how progressive financial management can accelerate the progress of the lodging industry and its relationship to other business enterprises. Steve epitomizes the spirit of the Hospitality Heritage Award and because of that, we are breaking tradition and presenting a second award this year because he is such a worthy recipient.'

The Hospitality Heritage Award was first given to Jack Vaughn of the Opryland Lodging Group in 1999. Barron Hilton followed in 2000, the Pritzker family was honored in 2001, the Tisch family received the award in 2002, the Carlson family was acknowledged in 2003, Barry Sternlicht of Starwood Hotels & Resorts received the award in 2005, and J. W. Marriott was the recipient in March.

The proceeds from the Hospitality Heritage Award Dinner support the mission of the Foundation, which is to provide scholarships and funding for research on behalf of the lodging industry. The AH&LEF Dinner Tribute is being sponsored by American Express and Hilton Hotels Corporation.

For more information regarding the AH&LEF Dinner Tribute, contact Katie Hais, manager of conventions and events, at (202) 289-3114 or [email protected]. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Brad Aldrich, AH&LA vice president of business development, at (202) 289-3154 or [email protected].