USA, Germantown, Tennessee. January 14, 2025

McNeill Hotel Company (MHC) recently celebrated Hampton's 40th anniversary as a brand with the Hampton by Hilton brand team. The luncheon celebration was held at the Hampton Inn & Suites Germantown, owned and operated by MHC.

The celebration also honored ten years of the McNeill Hotel Company, founded by Phillip McNeill Jr. and Mark Ricketts in 2014. MHC currently manages 24 hotels in its portfolio.

Phillip McNeill Sr. opened the second Hampton Inn located in Little Rock, AR in 1984. He was one of the first franchise owners of a Hampton Inn and when he sold his company, Equity Inns, in 2004, he was the largest franchise owner of Hampton.

"Having Rebecca Mervis, Senior Director of the Hampton brand, join us for this occasion was a great honor for my father and the entire McNeill team. We are proud to be part of the Hampton legacy and longtime operator of Hampton and Hilton hotels," MHC Executive Chairman Phillip McNeill Jr. said. "We look forward to a wonderful, continued partnership."

Addressing the group, Mervis said: "At 40 years young, Hampton is just getting started! As we officially mark the milestone 40th anniversary, we have come a long way from our humble beginnings as a roadside hotel, and we continue to maintain our position as a true industry leader.

"Already in 2024, we've opened our 3,000th hotel and have grown our global footprint to more than 40 countries and territories. In 2024, we reached 400 hotels in China and entered our fifth continent, Africa. We honor Hampton's rich legacy of innovation and ground ourselves in Hampton's fundamental service elements - Hamptonality, the 100% Hampton Guarantee, and our Make it Right initiatives."

Celebration Highlights:

During the celebration, Phillip McNeill Sr. was recognized for his innovation and contributions to the hospitality industry. On display were scrap books of the early days of Equity Inns, which included photos of the Hampton Inn in Little Rock and one of the first Hampton Inn brochures.

Also, Mark Layne and Spence Ray, legacy leaders of both Equity Inns and the McNeill Hotel Company, each shared timeline stories of 40 years in working with the McNeill team.

Mary Anne Gibson, Vice Mayor of Germantown, TN, attended the celebration and thanked the McNeill Hotel Company for their contributions to Germantown in being a supportive corporate partner.

In the spirt of giving back to the community, a presentation of toys collected by MHC and the Hampton Germantown staff, were given to the "Toy Truck", sponsored by Porter-Leath Children's support agency. The toy truck helps parents provide toys to their children who cannot afford to buy them at Christmas.

About McNeill Hotel Company

Headquartered in Germantown, Tennessee, McNeill Hotel Company is built on a foundation of trust, pursuit of excellence and a philosophy of "people serving people." The firm focuses on select-service hotels with a growth strategy based on a mix of new hotel development, meaningful acquisitions and third-party management agreements. The company is an approved franchisee for both Marriott and Hilton. The Company's leadership team have more than 200 years of combined institutional experience in the hotel industry, encompassing nearly every discipline of the business. For more information, visit www.mcneillhotels.com.

About Hilton

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 24 world-class brands comprising more than 8,300 properties and over 1.25 million rooms, in 138 countries and territories. Dedicated to fulfilling its founding vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, Hilton has welcomed over 3 billion guests in its more than 100-year history, was named the No.1 World's Best Workplace by Great Place to Work and Fortune and has been recognized as a global leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for seven consecutive years. Hilton has introduced industry-leading technology enhancements to improve the guest experience, including Digital Key Share, automated complimentary room upgrades and the ability to book confirmed connecting rooms. Through the award-winning guest loyalty program Hilton Honors, the more than 200 million Hilton Honors members who book directly with Hilton can earn Points for hotel stays and experiences money can't buy. With the free Hilton Honors app, guests can book their stay, select their room, check in, unlock their door with a Digital Key and check out, all from their smartphone. Visit stories.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

About Hampton by Hilton

As the No. 1 ranked lodging franchise for the last 15 years by Entrepreneur®, Hampton by Hilton - including Hampton Inn by Hilton and Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton - serves quality-driven and value-conscious travelers at more than 3,000 properties in 41 countries and territories around the globe. The brand continues to lead its segment by providing guests with high quality, thoughtfully designed accommodations and amenities, such as modern, spacious rooms and free hot breakfast featuring the signature Hampton Waffle. Hampton by Hilton is committed to delivering an exceptionally friendly and authentic service all backed by the 100% Hampton Guarantee™. Experience a positive stay at Hampton by Hilton by booking at hampton.com or through the or through the industry-leading Hilton Honors app. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits. Learn more about Hampton by Hilton at stories.hilton.com/hampton, and follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram and X. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits. Learn more about Hampton by Hilton at stories.hilton.com/hampton, and follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram and X.

CUTLINE FOR PHOTO:

Pictured left to right: Brent McDowell, EVP Business Development-MHC; Paul Vandiver, Director of Owner Relations - Hilton; Don Willingham, VP, Brand Performance Support- Hilton; Rebecca Mervis, Sr. Director of Hampton by Hilton; Lisa Cline, Director of Hamptonality; Phillip McNeill Jr., CEO of MHC; Spence Ray, President McNeill Commercial Real Estate LLC; Mark Layne, CFO McNeill Commercial Real Estate, LLC; Jason Ward, EVP Finance & Development MHC; Kim Knop, VP of Business Development MHC; and Ken Parish, Director of eCommerce, MHC. Center - Phillip McNeill Sr., Founder of Equity Inns REIT