First Major Worldwide Hotel Company to Create an All-Inclusive Brand

Hilton Caribbean, a division of Hilton International, has added an all-inclusive brand to its growing portfolio of hotels and resorts as a result of an agreement reached with Coral Hotels & Resorts (CHR) of the Dominican Republic. Called Coral by Hilton, the brand will be launched with four resorts in the Dominican Republic, all of which are operated by CHR. CHR tapped Hilton Caribbean to assume the sales and marketing efforts for its properties, which will continue to be managed by CHR. The new brand marks Hilton Caribbean's entree into the increasingly popular all-inclusive resort market. Hilton International is the first major worldwide hotel company to create an all-inclusive brand.

'The all-inclusive market has always figured prominently in our growth plans for Hilton Caribbean," said Daniel Hughes, vice president of operations, Hilton Caribbean. "We just needed the right opportunity and the right partner," he added. "The addition of this fine portfolio of resorts and the launch of the Coral by Hilton flag signifies the beginning of a new era for Hilton Caribbean and Coral Hotels & Resorts. Coral's service standards coupled with those of Hilton Caribbean will create a new standard in the all-inclusive market."

"Hilton International's strong Caribbean presence and impressive worldwide marketing power will translate into great things for our properties," said Simon Suarez, executive vice president, CHR. "We are delighted to fly the new Coral by Hilton flag," he added.

Hilton Caribbean has ambitious plans to grow the Coral by Hilton brand with the addition of other all-inclusive Caribbean properties. The growth strategy will include opportunities for Hilton Caribbean and/or CHR to own and operate resorts within the brand. However, one of the most important beneficiaries of the ambitious growth plans may very well prove to be independent, third-party operators who choose to fly the Coral by Hilton Flag and take advantage of the strong sales and marketing power that Hilton Caribbean brings to the table.

There will be a 90-day transition period while the hotels are converted. As of February 1, 2003 Coral by Hilton reservations can be made online at http://www.hilton.com, via a travel professional or by calling Hilton's worldwide reservation system.