100 years of Hilton

The Hilton Brand is counting down 100 days to celebrate 100 years of existence on 31 May. That means a century worth of innovation, hospitality, and revolutionised thinking.

Conrad Hilton, a name not new to our ears, founded the hotel chain in 1919. The first property he bought was the Mobley Hotel in Cisco, Texas. Following this, he then opened the Dallas Hilton in Dallas, Texas, which was the first hotel to bear the Hilton name. From then on, Hilton has flourished into nearly 5,500 hotels and 14 brands spread over 106 countries, with a track record of more than three billion guests.

Hilton has always been a pioneer in the industry and was able to encourage its staff by cultivating an atmosphere of entrepreneurialism in the workspace; some might even call it the ‘Hilton Effect’. For example, it is a little-known fact that the Piña Colada was created by a bartender in the employment of the Hilton Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, back in 1954.

Hilton is synonymous with firsts. To mention a few, Hilton was the first to introduce room service and to install colour televisions and air-conditioning in rooms, and was the first hotel company to appreciate what technology can do for a business and get on the internet! Up to this day, Hilton is still a clear front-runner when it comes to firsts in the industry. Most recently it has opened the first ever underwater villa at the Conrad Maldives and who knows what the next hundred years will bring?

All around the world, everyone associated with the Hilton brand will be celebrating this milestone, so why not join in the fun! Keep an eye out for competitions and prizes to be won on Hilton Malta’s Facebook page.