MCLEAN, Va. – During a yr filled with uncertainty, Hilton Garden Inn continued to show growth in 2020 by opening 43 new hotels with nearly 6,500 rooms as the brand reached nearly 900 properties worldwide. Entering new and emerging markets such as Camden, N.J.; Flint, Mich.; and the Faroe Islands, these Hilton Garden Inn openings brought opportunities to revitalize communities and pioneer new travel markets during one of the most challenging years in history.
Hilton, the world’s first global hospitality firm, was founded on a noble premise that travel can make the world a better place. And at present, as its portfolio of 18 brands and 1 million rooms continues to grow, the company aims to spread what founder Conrad Hilton called “the light and warmth of hospitality” with every hotel opening.
Three recent Hilton Garden Inn openings present great examples of the positive impact that a Hilton property can bring to a community.
Opened December 2020, Hilton Garden Inn Camden Waterfront is the first hotel to open in Camden in more than 50 years, and is one of the main catalysts of town’s economic improvement. The newly constructed hotel meets the rising demand within the Camden market because the South Jersey metropolis continues to develop as a hub of business and tourism activity, servicing the demand of Camden’s existing 6 million sq. ft of commercial office and manufacturing space. Hilton Garden Inn Camden Waterfront enjoys views of the scenic Philadelphia skyline, Delaware River and Ben Franklin Bridge.
Opened November 2020, Hilton Garden Inn Flint Downtown invigorates Flint’s skyline and is a part of the revitalization of the area, bringing much-needed accommodations downtown. The hotel has increased spending and tourism to the world and brings 60 locally hired jobs to town of Flint. The more than 148,000-square-foot property resides in a historic 100-year-old building, vacant for decades till this restoration; the former 1920s-era bank features Italian Renaissance Revival architectural style with Artwork Deco elements. The property features a coffee shop, a seasonal rooftop and a full-service restaurant called Sauce Italian American Kitchen, which incorporates Michigan-made ingredients in its fare.
Opened in October 2020, Hilton Garden Inn Faroe Islands is the first international hotel on the archipelago, a part of the Kingdom of Denmark. The property was built with sustainability at its core, helping to grow the island’s own sustainable, responsible tourism {industry}. In line with Hilton’s Travel with Purpose 2030 goal to double sourcing from local and sustainable businesses, the resort plays a crucial role in supporting the Faroe Islands’ industry-the majority of the resort’s meat, fish and vegetables are sourced from local suppliers, which additionally helps to scale back reliance on imported items. The hotel incorporates options similar to ultra-efficient heating and ventilation, and renewable energy systems and efficiency-focused technologies to scale back power and water consumption.
“Throughout a time when we are all looking for the silver linings, I am proud that Hilton Garden Inn has continued to broaden its influence regardless of the headwinds the hospitality industry confronted in 2020,” stated Alan Roberts, global head, Hilton Garden Inn. “We attempt for every hotel we open to have a optimistic impact on its group, and as the journey {industry} recovers, we look forward to welcoming more new properties in 2021 to fulfill the unique needs of travelers in markets around the world.”
As Hilton moves into its next century, it’s constructing on its momentum and strengthening its collective influence by means of the Hilton Effect Foundation. To additional emphasize Hilton Garden Inn’s commitment to jump-start impact in local communities, the Hilton Effect Foundation shall be issuing grants to three local nonprofit organizations: Cathedral Kitchen (Camden, N.J.), the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan (Flint, Mich.) and Tórsbyrgi (Faroe Islands). Each nonprofit’s mission ladders up to Hilton’s Travel with Purpose 2030 Goals, through which Hilton is committed to doubling its investment in social influence and slicing its environmental footprint in half by 2030.
“Each of these Hilton Garden Inn hotels will make the communities they serve stronger than before they opened by creating alternatives for employment, attracting more guests to those areas, and investing time and energy to directly help these round them. These actions ultimately align with the Foundation’s goal of creating a better world to travel,” said Kate Mikesell, vice president, corporate accountability, Hilton and president, Hilton Effect Foundation. “The Foundation worked with every of those local hotel teams to identify initial investments we will make to jump-start Hilton Garden Inn’s impact in these communities-creating job skills training opportunities through Cathedral Kitchen in Camden, addressing food insecurity and waste with the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan in Flint, and increasing locally produced and sourced food with Tórsbyrgi within the Faroe Islands.”
As Hilton Garden Inn responds to the COVID-19 pandemic, some services and amenities have been adjusted so as to adhere to health and safety guidance from native government. To emphasize the brand’s commitment to the health and safety of friends, these properties are participating in Hilton CleanStay to deliver an industry-defining standard of cleanliness and disinfection. Hilton’s elevated processes and crew member training have been developed with RB, maker of Lysol and Dettol, to assist Hilton Garden Inn friends enjoy an excellent cleaner and safer keep from check-in to check-out.
The Hilton Effect Foundation is Hilton’s main international philanthropic arm. The Foundation is a nonprofit established within the U.S. and is a registered 501(c)3 charitable group. The Foundation awards grants, in alignment with Hilton’s Travel with Purpose 2030 Goals, that have a optimistic influence on travel destinations around the world. Basis grants are awarded throughout the year in accordance with tax and legal requirements.
