DoubleTree by Hilton Launches “Sweet” Pay It Forward Campaign and Celebrates 300 Million Cookie Milestone

DoubleTree by Hilton, one of Hilton Worldwide's market-leading brands, today announces the sweetest milestone in the brand's 25 year history. More than 300 million signature warm chocolate chip cookie welcomes have now surprised and delighted guests at DoubleTree by Hilton hotels around the world. To celebrate, the Hilton Worldwide brand is sharing its iconic and edible symbol to create many more surprising moments all year long with a new global campaign named "Cookie Care" and is also announcing that, for the first time, it will offer the cookie dough for sale online for those who wish to bake the delicious goodies in the comfort of their own homes.

Throughout 2014, Cookie Care will extend the sweet treat of a DoubleTree cookie beyond hotels doors and surprise people all over the world during high-profile events and important moments. Consumers will also have a chance to "pay it forward" via DoubleTree social media channels by answering the question, "Who else deserves some Cookie Care?"

"Over the years, our simple gesture of a warm cookie welcome at check-in has become synonymous with the DoubleTree by Hilton CARE service culture, built around the mission to 'Create a Rewarding Experience' for guests, team members and the community. No matter where you are or how you're feeling, cookies have the power to make you smile," said John Greenleaf, global head, DoubleTree by Hilton. "This year, we are harnessing this power and spreading Cookie Care across the globe - and inviting people to share that care forward."

Greenleaf added that DoubleTree by Hilton research shows that the brand's signature greeting is one of the top reasons business and leisure travelers choose to stay at their hotels. "Our guest surveys reinforce what we've always believed - that the little things mean everything when it comes to a great travel experience. We also hear time after time that guests want to take our cookies home with them, and for several years, we've offered cookies for sale in our hotels and online. Now, we're taking that offering one step further and are excited to announce that soon consumers will be able to purchase the fresh dough for our signature cookies online. So now anyone can bake warm DoubleTree by Hilton cookies at home, anytime."

March 20 Cookie Care Campaign Launch

Today, DoubleTree by Hilton brings its kick-off celebration to hotels and consumers nationwide by:

• Offering a free chocolate chip cookie to anyone who walks into a DoubleTree location - with or without a reservation.
• Making available for online sale for the first time the brand's iconic chocolate chip cookie dough at DoubleTreeCookies.com in late spring.

Also March 20, DoubleTree team members will hit the streets of New York City from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. to share Cookie Care with tens of thousands of unsuspecting consumers, hoping to make their day a little bit brighter. In the pay it forward spirit, each person will receive two cookies - one to keep and one to share.

Beyond the Launch: Spreading the Love Year-Round

Cookie Care Tour Stops

Following the launch, DoubleTree by Hilton will surprise everyone from consumers to sports teams to newsmakers with DoubleTree by Hilton Cookie Care giveaways at spur-of-the-moment events or in honor of a major timely milestone. Tour stops currently include: Philadelphia; Los Angeles; Chicago; Miami; Atlanta; Minneapolis; San Francisco; Washington D.C.; Nashville, Tenn.; Charleston, S.C.; Toronto, Canada; London, UK and additional locations to be announced in Latin America, Europe and Asia. For the latest schedule of events, visit CookieCare.com. (Times, dates and locations are subject to change.)

Share the Care Online

DoubleTree by Hilton invites consumers to join the celebration online - by sharing their latest Cookie Care moment or answering the question, "Who else deserves some Cookie Care?" Everyone can join the conversation using #CookieCare on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. DoubleTree will monitor the conversation, select winners and make their wishes come true with surprise deliveries of the brand's signature chocolate chip cookies.

Online Sweepstakes

DoubleTree by Hilton will also launch a Cookie Care sweepstakes March 20, inviting consumers to enter for a chance to win branded merchandise and other prizes throughout the year, including one night stays and two grand prize trips, one for the winner to keep and one to share. Consumers can enter online at CookieCare.com*.

Visit CookieCare.com to find out more about the Cookie Care campaign, dates and locations. For additional information, photography and video footage, media can visit http://news.doubletree.com/CookieCare.

SOURCE: BUSINESS WIRE