Hilton Worldwide Pledges to Hire 10,000 Veterans in Next Five Years and to Donate Millions of Hilton HHonors Points to Help Job-seeking Veterans

Hilton Worldwide today announced Operation: Opportunity, a major initiative to provide extensive support to United States military veterans and their families, including the hiring of 10,000 veterans at the company in the next five years. It will also donate millions of Hilton HHonors points that veterans can redeem for free hotel stays while seeking jobs, both within and outside the company.

"Hilton Worldwide has been strongly committed to supporting military veterans and their families since our founding nearly a century ago by Conrad Hilton, a U.S. Army veteran who served in World War I," said Christopher J. Nassetta, president and CEO, Hilton Worldwide. "We are very proud to build on this legacy with Operation: Opportunity."

"On behalf of First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, I applaud Hilton Worldwide's commitment to hiring our nation's veterans," said Colonel Rich Morales, executive director of the Joining Forces initiative for the White House. "The hotelier's new program will help achieve our goal of giving service members and their families the opportunities and support they have earned. We hope that other companies will follow Hilton Worldwide's lead."

Additionally, Hilton Worldwide's Operation: Opportunity includes:

• An exclusive military rate, which will be available starting September 2013 for leisure hotel stays, will offer a discount between 10-15%, and will be valid at hundreds of participating hotels across the country for active and retired U.S. military who book with a special rate code and present a valid military I.D. at check-in;
• A dedicated military career website, www.hiltonworldwide.com/militarycareers, which can match military skills with complementary open positions at Hilton Worldwide;
• A Team Member Resource Group for veterans at Hilton Worldwide, which will launch later this year to promote professional growth and provide perspective to the company from their unique vantage point; and
• A campaign to build awareness among veterans that a world-class hospitality company is seeking their skills and experience at all levels.

The Hilton HHonors hotel stays will be for use in the continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii for veterans to pursue job opportunities in any industry. They will be granted to facilitate job interviews, skills training or certification, and other job-seeking activities.

To help distribute these stays, Hilton Worldwide and the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) have established a unique public/private initiative. NASWA is an association of publicly-funded state workforce agencies who administer employment services, job training programs, unemployment insurance laws, employment statistics and labor market information. NASWA will distribute HHonors allocations to these agencies, which then will provide the stays to veterans and their families through 2,651 American Job Centers (AJCs).

"The publicly-funded workforce system serves nearly two million registered veterans annually, offering access to job openings and employment resources. State workforce agencies are committed to helping veterans achieve their goals whether those are education, training or employment," said Rich Hobbie, executive director, NASWA. "The initiative with Hilton HHonors will support veterans in the pursuit of their employment goals, and we are excited to be a part of this valuable endeavor."

About Hilton Worldwide

Hilton Worldwide is a leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For 94 years, Hilton Worldwide has offered business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. The company is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Its brands are comprised of more than 4,000 hotels and timeshare properties, with more than 650,000 rooms in 90 countries and territories and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors. Visit www.hiltonworldwide.com for more information and connect with Hilton Worldwide at www.facebook.com/hiltonworldwide, www.twitter.com/hiltonworldwide, www.youtube.com/hiltonworldwide, www.flickr.com/hiltonworldwide and www.linkedin.com/company/hilton-worldwide.

SOURCE: BUSINESS WIRE