Homewood Reports 2008 as Banner Year

Expects Continued Growth in 2009

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. January 15, 2009

BEVERLY HILLS, CA, January 15, 2009 - Homewood Suites by Hilton(R), the international brand of all-suite, residential-style hotels celebrated 2008 as one of its best years since the brand was launch in 1989, despite the recent industry slowdown. Last year, Homewood Suites opened its 250th property, finishing the year with a footprint of 258 hotels, 28,492 upscale suites throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico, and a development pipeline of more than 130 planned properties.

'While 2008 was a tough year for the hotel business, the demand for extended-stay products increased,' said Bill Duncan, Vice President, Brand Sales and Marketing, Homewood Suites. 'For Homewood Suites, the state of the economy created the perfect storm for new travelers to discover the unique value of Homewood's upscale extended-stay offerings and helped strengthen our relationship with existing customers and development partners.'

Complementing the brand's impressive growth in 2008, Homewood Suites was honored with several consumer awards and garnered top industry recognition for its commitment to customer satisfaction and innovative approaches to enhancing the overall hotel stay experience. Major awards included:

o A 'Best Value Chain' ranking in Zagat's 2009 U.S. Hotels, Resorts, & Spas Survey

o Ranked number one in guest satisfaction among extended-stay hotel chains in J.D. Power and Associates' North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index StudySM for sixth time*

o Named 'Top Upscale Extended Stay Hotel' by Business Travel News

o Homewood Suites By Hilton's Suite Selection, the industry's first interactive room selection tool, named #2 innovation in 2008 by InformationWeek at annual InformationWeek 500 Awards

The brand plans on adding 40-50 more properties in 2009, bringing the portfolio count to 300 by Q4 2009.

Key Homewood Suites initiatives in 2009 include:

o Opening the first Homewood Suites/Hampton Inn joint build in Silver Spring, MD. (January 9, 2009)

o Publishing 'Lewis the Duck goes to Canada,' the brand's second in a series of children's books written to help business travelers with young families explain extended-stay travel.

o Opening of Homewood Suites 300th property (expected in Q4 2009)

o Opening of Homewood Suites/Hilton Garden Inn joint build Brooklyn high-rise property (Q4 2009)

o Continued foray into international markets such as Canada and Mexico

o Ongoing support of the Nature Conservancy's Duck River restoration project, the National Coalition of the Homeless, and various Memphis-based non-profit organizations.

'From continued expansion of our brand footprint and unique property openings to new consumer programs and philanthropic partnerships, we are optimistic that 2009 will be another strong year for Homewood,' said Duncan.

Launched in 1989, the Homewood Suites by Hilton brand today has more than 260 hotels and approximately 130 properties in the development pipeline. The brand offers complimentary high-speed internet access, daily Suite Start(R) hot breakfast, and a Welcome Home(R) reception featuring a light meal and beverages, Monday through Thursday. Beyond its spacious suites and home-like amenities, Homewood Suites guests can find at each hotel an on-site Suite Shop(R) convenience store, exercise facility and guest laundry at most locations. Additional guest services include a complimentary grocery shopping service** and a complete business center at most locations.

*Homewood Suites by Hilton received the highest numerical score among extended stay hotel chains in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2007-2008 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study. 2008 study based responses from 53,453 guests measuring 11 extended stay hotels and measures opinions of guests who stayed in a hotel May 2007-June 2008. Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of consumers surveyed June 2007-June 2008. Your experiences may vary.