UK Hotel Hilton Background
Hilton Hotels was orginally founded in 1919 by Conrad Hilton.
His company "Hotels Statler Company" was acquired in 1954 for $111,000,000. This at the time was the worlds largest real estate company.
The company divided itsels up into international operations in 1964. Trans World Airlines, acquired Hilton International Co. in 1967. In 1986, UAL Corp. purchased Hilton International Co. from Trans World and changed its name to Allegis Corp. the company was now part of a group with Westin Hotels, Hertz rental cars and United Airlines. This did not last long and in 1987 and Hilton International was sold to Ladbroke Group, a British leisure and gambling company, which in May 1999 adopted the name Hilton Group plc.
Due to this fact there are two fully independent companies operating hotels under the Hilton name. Hilton hotels outside of the US are part of the Hilton Group plc. The Hilton Group in the US were called Vista International Hotels, while hotels operated by the American arm of Hilton outside the US were named Conrad Hotels. The Vista chain has been phased out, while Conrad is now restyled as one of the luxury brands of Hilton (this includes The Waldorf, Astoria Collection) and operates hotels within the US, as well as abroad. To minimize consumer confusion, the American and British Hilton companies have, for the last few years, had a joint marketing agreement under which they share the same logos, promote each other's brands and maintained joint reservation systems.
Recently on the December 29, 2005 Hilton Hotels Corporation agreed to re-acquire Hilton International along with its Conrad Hotels, Scandic Hotels and LivingWell Health Clubs affiliates from British-based Hilton Group (FTSE:HG) for GBP 3.30 billion (or $5.71 billion) bringing the two groups back together. Hilton Group will re-assume the name Ladbroke Group plc. Hilton Hotels has become the world's largest hotelier surpassing Intercontinental Hotels.