Hilton Hotel Chain – The Legacy and The Empire
May 11, 2009 – 8:10 amThe Hilton Hotel chain is one of the oldest hotel chains in the entire country. Founded in 1919 by Conrad Hilton. By 1943 the Hilton Hotel chain had become the country’s first hotel chain that spanned from coast to coast. Today, the hotel chain can boast more than 200 hotels worldwide, in more than 12 different countries.
The Man Behind The Hotel
The founder of the Hilton Hotel chain was Conrad Hilton. An American born of German parents, Conrad Hilton had an extraordinary life. Not only was he an educated man, having graduated with honors from the New Mexico School of Mines, but he was also a war hero in World War I and served as a Representative in the State of New Mexico.
Prior to his service in the military, Conrad had helped his father build a small inn. Upon his release in 1919, Conrad decided to become a hotelier and purchased the Mobley Hotel in Cisco, Texas. This first purchase spurred Conrad on to purchase other hotels across Texas and he formed the Hilton Hotel Corporation in 1946. The Great Depression caused Conrad to lose several of his hotels, but he was able to purchase them back and the Hilton Hotel chain grew stronger. In 1948, the Hilton International Company was formed. Now, with more than 200 hotels worldwide, the Hilton Hotel chain is one of the world’s largest luxury hotel chains.
The Hilton Hotel Legacy
Conrad Hilton passed on in 1979, but the Hilton Hotel chain is just as strong, if not stronger than ever. Currently headed by Christopher Nassetta, the Hilton Hotel chain shows no sign of faltering. It is estimated that the descendants of Conrad Hilton have a net worth of more than $350 million, spread between more than a dozen corporations which have been formed around the world. Recently the Hilton Hotel chain merged with the Blackstone Group, a transaction worth more than $20 billion dollars.
If Conrad Hilton could have seen what the Hilton Hotel chain was to become, he would have been proud of the legacy he left behind. If you ever need luxurious accommodation anywhere in the world, there’s a Hilton Hotel somewhere nearby where you can be indulged and they are sure to be able to accommodate you on your next vacation.
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