Hilton Worldwide and International Youth Foundation Launch Global Youth Initiative

(3BL Media) McLean, VA – June 5, 2012 – Hilton Worldwide announced a $3 million, three-year partnership today with the International Youth Foundation (IYF), a global organization that realizes the power and promise of young people and since its founding in 1990 has prepared nearly 16 million young people to learn, work and lead. Additionally, Hilton Worldwide’s President and CEO, Christopher J. Nassetta, is joining the IYF board. 

Designed to connect Hilton Worldwide’s aggressive global expansion strategy with its corporate responsibility goals, the partnership with IYF expands Hilton Worldwide’s commitment to Travel with Purpose – creating opportunities for global youth by providing them with first-hand access to education, training and career paths within the hospitality industry.

“The hospitality industry is a great place for young people to learn new skills and build a lasting career,” said Mr. Nassetta. “There are countless stories of hospitality leaders like myself who first got a taste of the industry at a young age. During college, I worked in the engineering department of a hotel where I received on-the-job training in property operations. My experience, and the wonderful people I met along the way, inspired me to pursue a career in hospitality, and through our partnership with IYF we hope to pass this inspiration to future generations who will support the long-term success of our company and the industry.”

As an IYF board member, and through Hilton Worldwide brand and regional initiatives, Nassetta will contribute to efforts that address the economic challenges associated with the staggering growth in the youth population – referred to by experts as the “youth bulge.” In many countries, youth unemployment is two-to-three times that of the rate for adults, resulting in an estimated 100 million young people in need of work worldwide.

“The International Youth Foundation is thrilled to partner with Hilton Worldwide to help expand life and work opportunities for youth across the globe – transforming the ‘youth bulge’ into a ‘youth bonus,’” said William S. Reese, the IYF President and CEO. “We are particularly pleased that a global leader in the travel and tourism industry, the world’s largest provider of jobs, is tapping the expertise and dedication of its vast workforce to reach out to local youth and help them realize their fullest potential as engaged and productive citizens.”

Hilton Worldwide will leverage its expansive network of properties – more than 3,800 hotels across 88 countries – to further strengthen IYF’s reach. Working with IYF, Hilton Worldwide will develop numerous programs that tap youth into the “ladder of success” model that has already transformed the future for countless Hilton Worldwide team members and industry leaders alike. Together, the partners will draw on their deep involvement in communities around the world to provide opportunities for future employment and life skills training to youth in developing regions. Hilton Worldwide will join IYF’s global network of more than 200 partners in 68 countries. Through its partner organizations, IYF has directly invested more than US$178 million in youth initiatives. 

In 2011, Hilton Worldwide launched Travel with Purpose, its commitment to providing shared value to its business and communities around the world. Travel with Purpose is built on four areas of focus – creating opportunities for individuals to reach their full potential; strengthening communities where we operate; celebrating cultures and the power of travel; and living sustainably through the measurement, analysis and improvement of our use of natural resources.

For more information about Hilton Worldwide’s partnership with the International Youth Foundation, please visit www.hiltonworldwide.com/corporate-responsibility/partnerships.

About Hilton Worldwide

Hilton Worldwide is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For 93 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 3,800 hotels and timeshare properties, with 630,000 rooms in 91 countries 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.

About the International Youth Foundation

The International Youth Foundation (IYF) invests in the extraordinary potential of young people. Founded in 1990, IYF builds and maintains a worldwide community of businesses, governments and civil-society organizations committed to empowering youth to be healthy, productive and engaged citizens. IYF programs are catalysts of change that help young people obtain a quality education, gain employability skills, make healthy choices and improve their communities. To learn more visit www.iyftnet.org/.