Doubletree Hotels Celebrates Completion of Five-Hotel Conversion Project in Tennessee
	MEMPHIS, Tenn. Sept. 8, 2003 Doubletree(R) Hotels (NYSE:HLT) and Cooper Hotels are proud to announce that they have almost completed the conversion of five Tennessee hotels to the Doubletree brand. New Doubletree locations are accepting guests in Memphis, Jackson, Oak Ridge, Murfreesboro and Johnson City, Tenn.
"Thanks to our newly expanded relationship with Cooper Hotels, Doubletree will quickly be recognized as the place to stay across the state of Tennessee. Just as important, the service commitments these hotels already share are very similar to the Doubletree overall mission -- to provide a welcoming and comfortable hotel experience to our guests, wherever their travels take them," said Dave Horton, senior vice president -- brand management for Doubletree Hotels. "Each hotel is quickly reaping the rewards of the extensive Doubletree sales, marketing and technology infrastructure. And our loyal base of Hilton HHonors(R) members around the world will have seven key locations to earn Points & Miles(R) when visiting the `Volunteer State.'" Hilton HHonors is the only hotel program that allows any of its members to reap Double Dip(R) earnings by simultaneously accumulating both airline miles and hotel points with each qualifying stay at any of these five new Doubletree hotels in Tennessee, as well as more than 2,400 hotels within the Hilton Family of Hotels (including more than 155 Doubletree hotels). Every hotel guest is also "welcomed" to the hotel with the brand's beloved, fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies upon arrival, which symbolizes the warm, caring and friendly personality that is distinctively Doubletree. "We are pleased so far with the progress of this ambitious plan of multiple hotel conversions to the Doubletree brand. Since our official joint announcement this past April, hundreds of team members at our five Tennessee hotels have worked diligently to make this process seamless and invisible to our guests," said Pace Cooper, president & chief executive officer of Memphis-based Cooper Hotels. "We are gearing up to share our excitement with communities across the state of Tennessee in the coming weeks. The names of our five hotels may be changing, but the same great people and commitment to service will remain the same." Elvis Would Have Enjoyed Those Fresh-Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies Now Available In Memphis The new Doubletree Hotel Memphis, which completed a multi-million dollar hotel-wide renovation in 2002, is situated in the Clark Tower complex of the popular East Memphis Business District. Some of the most popular attractions in the area include Elvis Presley's Graceland(R), Beale Street, Libertyland, The Pyramid Sports Complex, Mud Island River Park and the National Civil Rights Museum. The Doubletree Hotel Memphis' dramatic six-story atrium lobby welcomes guests with a specially commissioned sculpture -- The Acrobats -- which symbolizes the hotel team's commitment to service excellence. All of the Doubletree Hotel Memphis' 265 oversized guestrooms are beautifully appointed in a rich jewel tone color scheme with burgundy, green and blue accents and feature a large well-lighted work desk with ergonomic chair, two-line telephones with voicemail and dataports and in-room refrigerators, coffee makers, hair dryers and irons. The hotel is proud to also feature Executive Floor accommodations with upgraded amenities and a private lounge that serves a complimentary continental breakfast and evening manager's reception Monday through Friday. For board meetings, training sessions, social functions or full-service banquets, the Doubletree Hotel Memphis is the perfect gathering place for anyone in the greater Memphis area. The hotel offers more than 6,000 flexible and dedicated meeting facilities equipped with the latest in audiovisual technology to accommodate up to 400 people. For recreation and fitness, the Doubletree Hotel Memphis offers a heated indoor/outdoor swimming pool, an on-site exercise room, guest access to an adjacent full-service health club with tennis and racquetball facilities and a nearby professional golf course. An upscale American cuisine experience with the finest in steak and seafood can be found at Cal's Championship Steakhouse. The Doubletree Hotel Memphis is located 15 minutes from Memphis International Airport, near the intersection of Interstates 40 and 240. The hotel's address is 5069 Sanderlin Avenue, Memphis, Tenn. 38117. For more information on the Doubletree Hotel Memphis, visit the hotel's website at www.memphis.doubletree.com or contact the hotel directly at 901-767-6666. Jackson's Premier Full-Service Hotel Becomes A Doubletree Located in the City Center business area of Jackson, the new Doubletree Hotel Jackson is located near such major corporations as Procter & Gamble, Porter Cable, Maytag and Delta Faucet, as well as more than twenty restaurants, Union University, Lambuth University, Lane College, Jackson State Community College, Pringles(R) Park, Casey Jones Village and the Old Hickory Mall. The hotel received the Chamber of Commerce 2002 Pinnacle Award Winner for Service Excellence and was voted Best Hotel in West Tennessee by readers of the Jackson Sun newspaper. The Doubletree Hotel Jackson features 166 guestrooms, each equipped with a workdesk, two two-line telephones with voicemail and dataports, a hospitality center with a refrigerator and microwave and in-room irons and coffee makers. Executive Floor rooms feature upgraded amenities, high speed internet access and a private concierge lounge. Ezra's Grill Restaurant is a neighborhood favorite that serves American and Southern favorites. The hotel also offers a complimentary, 24-hour business center to guests; an indoor/outdoor swimming pool and an onsite fitness center. The Andrew Jackson Ballroom and two dedicated executive boardrooms total nearly 4,000 square feet of event and meeting space and make the Doubletree Hotel Jackson the perfect gathering place for business meetings or special celebrations of up to 400 people. The Doubletree Hotel Jackson is located 10 minutes from Jackson Municipal Airport at 1770 Highway 45 Bypass, Jackson, Tenn. 38305. For more information on the Doubletree Hotel Jackson, visit the hotel's website at www.jackson.doubletree.com or contact the hotel directly at 731-664-6900. Science and Natural Scenery Come Together At The Only Full-Service Hotel In Oak Ridge For those visiting Y-12 BWXT, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Foster Wheeler, the American Museum of Science and Energy, the University of Tennessee or anywhere in the greater Knoxville area, the Doubletree Hotel Oak Ridge is one of the best places to stay in the area. The hotel is just 20 minutes from McGhee Tyson Airport. Whether your event requires space for five to 250, the 3,200 square feet at the Doubletree Hotel Oak Ridge includes an experienced catering team that is committed to the highest standards from a simple "power networking breakfast" to a full-scale wedding banquet. Burchfield's is a full-service restaurant in an open atrium setting that specializes in American specialties. Additional hotel services include guest laundry and dry cleaning, a business center, a whirlpool, an indoor/outdoor swimming pool and access privileges to a nearby full-service health club. The Doubletree Hotel Oak Ridge's 167 deluxe, oversized guestrooms include in-room entertainment services; in-room coffee makers, hair dryers and irons; and a hospitality center with a refrigerator and a coffee maker, two-line telephones with voicemail and dataports. Upgraded accommodations include Executive Floor rooms and four suites. The Doubletree Hotel Oak Ridge is located near Highway 62 and the Oak Ridge Parkway at 215 South Illinois Avenue, Oak Ridge, Tenn. 37830. For more information on the Doubletree Hotel Oak Ridge, visit the hotel's website at www.oakridge.doubletree.com or contact the hotel directly at 865-481-2468. Historic Battlefields And A World Famous Distillery Are Within Easy Reach Of This Doubletree Located in the heart of Middle Tennessee outside of Nashville, the Doubletree Hotel Murfreesboro provides fine accommodations in the fastest growing city in the state. The hotel is convenient to such local points of interest as Middle Tennessee State University, Stones River National Battlefield, Cannonsburg Pioneer Village, Nashville Superspeedway and the Jack Daniel's(R) Distillery. The Doubletree Hotel Murfreesboro also is centrally located near such major businesses as Nissan, General Mills and Rich Products. The 164 deluxe, oversized guestrooms at the Doubletree Hotel Murfreesboro include complimentary high-speed Internet access, a hospitality center with a refrigerator and a coffee maker, two-line telephones with voicemail and dataports, and even a speaker system in the bathroom to catch up with the latest news in the morning. Executive Floor rooms with upgraded accommodations and amenities also are available. The 4,000 square feet of meeting space at the hotel includes the Heartland Ballroom -- the premier banquet spot in Murfreesboro with more than 3,000 square feet of event space that can be easily divided into three equal sections to accommodate breakout sessions. Fanatic's is a casual restaurant with a wide-ranging menu -- from the Porterhouse Steak house specialty to a variety of fresh salads. Sports and popular programming are shown on 20 large screen TVs and monitors throughout the restaurant. The hotel also offers an indoor/outdoor swimming pool and special work stations equipped with computers, printers, copiers and supplies. The Doubletree Hotel Murfreesboro is located near the intersection of Interstate 24 and Highway 96, 30 minutes from Nashville International Airport and 10 minutes from Murfreesboro Airport at 1850 Old Fort Parkway, Murfreesboro, Tenn. 37129. For more information on the Doubletree Hotel Murfreesboro, visit the hotel's website at www.murfreesboro.doubletree.com or contact the hotel directly at 615-895-5555. Slow Down For The Fall Colors Of The Great Smoky Mountains Or See The Fast-Paced Action of NASCAR Just three miles from East Tennessee State University and the Quillen College of Medicine at one of the gateway cities to the Great Smoky Mountains, the Doubletree Hotel Johnson City provides the perfect place to stay in Northeastern Tennessee. Located in the hub of the Tri-Cites bordering Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia, and only a day's drive from many major Mid-Atlantic cities, the hotel is close to such major attractions as the National Storytelling Center and the Bristol Motor Speedway. The five-story Doubletree Hotel Johnson City features 184 guestrooms with in-room coffee makers, refrigerators, hair dryers and irons. Fanatic's is a casual restaurant with a wide-ranging menu -- from the Porterhouse Steak house specialty to a variety of fresh salads. Sports and popular programming are shown on 20 large screen TVs and monitors throughout the restaurant. Executive Floor rooms with upgraded accommodations and amenities also are available. Hotel services include an on-site fitness room, an indoor/outdoor swimming pool as well as a business center equipped with computers, printers, copiers and supplies. The Doubletree also is within walking distance to the region's largest shopping mall with specialty shops, theatres, banks and nationally known eateries. With more than 2,100 square feet of meeting facilities -- which include a ballroom for up to 300 guests, an executive boardroom for 30 and an intimate parlor for 10 -- the Doubletree Hotel Johnson City offers professional planning assistance for any type of business or social gathering. The Doubletree Hotel Johnson City is located 15 minutes from Tri Cities Airport at 211 Mockingbird Lane, Johnson City, Tenn. 37604. For more information on the Doubletree Hotel Johnson City, visit the hotel's website at www.johnsoncity.doubletree.com or contact the hotel directly at 423-929-2000. About Cooper Hotels Cooper Hotels is recognized as one of the highest-quality franchisees in the Hilton Family of Hotels. More than half of the company's 22 hotels across nine states are affiliated with the Hilton and Doubletree brands. Cooper Companies also has real estate, insurance and construction divisions.