A320 EOW

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/021125/250107_1.html

Press Release Source: Hilton Hotels Corporation

Hilton Garden Inn Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Opens Its Doors in Pennsylvania
Monday November 25, 9:04 am ET

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 25, 2002--Hilton Hotels Corporation (NYSE:HLT - News) announced today the opening of the 123-room Hilton Garden Inn® Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in Wilkes-Barre, PA.

High Hotels Ltd. owns and manages the newly constructed Hilton Garden Inn Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, under a franchise license agreement with Hilton Inns, Inc., the franchise subsidiary of Beverly Hills-based Hilton Hotels Corporation.

"Hotel accommodations representing the upper end of the mid-priced hotel category are in high demand among cost-conscious business and leisure travelers," said Adrian Kurre, senior vice president - brand management, Hilton Garden Inn. "Our goal is to be the mid-market hotel brand of choice when traveling throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico."

The four-story structure Hilton Garden Inn Wilkes-Barre/Scranton features: a signature glass-walled pavilion housing the reception desk; a Pavilion Pantry® with a selection of refrigerated, frozen and microwaveable packaged items, and sundries; a breakfast cafe; room service during dinner hours; a comfortable lounge area with a television and fireplace; a meeting room with 1,200 square feet of flexible meeting space; a 24-hour, complimentary business center; and an on-site guest laundry facility.

Guest room accommodations and features include: a hospitality center with a microwave oven, coffee maker and mini refrigerator; a sitting area with an easy chair and ottoman; a hairdryer; and an iron and ironing board. In-room entertainment and information services include video-on-demand movies, video games and interactive Hilton guest services.

Business-oriented features of the guest rooms include: complimentary high-speed Internet access; a spacious work desk with a pull-out shelf for a laptop computer; adjustable lighting; an ergonomic chair; electrical outlets at desk height; and two telephones equipped with two lines, data ports and voice mail.

Recreational facilities consist of a fitness room, heated indoor swimming pool and whirlpool.

"The hotel's residential feel will appeal greatly to business travelers seeking a residential-like atmosphere featuring warm decor and surroundings, as well as leisure travelers visiting friends and relatives in the northeastern Pennsylvania area," said Heather Fogle, hotel general manager.

Members of the Hilton HHonors® guest reward program can earn Points & Miles® for every qualifying stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Just eight miles from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, the Hilton Garden Inn Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is located at 242 Highland Park Blvd., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702; phone: 570/820-8595; fax: 570/820-8599. The hotel is situated off Exit 168 and I-81. Nearby attractions include the Montage Mountain Ski Resort, First Union Arena and the F.M. Kirby Center.

The Hilton Garden Inn brand is part of Hilton Hotels Corporation, recognized internationally as a preeminent hospitality company. The company develops, owns, manages or franchises more than 2,000 hotels, resorts and vacation ownership properties. Its portfolio includes many of the world's best known and most highly regarded hotel brands, including Hilton®, Conrad®, Doubletree®, Embassy Suites Hotels®, Hampton Inn®, Hampton Inn & Suites®, Hilton Garden Inn®, Hilton Grand Vacations Company® and Homewood Suites® by Hilton.

To find out more about Hilton Garden Inn hotels or make reservations, please visit our Web site at www.hiltongardeninn.com or call 1-800-HILTONS from the U.S. and Canada.
Contact:

Hilton Garden Inn Media Relations
310/205-4545
Jeanne Datz, [email protected]
Agnes Sibal, [email protected]
http://www.hiltonworldwide.com
or
Hilton Garden Inn Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Heather Fogle, 570/820-8595

Salisbury5

(see, the post above is from 2002..did they even have an Internet back then?)

Any recent stays? Much obliged.

aztimm

I've stayed a few times since it opened, most recently May 2007. They don't have suites (that I'm aware of), no real upgrade options, other than to a king room with a bed you supposedly can adjust (although the controls didn't seem to work on mine). Flat-screen tv, fridge....basically seemed like a nice Hampton to me. Location is good, just off the I-81, some restaurants walking distance, a Target, Wal-Mart, Sam's, a supermarket, the mall and tons of shopping all nearby. Gold status (at the time) gave me free breakfast in the restaurant.

I grew up in this area, every time I go back I recognize it a little less....

troyintn

I stayed their a lot last year. Overall it is an HGI. The location was decent and it is next to the arena. I ended up watching some minor league hockey.

aztimm

Anyone with recent experience here?

I have a room booked for a night next week. My high school reunion is at the casino, and this was the closest HHonors property with decent rates. I thought there used to be a Hampton near the Woodlands, but either my memory is failing or it moved/closed.

Does anyone know if they have a shuttle that would take me to/from the casino? I'll have a rental car, but just in case...

DJTim

I stayed here 4 times this year, each stay was 4 nights. It's a good hotel, no issues or problems during my stays. No shuttle to the casino that I know of.

Edit: I'm now booked here from Nov 19th to the 24 and the 26th through the 30th. I can check if they have a shuttle to the casino. I plan on going there on the 21st if I have time.

Flyer78

The Hampton Inn that was by the Woodlands is now a Holiday Inn Express. A new Hampton Inn was built "across the street" from the HGI you booked, but due to the traffic pattern, it is not that easy to get to.

Good hotel. Stay there several times a year.

I do believe they now offer shuttle service, but that may only be around group events. Best to call ahead.

DJTim

Just for reference - the hotel does offer shuttle service between 7am and 10pm to the casino and other restaurants in the area.

There was a flyer in my room with this information, and stated to ask the front desk to schedule the shuttles.

aztimm

Just a quick follow-up. I did stay here, nothing overly noteworthy either way. I got a 4th floor room, king bed, fridge, microwave, etc.

As someone else said, there is a shuttle to/fr the casino, run by a guy who also works the front desk. There was a couple wanting to take it when I checked in, and he said he'd be their driver...once a co-worker returned from break.

I just drove over to the casino. The FD had little slips of paper with directions, and it really isn't a bad drive (go toward the mall, take that road around to 115, turn left into the casino). The worst was parking and walking (through the cold) into the casino. And figuring out where I had parked after I left.


My brother and family stayed at the Hampton across the street. Sounds like it is a pretty standard property also. I'd rather the HGI, easy access to Starbucks

b1513

You could have driven right up to the front of the casino for valet parking. It's free. It's not a long wait for the car either.

Bobette

aztimm

Maybe on a normal night that's the case. However, this was the day after Thanksgiving. Along with my high school reunion, the casino was pretty hopping.
I met some friends at an all-night diner across the street after. I had parked, they used the valet. I was at the diner about 10 min before them

I grew up in the area, but since the freeway/highway was put in (and I no longer live there), I always have a difficult time figuring out how to get around the mall area. Thankfully going from hotel to casino didn't involve the freeway at all.