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Hilton Garden Inn Launches Leisure Suit Traveler Program and Puts Some Fun into Business Travel BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- June 15, 2004 -- Leisure Suit Traveler Spokescouple Tracy Gallagher from the Travel Channel and Husband Michael Kerkorian Offer Tips for Turning Business Travel Into A Play Time Getaway on www.LeisureSuitTraveler.comHilton Garden Inn(R) today announced the launch of the Leisure Suit Traveler(TM) program to help put some fun into business travel. The new program found at www.LeisureSuitTraveler.com introduces business travelers to the growing trend of bringing along a spouse or significant other on business trips to extend weekday work into weekend fun. According to the Hilton Garden Inn Leisure Suit Traveler spokescouple, Tracy Gallagher from the Travel Channel and her husband Michael Kerkorian, "A business trip can be much more enjoyable and productive if you know you get to end the trip by spending a weekend away with your spouse or partner." Nearly half of all business travelers expect to bring their spouse or significant other on an upcoming business trip, according to a recent survey published by the National Business Travel Association. "Many business travelers think their companies might not approve of a spouse tagging along, but in reality, companies support it because it keeps their employees happy on the road," Gallagher says. "Many business hotels, such as the Hilton Garden Inn, offer a lower weekend rate and amenities catering to business and leisure travelers such as a swimming pool, work-out facility, complimentary high-speed Internet access, as well as business amenities such as complimentary secure remote printing services for guests and a 24-hour business center, that make the trip both affordable and fun." Gallagher and Kerkorian are currently working with Hilton Garden Inn hotels to launch LeisureSuitTraveler.com which goes live today and shows how business travelers can add leisure and play time to their business travels. Leisure Suit Travelers can find hotels and special offers, discover new sights, get tips on how to extend business travel into a leisure weekend getaway and try 'The Vacation Break' online game to help start their getaway planning. "Looking for ways to make business trips more enjoyable for road warriors, we are thrilled to introduce the Leisure Suit Traveler program," said Mark Nogal, vice president -- marketing, Hilton Garden Inn. "Listening to our guests, we've discovered that bringing a spouse or significant other along on a business trip is a great way to help ease the stresses of business travel. With LeisureSuitTraveler.com, Hilton Garden Inn offers couples special venues to visit as well as introduces fun play time activities for their weekend getaway." Gallagher, a frequent traveler who often brings her own spouse on business trips, offers the following tips(a) for turning business travel into leisure. -- If you book your own travel, be upfront with your boss or accounting department about bringing your significant other so that there is no appearance of impropriety. -- Ask your employer about the possibility of purchasing two coach tickets instead of one business class ticket -- earning your partner free airfare. -- Make sure to discuss your exact business plans with your spouse ahead of time to avoid miscommunication about how much time you can spend together during the business portion of your trip. -- Take advantage of the trend in Hilton Garden Inn hotels, which have become more comfortable for leisure travelers, and might offer lower weekend rates. Such hotels are the perfect solution for the business traveler who wants to stay for business, and transition into leisure. About Tracy Gallagher And Michael Kerkorian Travel Channel expert Tracy Gallagher offers a wealth of insider information for every aspect of leisure and business travel, from family vacations and business trips in the United States to exotic adventures around the world. Her husband, Michael Kerkorian, is a business owner who works with clients on reducing their utility bills. He likes to travel with Tracy when he can and offers his input on traveling with your spouse as no other typical spouse. Tracy is best known as the host of the upbeat interstitials that air on Travel Channel to promote various aspects of the network's programming, and is a regular contributor to Travel Channel's Web site and Travel Channel's radio network. Currently, Tracy hosts several of Travel Channel's World's Best specials, including Top Ten Family Resorts and Top Ten Shopping Heavens. She also has hosted a series of specials for the network entitled The Short List, an eclectic, fast-paced guide to the top things to do in a variety of popular cities. About Hilton Garden Inn For the past two years, Hilton Garden Inn has received the distinguished "Highest Guest Satisfaction Among Mid-Price Hotel Chains with Full Service" award in the J.D. Power and Associates 2002 and 2003 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study(SM). Hilton Garden Inn developments represent one of the cornerstones of the Hilton franchise growth strategy. More than 300 Hilton Garden Inn hotel properties are currently open or under development in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Hilton Garden Inn is the award-winning mid-priced brand offering complimentary high-speed Internet access in all hotel guestrooms and secure guest remote printing to the hotel's 24-hour business 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 2,100 hotels, resorts and vacation ownership properties. Its portfolio includes many of the world's best known and most highly regarded hotel brands, including Hilton(R), Conrad(R), Doubletree(R), Embassy Suites Hotels(R), Hampton Inn(R), Hampton Inn & Suites(R), Hilton Garden Inn(R), Hilton Grand Vacations Club(R) and Homewood Suites by Hilton(R). For more information on Hilton Garden Inn hotels in the U.S., Canada and Mexico or to make reservations, please visit www.hiltongardeninn.com or call 1-877-STAY-HGI in the U.S. and Canada. (a) Information provided by Tracy Gallagher are only suggestions and/or recommendations. |
