Hilton Extends Volleyball Sponsorship, Adds Booking Engine

Hilton Hotels Corp. -- Hotels, 4/1/2008 8:52:00 AM

Hilton Hotels & Resorts and Hilton Garden Inn® are heading back to the beach with AVP Pro Beach Volleyball. The two brands today announced their sponsorship of AVP Pro Beach Volleyball for the third consecutive year.  As the Official Hospitality Sponsors of the 2008 AVP Tour, Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn help bring their commitment of fitness and personal wellness to local communities, athletes and fans of one of America’s top high energy sports. The two brands also sponsor individual AVP athletes, many of whom are also members of the national team.

“The AVP embodies fitness and healthy lifestyles, two key areas that Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn strive to emphasize through our promotions of personal wellness in our hotels and the communities we serve,” said Jeff Diskin, senior vice president of brand marketing and management – Hilton Hotels. “We make great efforts to offer our guests the products, services and experiences they need to help achieve their personal goals while traveling, whether that includes working out, being productive, eating right or pursuing the Olympic gold.”

More than one million people are expected to attend an AVP event this year as the only pro beach volleyball tour in the country celebrates its 25th anniversary. 

“We are proud to be part of this extraordinary year for the AVP as fans celebrate 25 great years of competition and athletes prepare to represent our country at the Olympics,” said Adrian Kurre, senior vice president - brand management for Hilton Garden Inn. “Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn will welcome athletes and fans in our hotels and help them perform at their best as well as help give local kids an opportunity to play and train with AVP pros.”

In each of the 18 AVP tour stops, one Hilton or Hilton Garden Inn property has been selected as the official host hotel for that tournament. Through its clinics in each city along the tour, Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn will invite youth volleyball players to learn from AVP athletes and help emphasize the importance of physical fitness. Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn will kickoff the 2008 AVP Tour April 10 in Miami with a family-oriented wellness clinic featuring fitness tips from AVP athletes.

The Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn brands’ sponsorship of AVP includes the following elements:

- Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn-sponsored youth clinics, that help give children in 18 cities the chance to experience pro beach volleyball with coaching from AVP athletes, including: 2004 Olympic medalist Elaine Youngs, 2005 AVP Most Valuable Player Rachel Wacholder and one of last season’s top men’s teams, Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers.
- A customized booking portal that allows athletes and fans to book rooms in all tour stop locations.
- Seven sponsored athletes, with each athlete receiving complimentary hotel accommodations:
o Women: Elaine Youngs, Nicole Branagh, Rachel Wacholder and Tyra Turner
o Men: Todd Rogers, Phil Dalhausser and Jake Gibb
- Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn Sponsor Hospitality Tent will host city officials, celebrities, top-level AVP sponsors and promoters.

“Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn are striving to enhance the AVP experience by extending their world-class hospitality to our players, sponsors, fans and partners and we are honored to collaborate with them during this historic year for the AVP,” said Leonard Armato, CEO and tour commissioner - AVP.  “Throughout their sponsorship Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn have helped encourage young athletes and reinforce a positive message of health and fitness.”

Both Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn have focused on the development of wellness initiatives and products that help promote better choices for guests. Hilton Eat Right® menus and Hilton Breakfast offerings give guests easy solutions for dining while on the road and all Hilton properties feature Hilton fitness by Precor® fitness centers. Every Hilton Garden Inn location offers complimentary Stay Fit Kits® that are available for guests to check out from the front desk giving them the option to do a core yoga or Pilates-inspired workout in the comfort of their room or in the hotel’s complimentary workout facility. Guests can also use the Stay Fit Kit in conjunction with a 25-30 minute workout through the in-room entertainment programming at select Hilton Garden Inn locations. Hilton Garden Inn hotels also feature the 24-hour Pavilion Pantry® convenience market offering a variety of snack options, meals, beverages and sundries.

Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn also sponsor the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic volleyball teams.