Hilton International
What business is it in?
A giant of the hotel world. Hotels number more than 400 in 77 countries, with more than 97,000 rooms. Its subsidiary, Hilton UK & Ireland, has 78 hotels and 16,000 rooms.
What's its form?
Hilton International had turnover for the six months to 30 June of £1.27b, with pre-tax profit of £56m.
Where is its head office and area and area of operation?
Watford, Hertfordshire. Operates around the globe, excluding America.
What brands does it operate?
Hilton Hotels, Hilton Worldwide Resorts, Scandic Hotels, Coral by Hilton and joint ownership of luxury-chain Conrad.
How does its future look?
Having weathered the recent slowdown in the hotel market by replacing declining business guests with leisure users, the business is preparing to open a £30m, 254-bedroom hotel in reinvigorated Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, early this year. The group's first Manchester city-centre hotel will open in 2006.
How many people does it employ?
Sixty-five thousand worldwide, 15,000 in the UK. Operates the Esprit staff reward scheme, online learning programme Hilton University, and graduate recruitment scheme Elevator. Information is available from human resources on 020 7856 8000 or visit the website at www.hiltongroup.com
Tell us something interesting about the company
Hilton has just taken over one of London's best-known hotels, the five-star, 303-bedroom Waldorf in Aldwych.
Not to be confused with...
Hilton Hotels Corporation is a separate entity to Hilton International, operating exclusively in America. The two split in 1964 but signed a marketing alliance agreement in 1997.