Nilton Formula One Global Sponsorship Deal Announced With Team McLaren Mercedes

SPA, Belgium, Sept. 9 - Hilton International, the world's best known hotel brand, today announced a long-term corporate partnership with Team McLaren Mercedes to commence at the 2005 Belgian Grand Prix, round 15 of the 2005 Formula One World Championship.

Today, at the legendary Spa Francorchamps circuit Team McLaren Mercedes will display the iconic Hilton International hotel logo for the first time. The logo will appear on the lower rear wing end plate of its two MP4-20 racing cars driven by two of the world's leading F1 drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Juan Pablo Montoya.

Hilton International's partnership with Team McLaren Mercedes in the Formula One World Championship supports its international growth strategy to increase the number of hotels in new and existing markets and to position the company firmly among the new generation of young and affluent international travellers.

Commenting, Ian Carter, Chief Executive of Hilton International said; "Formula One offers a global stage of unrivalled prominence with live broadcasts to hundreds of millions fans worldwide in 200 countries. We believe that Team McLaren Mercedes, an acknowledged world leader in its field, is the ideal partner to support our growth strategy and keep our brand image fresh and appealing. The corporate partnership is also an opportunity for us to build commercial alliances and to offer our customers new products and packages."

Ron Dennis, Team Principal of Team McLaren Mercedes and CEO and Chairman of the McLaren Group comments; "We are delighted to welcome Hilton International to our team of longstanding valued corporate partners and we look forward to driving both business success and Team McLaren Mercedes success in the Formula One World Championships together."

As part of this partnership, Hilton International has launched 'Hilton Racing', a complimentary membership club providing customers with a range of benefits. These include a Hilton Racing membership card; exclusive discounts off select resort holidays and short breaks; ability to purchase limited edition merchandise; access to select 'Hilton Racing Breaks' and access to select 'Hilton Racing Events'. Customers can become a Hilton Racing member now by visiting www.hilton.com/racing and completing the registration form.

High resolution Hilton images are available for the media to download free of charge on www.vismedia-online.com . For more information on Hilton International, visit www.hiltongroup.com .

Hilton Racing is a complimentary club for customers to join by visiting www.hilton.com/racing . Member benefits are subject to terms and conditions and include:

  -- Limited edition Hilton Racing membership card
  -- Exclusive discounts off selected luxury resort holidays and short
     breaks throughout the year
  -- Selected discounts off F&B at participating hotels during a Grand Prix
     weekend and at Hilton Racing Events
  -- Ability to purchase Hilton International and Team McLaren Mercedes
     limited edition merchandise
  -- Entry into Prize Draws
  -- Ability to purchase select Hilton Racing Break packages
  -- Opportunity to attend select Hilton Racing Events at participating
     hotels
  -- Monthly newsletter