DoubleTree by Hilton Launches “Sweet” Pay It Forward Campaign and Celebrates 300 Million Cookie Milestone

Hotel Brand Will Share #CookieCare All Over the World in 2014 with Sweet Surprise Giveaways and Announces the Launch of its Iconic Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Available Soon for Online Sale

NEW YORK & MCLEAN, Va.--()--DoubleTree by Hilton, one of Hilton Worldwide’s market-leading brands, today announces the sweetest milestone in the brand’s 25 year history. More than 300 million signature warm chocolate chip cookie welcomes have now surprised and delighted guests at DoubleTree by Hilton hotels around the world. To celebrate, the Hilton Worldwide brand is sharing its iconic and edible symbol to create many more surprising moments all year long with a new global campaign named “Cookie Care” and is also announcing that, for the first time, it will offer the cookie dough for sale online for those who wish to bake the delicious goodies in the comfort of their own homes.

Throughout 2014, Cookie Care will extend the sweet treat of a DoubleTree cookie beyond hotels doors and surprise people all over the world during high-profile events and important moments. Consumers will also have a chance to “pay it forward” via DoubleTree social media channels by answering the question, “Who else deserves some Cookie Care?”

“Over the years, our simple gesture of a warm cookie welcome at check-in has become synonymous with the DoubleTree by Hilton CARE service culture, built around the mission to 'Create a Rewarding Experience' for guests, team members and the community. No matter where you are or how you’re feeling, cookies have the power to make you smile,” said John Greenleaf, global head, DoubleTree by Hilton. “This year, we are harnessing this power and spreading Cookie Care across the globe – and inviting people to share that care forward.”

Greenleaf added that DoubleTree by Hilton research shows that the brand’s signature greeting is one of the top reasons business and leisure travelers choose to stay at their hotels. “Our guest surveys reinforce what we’ve always believed – that the little things mean everything when it comes to a great travel experience. We also hear time after time that guests want to take our cookies home with them, and for several years, we’ve offered cookies for sale in our hotels and online. Now, we’re taking that offering one step further and are excited to announce that soon consumers will be able to purchase the fresh dough for our signature cookies online. So now anyone can bake warm DoubleTree by Hilton cookies at home, anytime.”

March 20 Cookie Care Campaign Launch

Today, DoubleTree by Hilton brings its kick-off celebration to hotels and consumers nationwide by:

  • Offering a free chocolate chip cookie to anyone who walks into a DoubleTree location – with or without a reservation.
  • Making available for online sale -- for the first time -- the brand’s iconic chocolate chip cookie dough at DoubleTreeCookies.com in late spring.

Also March 20, DoubleTree team members will hit the streets of New York City from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. to share Cookie Care with tens of thousands of unsuspecting consumers, hoping to make their day a little bit brighter. In the pay it forward spirit, each person will receive two cookies – one to keep and one to share.

Beyond the Launch: Spreading the Love Year-Round

Cookie Care Tour Stops

Following the launch, DoubleTree by Hilton will surprise everyone from consumers to sports teams to newsmakers with DoubleTree by Hilton Cookie Care giveaways at spur-of-the-moment events or in honor of a major timely milestone. Tour stops currently include: Philadelphia; Los Angeles; Chicago; Miami; Atlanta; Minneapolis; San Francisco; Washington D.C.; Nashville, Tenn.; Charleston, S.C.; Toronto, Canada; London, UK and additional locations to be announced in Latin America, Europe and Asia. For the latest schedule of events, visit CookieCare.com. (Times, dates and locations are subject to change.)

Share the Care Online

DoubleTree by Hilton invites consumers to join the celebration online – by sharing their latest Cookie Care moment or answering the question, “Who else deserves some Cookie Care?” Everyone can join the conversation using #CookieCare on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. DoubleTree will monitor the conversation, select winners and make their wishes come true with surprise deliveries of the brand’s signature chocolate chip cookies.

Online Sweepstakes

DoubleTree by Hilton will also launch a Cookie Care sweepstakes March 20, inviting consumers to enter for a chance to win branded merchandise and other prizes throughout the year, including one night stays and two grand prize trips, one for the winner to keep and one to share. Consumers can enter online at CookieCare.com*.

Visit CookieCare.com to find out more about the Cookie Care campaign, dates and locations. For additional information, photography and video footage, media can visit http://news.doubletree.com/CookieCare.

* NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A purchase does not improve one’s chances of winning. Void where prohibited. Open only to permanent legal U.S. residents of the 50 states, D.C., and Canada (excluding Quebec), and habitual residents of the United Kingdom, physically residing within England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland (excluding Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St Helena and St Helena Dependencies (Ascension and Tristan da Cuhna), South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in Cyprus and any other territory or possession), at least 18 years of age at date of entry who are Hilton Honor members. Each daily sweepstakes begins at 8:00:0 a.m. PT and ends at 7:59:59 a.m. the next day. Last time to enter and check instant win status is at 7:59:59 a.m. PT on 11/20/14. Prize restrictions apply. For rules/details, click here.

About DoubleTree by Hilton

With a fast-growing, global collection of more than 370 upscale hotels in gateway cities, metropolitan areas and vacation destinations across 32 countries and six continents, every little thing we do at DoubleTree by Hilton inspires us to create a rewarding experience for our hotel guests, our team members and the communities we proudly serve. Our hospitality begins with a warm chocolate chip cookie welcome upon arrival and continues with the award-winning Hilton HHonors® guest loyalty program, an array of fine services and amenities and our longstanding CARE Culture tradition that empowers more than 45,000 team members to provide the special comforts and acts of kindness that make the traveler feel human again.

To make reservations at any DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, travelers may visit our brand website at www.doubletree.com. Social media users may connect with us at www.facebook.com/doubletree, www.twitter.com/doubletree and www.youtube.com/doubletreehotels. For the latest news, story starters and fact sheets about our brand, reporters and bloggers may visit our DoubleTree by Hilton Global Media Center at http://news.doubletree.com/CookieCare.

About Hilton Worldwide

Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxury and full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and focused-service hotels. For 94 years, Hilton Worldwide has been dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences. The company’s portfolio of ten world-class global brands is comprised of more than 4,000 managed, franchised, owned and leased hotels and timeshare properties, with more than 678,000 rooms in 91 countries and territories, including Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages an award-winning customer loyalty program, Hilton HHonors®. Visit www.hiltonworldwide.com for more information and connect with Hilton Worldwide at www.facebook.com/hiltonworldwide, www.twitter.com/hiltonworldwide, www.youtube.com/hiltonworldwide, www.flickr.com/hiltonworldwide and www.linkedin.com/company/hilton-worldwide.

Contacts

Atiya Frederick
Hilton Worldwide
+1 703 883 6599
Atiya.Frederick@Hilton.com
or
Lauren Butler
For DoubleTree by Hilton
404-405-5623
Lauren.Butler@Ketchum.com

Contacts

Atiya Frederick
Hilton Worldwide
+1 703 883 6599
Atiya.Frederick@Hilton.com
or
Lauren Butler
For DoubleTree by Hilton
404-405-5623
Lauren.Butler@Ketchum.com