Hilton Garden Inn Partners with Travel Channel’s Kinga Philipps to Encourage Consumers to Declare Their Own Holiday

Recent Survey Unveils Surprising Vacation Habits and Desires

MCLEAN, Va.--()--Nearly half of Americans (48 percent) feel they are most in need of “me” time when being overworked, according to a survey released today by Hilton Garden Inn. Recognizing Americans’ need to reclaim their weekends to recharge, the hotel brand is partnering with television personality and travel enthusiast Kinga Philipps to encourage individuals to embark on weekend getaways on their own terms. Hilton Garden Inn’s “Declare Your Own Holiday” campaign aims to empower people to establish and celebrate their own special reasons to get away to discover new places, connect with themselves and loved ones, and take a moment to breathe easy.

“As the survey revealed, Americans crave weekend travel to take a break from hectic work schedules or a jam-packed social calendar,” said Philipps. “I’m excited to be working with Hilton Garden Inn to encourage everyone to give themselves a well-deserved break by declaring their own holiday – when, where and how they want.”

The survey revealed that although being overworked is the top reason people need “me” time, having too many social and family obligations (21 percent) or being sick (18 percent) also leave Americans with the desire to take a breather. More than a third of respondents (35 percent) said unplugging and relaxing is the best part of an impromptu weekend getaway – important enough that some tell a little white lie to get time off. Forty-seven percent of employed Americans fessed up to making an excuse to get out of work in the past 12 months – “I’m sick” being the most common (27 percent).

The survey also revealed:

  • Chores No More: When heading out of town for the weekend, nearly two out of three respondents (63 percent) most look forward to taking a break from cleaning up or cooking for themselves and their family.
  • Trip Days: Forget sick days; half of employed respondents (50 percent) would most want a weekend getaway as part of their employee benefits package – even more than fancy frills, such as daily massages (18 percent), a personal driver (11 percent) or lunch delivered to their desks every day (10 percent).
  • Wish You Were There: Seeing Facebook friends post vacation pictures such as beach sunsets and horseback riding leaves many wanting to live vicariously. Most feel interested (45 percent) or happy (34 percent) when seeing their friend’s weekend travel photos on social media. Only some are jealous (13 percent) or annoyed (9 percent).

“Sometimes we forget to take a moment to breathe,” said Philipps. “Between balancing work, family schedules, social commitments and community activities, we’re living an ‘always on’ life – 24/7. Weekends and holidays come and go quickly and for most of us, there’s never enough time to catch up.”

To make the most of a getaway, Philipps recommends the following tips for travelers:

  • Embrace the Culture: Scope out unique events, festivals and fairs that are exclusive to the region and eat like a local – skip the chain restaurants! Visitor centers and community calendars are great resources to find local gems – you can’t find everything in guide books.
  • Just Breathe: Forget about your “to-do” list and stresses back home – embrace vacation mode! Make the most of your experience by reminding yourself to be present in the moment.
  • Connect with Your Inner Child: Don’t be afraid to play! Challenge yourself to embrace your surroundings and live in the moment – run through a field of flowers, ride a rollercoaster, indulge in a funnel cake at a fair, whatever your heart desires. Keep it fun and light-hearted. You’ll thank yourself later.

“We learned that nearly two-thirds of travelers most look forward to relaxing when enjoying a weekend getaway. We want our guests to know they’re taken care of so they can focus on what really matters – relaxing, exploring new destinations and spending time with loved ones,” said Judy Christa-Cathey, vice president of the focused service brand marketing team at Hilton Worldwide. “At Hilton Garden Inn, we pride ourselves on creating a positive, stress-free experience for our guests every single time. Through our Satisfaction Promise, we promise to do whatever it takes to ensure our guests are happy, or they don't pay.”

For more information about Hilton Garden Inn’s Declare Your Own Holiday campaign, visit www.Facebook.com/HiltonGardenInn. To learn more about Hilton Garden Inn and book your own holiday, visit www.hgi.com.

The Hilton Garden Inn survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com) among 1,000 nationally representative U.S. adults ages 18+, between May 5th and May 12th, 2014, using an email invitation and an online survey. Quotas have been set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the U.S. adult population 18+. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. For the interviews conducted in this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3.1 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.

Kinga Phillips has been commissioned by Hilton Garden Inn for her endorsement and participation in the public relations campaign, “Declare Your Own Holiday.”

About Hilton Garden Inn

Hilton Garden Inn is the award-winning, upscale, yet affordable hotel brand that continually strives to ensure today’s busy travelers have everything they need to be most productive on the road — from our oh-so-comfortable Garden Sleep System® bed to complimentary wired and Wi-Fi Internet access in all guestrooms. So whether on the road for personal or business reasons, Hilton Garden Inn offers the amenities and services for travelers to sleep deep, stay fit, eat well and work smart while away from home. For more information about our locations around the globe, visit www.hgi.com or call 1-877-STAY-HGI.

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 4,100 managed, franchised, owned and leased hotels and timeshare properties, with more than 685,000 rooms in 92 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®.

Contacts

Hilton Worldwide
Jennifer Hughes, +1 901-374-6518
jennifer.hughes@hilton.com
or
For Hilton Worldwide
Andrea Horowitz, +1 212-805-8078
andrea.horowitz@emanatepr.com

Contacts

Hilton Worldwide
Jennifer Hughes, +1 901-374-6518
jennifer.hughes@hilton.com
or
For Hilton Worldwide
Andrea Horowitz, +1 212-805-8078
andrea.horowitz@emanatepr.com