Hampton Supports USA Cycling, U.S. Olympic Team’s “Dreams of Gold” in Beijing

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hampton Hotels®, a leader in the hospitality industry, celebrates USA Cycling and the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team by offering consumers a chance to win the opportunity to Create Your Own Dream vacation, the latest prize in the Let the Dreams Begin™ instant win game 2008 summer promotion.

With a victory in the individual time trial on Wednesday, August 13, Kristin Armstrong (Boise, Idaho) became just the second woman in American cycling history to win Olympic gold while compatriot Levi Leipheimer (Santa Rosa, Calif.) continued a streak of bronze medals for U.S. men in the race against the clock.

Armstrong joined 1984 Olympic gold medalist Connie Carpenter-Phinney in the exclusive club on Wednesday when she finished the 24-kilometer race in 34 minutes, 51.72 seconds, besting silver medalist Emma Pooley of Great Britain by 24 seconds. As Olympic champion, Armstrong became the third American woman to medal in the event, joining silver medalists Mari Holden (2000) and Dede Barry (2004).

“We’re hopeful that USA Cycling and the U.S. Olympic Team will continue to make their ‘dreams of the Gold’ come true, and our Create Your Own Dream vacation Grand Prize gives travelers the chance to make the vacation of their dreams a reality,” said Judy Christa Cathey, vice president of brand marketing for Hampton Hotels. “USA Cycling and the U.S. Olympic Team demonstrate that with hard work and dedication we can all achieve our dreams. The Hilton Family shares the world’s excitement for the Olympic Games, and we want to share and spread that enthusiasm to our loyal guests.”

Now through September 3, 2008, travelers can log on to HamptonDreams.com – an Olympic Games-themed instant-win game – to play for the opportunity to win the Create Your Own Dream Grand Prize vacation, valued at $5,450.^(a) This Grand Prize consists of:

• Four airfare vouchers
• Ten “Be My Guest” certificates which may be used for two rooms up to a 5-night stay at any Hampton Inn® and Hampton Inn & Suites® hotels; and,
• $2,500 in spending money in the form of a pre-paid gift card.

The Create Your Own Dream Grand Prize is the latest in Hampton’s Let the Dreams Begin™ instant win game 2008 summer promotion, which has included a series of prizes throughout the summer of 2008:

• July prizes included a $600 gift card which could be used towards the purchase of a bike; a gift pack containing a water bottle, t-shirt and bike tool kit; two Be My Guest Gift Certificates for a weekend stay at any of the 1,500-plus Hampton Hotel properties; and $300 in spending money in the form of a pre-paid gift card.
• June prizes included a $600 gift card which could be used towards the purchase of a bike and a gift pack containing a water bottle, t-shirt and bike tool kit.

Following are the members of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team for Cycling:

Men’s Road

1. George Hincapie, 35 (Greenville, S.C.) Road Race
2. Levi Leipheimer, 34 (Santa Rosa, Calif.) Road Race, Time Trial
3. Jason McCartney, 34 (Coralville, Iowa) Road Race
4. Christian Vande Velde, 32 (Boulder, Colo.) Road Race
5. David Zabriskie, 29 (Salt Lake City, Utah) Road Race, Time Trial

Women’s Road

1. Kristin Armstrong, 34 (Boise, Idaho) Road Race, Time Trial
2. Amber Neben, 34 (Irvine, Calif.) Road Race
3. Christine Thorburn, 37 (Davenport, Iowa) Time Trial

Men’s Track

1. Michael Blatchford, 22 (Cypress, Calif.) Team Sprint, Match Sprint
2. Adam Duvendeck, 26 (Santa Barbara, Calif.) Team Sprint
3. Michael Friedman, 25 (Pittsburgh, Pa.) Madison
4. Bobby Lea, 24 (Mertztown, Pa.) Points Race, Madison
5. Giddeon Massie, 26 (Zionhill, Pa.) Team Sprint
6. Taylor Phinney, 18 (Boulder, Colo.) Individual Pursuit

Women’s Track

1. Sarah Hammer, 24 (Temecula, Calif.) Individual Pursuit
2. Jennie Reed, 30 (Kirkland, Wash.) Match Sprint

Men’s Mountain Bike

1. Adam Craig, 26 (Bend, Ore.)
2. Todd Wells, 32 (Durango, Colo.)

Women’s Mountain Bike

1. Georgia Gould, 28 (Ketchum, Idaho)
2. Mary McConneloug, 37 (Fairfax, Calif.)

Men’s Bicycle Motocross (BMX)

1. Kyle Bennett, 28 (Conroe, Texas)
2. Mike Day, 23 (Santa Clarita, Calif.)
3. Donny Robinson, 25 (Napa, Calif.)

Women’s Bicycle Motocross (BMX)

1. Jill Kintner, 26 (Seattle, Wash.)

Those interested in learning more about the Let the Dreams Begin™ promotion can visit www.hampton.com or www.hamptondreams.com.

^(a) No Purchase Necessary. Open to US legal residents 18 years and older. Void where prohibited. Instant Win Game starts 7/1/08 at 12:00 a.m. CT and ends 9/3/08 at 11:59 p.m. CT. For Official Rules, prize descriptions and odds disclosure, visit www.hamptondreams.com.

About Hampton Hotels

Hampton, which includes Hampton Inn, Hampton by Hilton and Hampton Inn & Suites hotels, is a mid-priced leader in the lodging segment. Hampton is part of Hilton Hotels Corporation, the leading global hospitality company, with more than 3,000 hotels and 500,000 rooms in 74 countries and territories, with more than 135,000 team members worldwide. The company owns, manages or franchises some of the best known and highly regarded hotel brands including Hilton^®, Conrad^® Hotels & Resorts, Doubletree^®, Embassy Suites Hotels^®, Hampton Inn^®, Hampton Inn & Suites^®, Hilton Garden Inn^®, Hilton Grand Vacations™, Homewood Suites by Hilton^® and The Waldorf=Astoria Collection™.

Hilton Hotels Corporation is an Official Sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Team, which will extend through the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver, the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in London, the 2010/2012 U.S. Paralympic Team and the 2011 U.S. Pan American Team.

The Hilton Family of Hotels adheres to founder Conrad Hilton’s philosophy that, “It has been, and continues to be, our responsibility to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality.” The company put a name to its unique brand of service that has made it the best known and most highly regarded hotel company: be hospitable®. The philosophy is shared by all brands in the Hilton Family of Hotels, and is the inspiration for its overarching message of kindness and generosity.