Hiltons e-Events online planning and booking tools for weddings, small meetings and reunions has more than quadrupled its online bookings for the full year 2008, compared to 2007.

For 2008, e-Events revenue increased 178 percent over prior year from online bookings among the Hilton Family of Hotels. Online bookings from weddings increased 211 percent and business meetings online bookings increased 171 percent, respectively, over the prior year.

More than 250,000 users are projected to handle their events through the Hilton Family of Hotels online group tools in 2009, which was introduced two years ahead of any competition with the ability to book live inventory for groups. The Hilton Family of Hotels e-Events online planning and booking tools allow busy, tech-savvy customers to plan, book and manage groups online with real time inventory across the Hilton Family of Hotels, 24/7 booking access, meeting space, food and beverage, and audio-visual options, and instant booking with an online contract and confirmation.

From weddings and business meetings to all social gatherings, e-Events offers customers a robust online planning tool to book from 5 to 25 rooms and is accessible at more than 2,500 Hilton Family of Hotels – Hilton, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, , Homewood Suites by Hilton, and Waldorf Astoria Collection hotels – another feature unique to Hilton and unlike its competitors, because of its propriety software platform, OnQ.

"We developed e-Events to address the growing needs of people to plan, book and manage their events online at their convenience. Our research continues to reflect the ongoing trend of many first time planners – primarily GenX and GenY users – who drive the online booking process. With the majority of today's consumers Internet savvy, our goal is to make online bookings of events and meetings as commonplace as online airline bookings," said Bob Brooks, vice president – eSales Strategy and Performance, Hilton Hotels Corporation.

"Once an event is booked online with e-Events, customers have immediate access to additional online booking tools / resources that allow them to manage their rooming list and create a customized page for their event. Our focus is to make booking online group accommodations easy, convenient and seamless," added Brooks. "In our effort to continue enhancing e-Events, Hilton also will introduce customized menus this year."

After a customer books an event and a block of rooms online, they receive a call by the end of the next business day from a hotel staff member at the hotel, who offers additional assistance and support. All part of Hilton's service commitment to ensure "high-touch" customer contact in the midst of a digital world.

Currently, e-Events is available at all North American Hilton Family of Hotels and will be extending its online planning and booking tools to Hilton Family hotels in the U.K. in 2009.

About e-Events
e-Events is available only at participating locations and is subject to availability at participating hotels. Other terms and conditions apply. Please visit www.hiltonfamilyeevents.com for full details.