Daylight Saving Time Change Reveals Unexpected Benefit From Hampton Hotel's Little Bedside Clock

Business Wire, Oct 25, 2004

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Imagine you run a hotel, and the approaching daylight saving time change means you must manage to reset 100-200 clocks to the new, correct time ... in one day! With October 31 being the next time the nation "falls back" one hour, imagine the staff time spent at hotels across America to check and change every bedside clock. For an industry of 4.4 million rooms, this little effort could cost up to $1.3 million!

Times are changing.

Hampton(R) hotels, which will change more than 130,000 bedside clocks across America this Sunday, will save thousands of hours with its new proprietary radio alarm clock that, with a flip of a switch, accurately resets time back one hour (or ahead, depending on the need). This small function is just one of the unique design elements Hampton put into building its proprietary bedside alarm clock radio, introduced this year. It saves the hotelier hundreds of dollars on staff time and hotel guests, who may decide to change the clock back themselves, the worry of waking up "too early."

Engineered not only to provide time change conveniences, the new clock also helps guests set the wake up time -- displayed as "on" with the actual time -- in a three-step process. The Hampton radio clock also makes it easy for travelers in an unfamiliar city to find their favorite music with "picture buttons" to press and find the music and talk stations that represent their favorite style.

"We've introduced more than 120 upgrades and products this year at Hampton, but our clock continues to be one of the most admired," said Phil Cordell, senior vice president of brand management. "We decided to create the clock after reviewing more than 130 radio alarm clocks that we found didn't have all the elements a traveler needs. Little did we know, those elements would translate to the needs of our guests at home!"

As Hampton began introducing the clock in its hotels this summer, its popularity with guests influenced the hotelier to make it available for purchase to customers -- a new step for the mid-priced brand. The price is $29 each (plus taxes, shipping and handling) and can be obtained by calling 1-888-224-7730. Information can be found also on www.hamptoninn.com.

As a part of its $100 million reinvestment into the Hampton brand's product and services, the hotelier and its owners have collectively introduced sweeping upgrades -- including a new hot breakfast and On the Go Breakfast Bag(TM) offering, high-speed wireless Internet in all rooms with lap desk, new bath products and lobby remodels -- to keep one of the strongest names in the industry strong for the future.

All the changes work together consistently across all 1,280 Hampton hotels. For example, the black and white pictures guests love on the clock's "music buttons" are also hanging throughout the hotel lobby and other areas celebrating travel across America with original black and white photography.

Throughout the next year, Hampton will continue to introduce new items such as raised beds, new guest rooms furnishings, pillows and duvet comforters in its more than 130,000 rooms. Completion of all improvements is expected by year-end 2005, making it the single largest, fastest national upgrade and transformation of a national hotel brand in history.

Hampton(R), which includes Hampton Inn(R) and Hampton Inn & Suites(R) hotels, is part of Hilton Hotels Corporation, recognized internationally as a preeminent hospitality company. Hilton Hotels Corporation develops, owns, manages or franchises more than 2,200 hotels, resorts and vacation ownership properties. Its portfolio includes many of the world's best known and most highly regarded hotel brands, including Hilton(R), Conrad(R), Doubletree(R), Embassy Suites Hotels(R), Hampton Inn(R), Hampton Inn & Suites(R), Hilton Garden Inn(R), Hilton Grand Vacations Club(R) and Homewood Suites by Hilton(R).