Doubletree Hotels® Connects Students with Their Communities in Celebration of the 'Awesome Colors of Autumn' : Hoteliers' Teaching Kids to CARE® Fall Initiative Encourages Students to Give Back to the Community by Sharing Natural Expressions of Fall with Others

As shades of gold and crimson leaves cascade across neighborhood lawns and parks this fall, children across North America and around the globe are heading outdoors and into their communities to celebrate “The Awesome Colors of Autumn.” As part of the award-winning Teaching Kids to CARE® environmental education program by Doubletree Hotels, students will reach out to members of their own communities in hopes of bringing the beauty of the outdoors inside by donating hand-crafted “Leaf-lets of Love” featuring nature-inspired messages to local children’s hospitals and similar organizations.

BOSTON (Business Wire EON) November 13, 2008 -- Today, more than 80 students from Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted School in Waltham, Mass. will participate in the first of many events celebrating this naturally dynamic season. Students will create "Leaf-lets of Love" – artistic and informational letters detailing the seasonal transformations occurring right in their own neighborhoods. Each "Leaf-let of Love" will be filled with caring messages and hand delivered to members of the community who cannot personally experience the changing colors of the seasons.

With help from Doubletree Hotels, Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted students will present these colorful art pieces to representatives from Community Servings. Community Servings is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing free home-delivered meals throughout eastern Massachusetts to people homebound with HIV/AIDS and other acute life-threatening illnesses. Since many of their clients are unable to shop or cook for themselves, these "Leaf-Lets of Love" will accompany home-delivered meals, so that they can celebrate the sights, sounds, scents and feelings that autumn conjures up. To accompany every "Leaf-let of Love" delivered, Doubletree will donate one of their legendary chocolate chip cookies to make the gesture that much sweeter.

"Appreciating the great outdoors and all it provides us is something that most of us simply take for granted. We tend to forget that there are many people in our own community who are unable to get outside to experience the wonders of nature," said Dave Horton, senior vice president - brand management for Doubletree Hotels. "This fall's 'Awesome Colors of Autumn' initiative reminds kids and adults that nature is ready to enjoy at any time right outside our windows and doors. Just as important, the observations and lessons we learn from nature can be easily shared with others in a variety of fun and exciting ways."

More than 150 similar events are being celebrated by thousands of team members at Doubletree hotels with students and teachers at their adopted schools as part of this global environmental initiative through early December. During the past several weeks, teachers, students and Doubletree team members have followed an educator-approved lesson plan created for the Teaching Kids to CARE program that reinforces requirements by today's National Science Education Standards. Participants learned about the lifecycles of leaves and the important role they play during the fall season. From exploring the science behind the changing leaves to the reason for their spectacular colors, children gained a clear understanding of the importance and unique attributes of the leaves in their hometowns.

With their new-found knowledge, more than 10,000 students enjoyed a neighborhood nature walk with Doubletree volunteers and their teachers. Students then participated in a global pen pal exchange program by sharing their thoughts and observations on nature in their own neighborhood with students in different regions of the U.S., Canada, Costa Rica, China and the United Kingdom.

"Doubletree's genuine interest in our students and the future of our environment is apparent through their Teaching Kids to CARE program," said Chandra Minor, principal at Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted School. "Each spring and fall, volunteers from the Doubletree Hotels of Boston present fun, interesting and socially responsible lesson plans that engage and challenge our students to make positive contributions to their community. They truly assist our educators in encouraging students to become caring, informative and strong leaders of tomorrow."

2008 is the seventh year of Doubletree's Teaching Kids to CARE program, a community-based outreach initiative that brings together hotel team members and elementary school students across the globe in an effort to educate children about the value of connecting with nature and the importance of making environmentally-conscious decisions at an early age.

Additional information about Doubletree's Teaching Kids to CARE fall initiative and the hotel brand's commitment to environmental education and awareness can be found at www.doubletree.com/thinktrees.

About Doubletree Hotels

With a growing collection of contemporary, upscale accommodations in more than 190 gateway cities, metropolitan areas and vacation destinations worldwide, Doubletree Hotels, Guest Suites and Resorts are distinctively designed properties that provide true comfort to today's business and leisure travelers. From the millions of delighted hotel guests who are welcomed with the brand's legendary, warm chocolate chip cookies at check-in to the advantages of the award-winning Hilton HHonors® guest reward program, each Doubletree guest receives a satisfying stay wherever their travels take them.

Doubletree 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™.

To make reservations at any Doubletree hotel, travelers can visit our website at www.doubletree.com, contact their preferred travel professional or call 1-800-222-TREE in the U.S. and Canada.