When did Hilton become the parent company of Embassy Suites By Hilton?
Embassy_Suites_By_Hilton Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Hilton became our parent company on January 4, 2017, as the successor to our previous parent company, Park Hotels & Resorts, Inc. ("Park"). Together, Hilton and Park have conducted a guest lodging business since 1946. Park was originally called Hilton Hotels Corporation ("HHC") from May 29, 1946, to December 19, 2009. It changed its name to Hilton Worldwide, Inc. ("HWI") on December 20, 2009, and to Park Hotels & Resorts Inc. on June 1, 2016. On January 4, 2017, Park became an independent company in a spin-off transaction. As a result of that spin-off, nearly all company-owned hotels were divested with Park. For convenience, all references to "Hilton" in this Disclosure Document include HHC, HWI, and Park during the relevant time frames for each, unless otherwise noted.
Source: Item 1 — THE FRANCHISOR AND ANY PARENTS, PREDECESSORS AND AFFILIATES (FDD pages 8–15)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Embassy Suites By Hilton Franchise Disclosure Document, Hilton became the parent company on January 4, 2017. Prior to this, Park Hotels & Resorts, Inc. was the parent company. Both Hilton and Park Hotels & Resorts, Inc. have been involved in the guest lodging business since 1946. Park Hotels & Resorts, Inc. was originally named Hilton Hotels Corporation from May 29, 1946, to December 19, 2009, then changed to Hilton Worldwide, Inc. on December 20, 2009, and finally to Park Hotels & Resorts Inc. on June 1, 2016.
On January 4, 2017, Park Hotels & Resorts, Inc. became an independent company through a spin-off transaction, which resulted in the divestiture of nearly all company-owned hotels. The FDD clarifies that any references to "Hilton" include Hilton Hotels Corporation, Hilton Worldwide, Inc., and Park during the relevant time frames, unless otherwise specified. This historical context is important for prospective franchisees to understand the evolution of the Embassy Suites By Hilton brand under different corporate structures.
Embassy Suites Franchise LLC, a subsidiary formed in September 2007, was the immediate predecessor in offering the Embassy Suites brand in the U.S. from October 2007 through March 2015. Before that, Promus Hotels, Inc. licensed, owned, and operated Embassy Suites hotels in the U.S. from May 1995 to October 2007, with Promus' predecessors offering franchises from March 1984 through April 1995. All predecessor franchise agreements were assigned to Hilton or its affiliates, ensuring continuity in the franchise system.