Hilton Worldwide Expands Leadership Development Training Partnership with eCornell

ITHACA, NEW YORK, January 24, 2012 -- Hilton Worldwide, a global leader in hospitality, has extended its relationship with eCornell for 2012, widening opportunities for team member participation in online, instructor-led training offerings.

In 2010, Hilton Worldwide first established its partnership with eCornell by offering a selection of online learning opportunities in Hospitality Management, Revenue Management and Strategic Leadership to a group of senior executives and hotel General Managers. A number of the participants went on to complete the Hotel Real Estate and Asset Management Certificate.  

As a result of the positive feedback on the initial Cornell experience, there has been a major increase in enrollment figures in the last two years. Through its Leadership College in Hilton Worldwide University, Hilton Worldwide is now further strengthening leadership capabilities for General Managers in owned and managed properties, as well as for Vice Presidents and Executive Leaders.

"eCornell and Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration have already proven to be essential partners in the professional development of our Team Members," says Matt Schuyler, Chief Human Resources Officer for Hilton Worldwide. "With a network of more than 3,800 hotels across 88 countries, our business leaders can now access a wide variety of training programs and courses online at eCornell, which is both convenient and cost-effective for us. The collaborative, social learning aspect keeps people engaged and raises course completion rates. But most importantly, programs at eCornell deliver measurable results and drive employee performance. For that reason, we have significantly expanded our partnership with eCornell."

eCornell's unique approach to e-learning combines the most effective elements of a world-class, Ivy League classroom with the flexibility of an online learning environment. eCornell courses—while self-paced and 100% online—are "instructor-facilitated" to help guide a cohort of 20 to 30 participants through challenging, real-world exercises with practical on-the-job application. Built-in collaboration features enable learners to share experiences and best practices, while immersed in learning that fosters collaboration, interaction and networking amongst the cohorts.

About Hilton Worldwide
Hilton Worldwide is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For 93 years, Hilton Worldwide has offered business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. The company is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Its brands are comprised of more than 3,800 hotels and timeshare properties, with 630,000 rooms in 88 countries and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors®. Visit www.hiltonworldwide.com for more information.

About eCornell
eCornell, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cornell University, provides many of the world's leading organizations with online professional and executive development in the areas of leadership and management, human resources, financial management, healthcare, marketing and hospitality management. eCornell's proven course development model and asynchronous instructor-led course delivery provide for engaging, rigorous and interactive learning. The company has delivered over 120,000 courses to more than 35,000 students in almost 200 countries. For more information visit www.ecornell.com/enterprise (enterprise buyers) or www.ecornell.com (small groups and individual students).