The Sydney Hilton marked a significant milestone at the George St venue last night, as guests celebrated 50 years of the iconic brand in Australia, which included a personal video message from heiress Paris Hilton.
To commemorate this golden anniversary, global Hilton executives including Leonard Gooz, Global Brand Leader, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Alan Watts, President, Asia Pacific and Paul Hutton, Area VP, & Head of Australasia were in attendance at the cocktail party.
Hutton reminded the audience that the opening of the Hilton Sydney in 1975 was “the same year that Abba released Mamma Mia and yes, potentially some of us rocking with flared jeans and questionable collars”.
“It’s an incredible to reflect on how far we’ve come,” he said, not just referring to fashion. “The Hilton Sydney has been a cornerstone of Australia’s hospitality scene and a symbol of Hilton’s legacy in the region. And it’s more than a hotel, it’s a part of our 106-year history.
“You’re standing in front of the heart of our newly unveiled $40 million renovation of the hotel, a transformation made possible by our incredible partners at EQT and their partners SMBC.”
“This renovation has been much more than a facelift. It’s a bold statement of our commitment to world class hospitality and to ensuring that Hilton Sydney remains a landmark for decades to come, and looking ahead, Hilton’s momentum is unstoppable in 2025 we’ll open in our 140th country across the world.”
MC, Channel 10 newsreader Sandra Sully, called to the stage Kiwi-born Watts and Austrian Gooz, on his first trip to Australia, to host a quick Q&A with. Sully said she had a strong connection with the Sydney Hilton, having also MC’d a fundraiser at the venue for the St Vincent de Paul Society last December which raised $110,000.
Watts said the reason for Hilton’s success came down to one word.
“We have 617 Hiltons trading today, a couple of 100 under construction, and although we’ve been in the business for 105 almost 106 years, it’s going to sound trite, but it comes back to hospitality,” Watts said.
“You think of Hilton as a pioneer in the industry, and you think of all of the famous people that have stayed in Hilton’s or interacted in Hiltons.
“The reality is, we are a pure play hospitality company, and that means consistent service, whether it’s your first day with us, whether you’re celebrities: Jimmy Barnes, Tina Turner, every politician, both heroes and villains, have stayed at this hotel. The test for me is not necessarily answering how we maintain a great reputation for hospitality. It’s asking customers, (about) how their stay in their experience is with us.”
Gooz said Hilton is responsible for “a bunch of things we take for granted” in hotel rooms, including cold running water, TVs and air conditioning. He also claimed the pina colada and the chocolate brownie as Hilton inventions, both of which were on hand for guests and select media at the event in the level 4 Zeta bar last night.
“These are all inventions that started shaping the travel industry for many, many decades,” he said. “Truly what guests are looking for (is) to have a reliable, friendly, truly hospitable stay.”
That was also reflected in John Lennon writing the lyrics to Imagine at the New York Hilton in Midtown, and Freddie Mercury wrote Life Is Real, a tribute to John Lennon, at the Hilton Munich.
Watts said putting a Hilton in a city created a legacy for years to come.
“Whenever we change a city skyline and put a Hilton in the air, if we do our jobs properly, it’ll be a great asset, like this one, which has been here for 50 years. And the reality of it is, for me, it means literally, think of the legacy of this hotel. Millions of customers have been married, been divorced, did good things, did bad things in this hotel, but ultimately, have had smiles put on their face by the team at this hotel.”
Celebrities present included Curtis Stone, on one of his half-dozen trips a year back home. The chef and family are still recovering from the trauma of the devastating LA fires. He told Travel Weekly that while his own home was not affected, his neighbourhood was devastated and the rebuild continues.
Pretty in Pink
Then it was Paris Hilton’s turn to appear.
“Hey everyone, it’s your girl, Paris Hilton, and I just had to take a moment to send major congratulations to Hilton on 50 iconic years in Australia from the very first Hilton Hotel in 1975 to now,” said the celebrity decked out in pink and sporting a pair of sunglasses.
“Hilton has been hosting nothing but exceptional stays, iconic gatherings, and, of course, totally next level service. To all the incredible team members, guests and partners, who’ve made Hilton the icon it is today, thank you for keeping the legacy alive and making every stay totally unforgettable. Here’s to the next 50 years of innovation, inspiration, and, of course, ‘sliving’ it up!
FYI “sliving” is a Paris portmanteau of “slaying” and “living”.
