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According to a recent survey by Hilton Hotels Corporation and Yankelovich Partners, an overwhelming majority of American parents (almost 70 percent) view vacations as the only real quality time families spend together. As one of the most widely offered and longest running family programs available today, Vacation Station—offered this summer at 125 Hilton, Doubletree and Red Lion hotels and resorts--is uniquely equipped to help parents and kids make the most of family travel.

Vacation Station is the only hotel program to provide free use of age-appropriate, "specially tested" toys and games to kids and families during their hotel stay. Combined with supervised activities at select hotels and resorts, a unique Welcome Key Packet for parents, a great Welcome Gift for the kids, special kid menu items at hotel restaurants and much more, Vacation Station provides all of the right elements for a memorable family vacation experience.

"Before creating Vacation Station, we spent considerable time listening to the families that visit us," says Joanie Flynn, Vice President of Leisure Marketing for Hilton and Doubletree hotels. "What we found in this age of two working parents competing with 'Internet' time and multiple after-school activities is that parents and kids are barely able to make time to eat a meal together, let alone spend valuable playtime together. Our recent survey shows that three-quarters of parents are still striving to find a balance between family and work. For them, vacations are one of the only focused opportunities to reconnect with their kids."

ENJOY IN-ROOM FUN TIME WITH UNIQUE TOY LENDING DESK

Vacation Station distinguishes itself from standard family hotel programs with its extensive-and complimentary-Toy Lending Desk, which features popular toys and games appropriate for the entire family, from infants, toddlers and preschoolers to school age children, teenagers and parents. The program works with Toy Tips, Inc., an independent, consumer-focused research company, and the Toy Research Institute at the University of Missouri, St. Louis to ensure that all the toys are tested and evaluated for entertainment and educational value so children who stay at participating Hilton, Doubletree and Red Lion Hotels will have a positive play experience. Of the hundreds of toys that pass the tests, Vacation Station selects a variety that fit the ideal needs and play environment for hotel family fun.

This year's toy lending desk options range from new toys and games like Alphabet Apple and Mouse Play Deluxe by VTech to family games such as Talkin' Tango, Mad Gab and Three for All by Patch Products, Inc., T-Rex Rules! by Great American Puzzle Factory, Whales by Playmore Games and Generations by FamilyTime Products. (For complete details, see "Lending Desk Toys and Games" list.)

PARENTS AND KIDS RECEIVE A SPECIAL VACATION STATION WELCOME

When families arrive at a Vacation Station hotel, both adult and child guests are welcomed with special amenities—right at check-in.

Adult guests receive a unique Welcome Key Packet that includes a listing of local events and activities families can enjoy in and around the hotel. The packets are a great resource for families who want to sample the local culture and explore their surroundings together.

Kid guests between the ages of one and 12 this year receive a sturdy and stylish Vacation Station canvas backpack, perfect for storing toys and personal items or for toting books when they go back to school. Even the youngest guests receive something special: newborns are presented with a colorful Vacation Station bib.

SUPERVISED ACTIVITIES PROVIDE BOTH KIDS AND PARENTS WITH QUALITY FUNTIME

For kids looking to explore a bit on their own or parents hoping to squeeze in a round of golf or a few hours of downtime, supervised activities are available in half- and full-day formats at 18 select locations during the summer season.

From learning to hula and panning for gold to crab hunting and teepee building, Vacation Station provides kids with the opportunity to make a few friends and learn something new in the process. As an added bonus, the activities offer some new topics for parents and kids to discuss during their time together. With supervised activities available at Vacation Station hotels, parents can have a little private time and know their kids are having fun too.

It is no wonder that family vacation programs are so popular. That's why Hilton Vacation Station delivers more than just the standard hotel amenities.

Vacation Station is one of the most widely available comprehensive family vacation programs in the world, offered at 126 Hilton, Doubletree and Red Lion properties in the United States, Canada, South America and the Caribbean this summer from Friday, May 25 to September 3, 2001.

The family vacation program also is offered year-round at 34 hotels and resorts located in high-demand family vacation destinations such as Florida, Hawaii, the Caribbean and California.

Kids age 18 and under stay free in the same room with their parents or grandparents at all U.S. Vacation Station properties (subject to room occupancy and local fire safety regulations.) Children's age qualification outside the U.S. varies by country. Vacation Station is offered at no additional charge to guests traveling with children. Participation fees and age qualification at resorts and hotels offering supervised activities vary by location and season.

Children's menus are available at participating hotel restaurants and through room service, and participating hotels can stock guest room refreshment centers (where available) with a kid-friendly supply of fruit juice upon request. And of course, extra pillows, blankets and towels are available to accommodate families of all sizes.

For more information about Vacation Station, or to make reservations:
Hilton Hotels
1-800-HILTONS, 1-800-222-TREE, 1-800-RED-LION

Edited by Stacey Brown

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