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— CH. 1 · THE SCOTTSDALE BEGINNING —

DoubleTree

~3 min read · Ch. 1 of 6
6 sections

  • The first Doubletree Inn opened in 1969 on the grounds of Scottsdale Fashion Square. Sam Kitchell built this property to serve travelers visiting Arizona's growing resort area. The location sat directly within a shopping district that was expanding rapidly during the late 1960s. This single building marked the start of what would become a massive hospitality network. It stood as a standalone operation before any corporate mergers took place. The name Doubletree appeared for the first time in this specific year and city.

  • DoubleTree Hotels Corporation merged with Guest Quarters Hotels Partnership of Boston in December 1993. That deal brought all-suite hotels into the fold under the new Doubletree Guest Suites label. A second major merger occurred in December 1997 when Doubletree joined Promus Hotel Corporation. This union combined four distinct brands including Hampton Inn, Red Lion, and Embassy Suites. Hilton Hotels Corporation acquired Promus in December 1999 bringing Doubletree under its global umbrella. In October 2010 the chain launched a new logo replacing Doubletree with DoubleTree by Hilton.

  • Signature chocolate chip cookies originated in the early 1980s for VIP guests only. Nashville-based Christie Cookie Company has baked these treats for over 30 years. All guests now receive a warm cookie upon arrival at participating locations. The brand published a home-adapted recipe during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. On the 2nd of November 2019 ISS Commander Luca Parmitano baked the dough inside a prototype oven aboard the International Space Station. This event made the cookie the first baked in space as part of a marketing campaign.

  • DoubleTree grew by convincing operators of other brands to switch flags rather than building new hotels. This strategy contrasts sharply with competitors like Marriott or Sheraton which relied on new construction. The company provides lower cost options to help existing properties remain within the system. By 2013 the chain held 371 properties across five major regions including the Americas and Europe. Room counts rose from 93,054 in 2013 to 154,708 rooms by 2023. The number of countries hosting DoubleTree properties expanded to 47 territories by the end of that decade.

  • The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Billings stands as the second-tallest building in the northern Rocky Mountains region. It features an applied masonry facade made entirely of bricks. In Boston the hotel occupies the former Don Bosco Technical High School for immigrant boys. Brighton's DoubleTree by Hilton Brighton Metropole was built in 1890 by architect Alfred Waterhouse. The Grand Naniloa Hotel in Hilo underwent a $30 million renovation before rebranding in 2016. The historic Hotel Utica reopened as a DoubleTree location on the 24th of October 2017 after dating back to 1912.

  • Workers at the San Jose-based Doubletree waged a three-day strike in September 2024. New labor contracts were secured by those employees on the 31st of October 2024. Unionization efforts continued into November with strikes at Seattle area Seatac and Boston-Cambridge locations. These actions represented significant pushback from staff regarding working conditions and compensation packages. The events occurred within North American markets where union activity had been rising across the hospitality sector. Management responded to these demands through direct negotiation rather than external mediation.

Common questions

When did the first Doubletree Inn open and where was it located?

The first Doubletree Inn opened in 1969 on the grounds of Scottsdale Fashion Square. Sam Kitchell built this property to serve travelers visiting Arizona's growing resort area.

Which company acquired DoubleTree Hotels Corporation in December 1999?

Hilton Hotels Corporation acquired Promus Hotel Corporation in December 1999 bringing Doubletree under its global umbrella. This union combined four distinct brands including Hampton Inn, Red Lion, and Embassy Suites before the acquisition.

Who baked the first chocolate chip cookie inside a space station?

ISS Commander Luca Parmitano baked the dough inside a prototype oven aboard the International Space Station on the 2nd of November 2019. This event made the cookie the first baked in space as part of a marketing campaign.

How many rooms did DoubleTree have by 2023 compared to 2013?

Room counts rose from 93,054 in 2013 to 154,708 rooms by 2023. The number of countries hosting DoubleTree properties expanded to 47 territories by the end of that decade.

When did workers at the San Jose-based Doubletree secure new labor contracts?

New labor contracts were secured by those employees on the 31st of October 2024 following a three-day strike in September 2024. Unionization efforts continued into November with strikes at Seattle area Seatac and Boston-Cambridge locations.

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All sources

62 references cited across the entry

  1. 1inlineSamuel Kitchell. Amherst College. Accessed December 2017.
  2. 2newsThree-Way Expansion for Fashion Square
  3. 3webInline XBRL Viewer
  4. 4webFORM 10-K HILTON HOTELS CORPORATIONAdvameg
  5. 5webFORM 10-K HILTON HOTELS CORPORATIONPhoenix IR
  6. 6webFORM 10-K Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
  7. 7webFORM 10-K Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
  8. 8webFORM 10-K Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
  9. 9webFORM 10-K Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.
  10. 10webThe Cookie History | DoubleTree Cookies
  11. 11newsFor the first time ever, DoubleTree has released its iconic chocolate chip cookie recipeNatalie Compton — April 9, 2020
  12. 12webFor the First Time, DoubleTree by Hilton Reveals Official Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe so Bakers Can Create the Warm, Welcoming Treat at Home
  13. 13inlineDoubletree by Hilton. Entrepreneur. Accessed December 2014.
  14. 14newsCompany News: DoubleTree and Guest Quarters Hotels Merge17 December 1993
  15. 15inlinePromus and DoubleTree Hotel Companies Will Merge. The New York Times. Accessed December 2014.
  16. 16inlineHilton to Buy Promus Chain, Creating One of Biggest Hotel Groups. The New York Times. Accessed December 2014.
  17. 17inlineDoubleTree by Hilton Introduces New Global Brand Identity, Creating One of Biggest Hotel Groups. Business Wire. October 13, 2010. Accessed April 18, 2023.
  18. 18newsHotel Operators Ready to Rumble Over UpgradesCraig Karmin
  19. 19newsFailed contract prompts San Jose hotel worker strikeVicente Vera — San Jose Spotlight — September 4, 2024
  20. 20inlinehttps://unitehere.org/press-releases/85-striking-hotel-workers-arrested-in-san-francisco-protest-workers-settle-contracts-in-boston-and-san-jose/|title=85
  21. 21newsHotel labor disputes resolve in Boston, San JoseNoelle Mater — Hotel Dive — November 1, 2024
  22. 22newsBoston Hilton workers reach tentative deal to end strikeNBC 10 Boston — October 30, 2024
  23. 23webU.S. Hotel Strikes Grow as Hilton Hotel Workers Walk Out in SeattleTed Waechter — UNITE HERE — October 12, 2024
  24. 24newsWorkers at 4 Boston Hilton hotels to stop strike, return to work on Friday with new contractRiley Rourke — WBZ News — October 31, 2024
  25. 25newsBoston Hilton Hotel Workers End 24-Day Strike with New PactTotal Food Service — November 6, 2024
  26. 26newsSeaTac's Doubletree and Hilton Workers Ratify Landmark Labor ContractThe SeaTac Blog — November 10, 2024
  27. 27newsWorkers ratify historic contracts at two SeaTac hotelsThe Stand — November 12, 2024
  28. 28newsHundreds of Boston hotel employees return to work after new contract ratifiedMatt Reed — WCVB — November 1, 2024
  29. 29web2013 Annual Report
  30. 30web2014 Annual Report
  31. 31web2015 Annual Report
  32. 32web2016 Annual Report
  33. 33web2017 Annual Report
  34. 34web2018 Form 10-K
  35. 35web2019 Form 10-K
  36. 36web2020 Annual Report
  37. 37web2021 Form 10-K
  38. 38web2022 Form 10-K
  39. 39web2023 Form 10-K
  40. 40webCrowne Plaza BillingsEmporis.com
  41. 41webHistoric Cheltenham Park Hotel Joins DoubleTree by HiltonMichels & Taylor
  42. 42press releaseHistoric Downtown Detroit Hotel Landmark to Re-Open in 2008 with $82 Million Restoration and a Doubletree Guest Suites HotelHotel News Source — 28 June 2007
  43. 43webBurlington opens its doors under new nameOctober 4, 2013
  44. 44newsName change for historic Harrogate hotel after £15m refurb
  45. 45inlineInside the $30 million renovation of Hilo's Grand Naniloa Hotel (Hawaii Magazine, 2016)
  46. 46webHilton returns to Vegas Strip with Tropicana deal
  47. 47newsKensington DoubleTree by Hilton to relaunch as Curio19 November 2018
  48. 48inlineLos Angeles Business Journal - Downtown’s Kyoto Grand Hotel to become a DoubleTree - 2011-10-11 - accessed 2011-10-17
  49. 49newsDoubletree Surfcomber Will Turn Into a Kimpton on April 15August 1, 2011
  50. 50webDoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Naha Shuri Castle
  51. 51webTSX Broadway's Tempo By Hilton Prepares For Late-Summer Opening At 1568 Broadway In Times Square, ManhattanMichael Young — June 27, 2023
  52. 52webWhy 10,000 New York City Hotel Rooms Remain ClosedShea Monahan — October 25, 2022
  53. 53press releaseWestin Selected to Manage Pittsburgh Convention Center Hotel; 618-room Property to Join Westin Hotels & Resorts' CollectionHospitality Net — 2000-12-22
  54. 54newsNewest $40 million Red Lion largest hotel in OregonSteven Carter — September 12, 1982
  55. 55webHotel Roanoke officially becomes a "Curio."Rachel Lucas — February 28, 2016
  56. 56webDoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Seattle Airport
  57. 57inlineBuilding History
  58. 58webBuildings That Opened During Pandemic Are Slow to LeaseHannah Madans Welk — 2021-02-07
  59. 59newsHotel to get DoubleTree brand - President Lincoln to be Hilton franchiseeChris Dettro — Jun 7, 2013
  60. 60webAl Marwan Builds The DoubleTree by Hilton Sharjah
  61. 61webDoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Utica celebrates grand openingGreg Mason — 2007-10-24
  62. 62webHilton Garden Inn, Zagreb