DoubleTree
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.
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.