Hilton Guests Choose Hilton Short Hills as Best in Country

Short Hills, NJ - Hilton Hotels' customers have spoken: Hilton Short Hills is the top Hilton hotel in the country. In 2005, Hilton Short Hills' earned the highest guest satisfaction scores among Hilton branded hotels.

The honor, the No. 1 Hilton Hotel for Customer Loyalty, is the pinnacle of the many awards earned by the hotel and its restaurants, says Bert James, Hilton's area vice president, Mid-Atlantic region and general manager of Hilton Short Hills. Among those prestigious honors: The Dining Room has again achieved AAA Five Diamond status for the 13th consecutive year, and remains the only Five Diamond restaurant in the state. And, in a recent Zagat survey of the top 100 hotel restaurants in the country, The Dining Room ranked 47th, in league with such legendary restaurants as Alain Ducasse (37th) and Jean Georges (38th). It was the only restaurant in New Jersey, and one of just six in the New York metro area, to make the list.

Nearly 1,000 guests who stayed at the Hilton Short Hills in 2005 gave the hotel top marks in guest surveys. Participants graded the property on parameters that included their overall experience, quality of service and accommodations, arrival and departure, restaurants, meeting rooms, spa and fitness facilities. "What's more," says James, "when compared to members of our competitive hotel set, who use the same guest survey, Hilton Short Hills guests say our property outperforms those competitors in every parameter."

While Hilton Short Hills has always scored well in measures of guest satisfaction and loyalty, the property's scores have consistently increased over the past few years. An on-going plan to enhance all aspects of the property's guest experience is directly responsible for the improvement, James says. "As hospitality competition in this area of Central New Jersey continues to grow, we knew a structured, long-reaching plan was needed to retain our position as New Jersey's top urban resort."

As early as 2003, elements of the plan were implemented. Enhancements have included:

• The creation of a culinary "dream team" of well-known, high- excitement chefs from top restaurants in the New York metro area, including Executive Chef Robert Trainor, formerly of Asia de Cuba and the Waldorf=Astoria; Dennis Franke, chef de cuisine of The Dining Room, who began his career at Michelin starred restaurants in Italy, and worked in the Waldorf's renowned Peacock Alley; and Executive Pastry Chef Timothy Koch, who was recently named to the inaugural class of the Institute of Culinary Education's new Alumni Hall of Achievement.
• The creation of a high-performance management team, whose newest members include Director of Catering Diane Carr, a respected figure in the New Jersey culinary scene who has been named one of the state's most interesting people by New Jersey Monthly magazine; and David Riley, manager of The Dining Room, who was with The Bernards Inn for 18 years.
• A successful relaunch of The Dining Room to achieve a more accessible elegance. The interior was redesigned in 2004, and the menu updated to emphasize seasonal ingredients and innovative preparations. The harpist, long associated with the restaurant in the minds of New Jersey diners, was replaced by an acoustical guitarist.
• On-going guestroom renovations creating a marriage of leading edge technology, in the form of wall-mounted, framed flat screen televisions and high-speed wireless Internet connectivity, coupled with the Hilton Short Hills' signature elegance and gracious in-room touches.
• Incorporated leading-edge technology in meetings facilities, including high-speed wireless Internet connectivity and the latest in audio- visual capabilities. Readers of Successful Meetings magazine recognized the hotel's efforts with a 2006 Pinnacle Award for excellence in meetings facilities and service.
• Expanding the restaurants' culinary programming, including wine dinners, beer dinners and participation in charitable events. Hilton Short Hills restaurants are consistently recognized with such prestigious awards as the Wine Spectator award of excellence and the Distinguished Restaurants of North American (DiRoNA) award.
• Introducing an exclusive, up-scale spa product line, Valmont, and new treatments and services under the guidance of new Spa Director Steven O'Neal. O'Neal was formerly assistant general manager and director of sales and marketing at The Spa in The Peninsula, one of New York's most successful and acclaimed hotel spas.

The enhancement program has helped Hilton Short Hills not only hold the line against increasing competition, but gain business in key areas, including catering. Future plans include continuing upgrades to guest rooms and meeting areas, expanded culinary programs, and enhancements to The Spa at Short Hills.

"Competition can be a very good thing," James says. "At Hilton Short Hills, we chose to be pro-active. The best measure of our success is that our guests are happy enough to keep coming back, and recommend us to their friends and colleagues."

SOURCE: Hilton Short Hills