Move from Beverly Hills Hurts Hilton Mystique

Hilton Hotels Corp. announced Wednesday, January 21 that it would move its headquarters from Beverly Hills to the Washington D.C. area, either the Maryland or Virginia suburbs. As a former Virginian who would love to see Hilton in the Commonwealth, I still think it is a horrible idea for Hilton, as it will make the family of Hilton brands far less interesting.

Frankly, Hilton has brand mystique. It's not just the legacy of Conrad Hilton, who founded the company. It's the whole arc of the Hilton family story, with Conrad and wife Zsa Zsa Gabor, son Nicky being Elizabeth Taylor's first husband; and of course Paris and the most current Nicky, Nicky Hilton the "heiress, designer, and trendsetter" who, sadly, was unsuccessful at her own hotel brand, Nicky-O. The family name has been totally preserved by the reputation of William Barron Hilton, who led the Hilton company to further greatness and who appears to be even more brilliant at selling his company, at a premium and for cash, at the top of the market. And even though Paris and Nicky are tabloid fodder, they do function as a sort of ersatz advertising for the Hilton brand.

Before Embassy Suites and Hampton Inns were purchased by Hilton, they were good, decent, mid-priced, high value brands. Customers loved the brands and the free breakfasts, but they didn't have the pizazz of a Hilton. Hilton always had something extra, and that "extra" bit of glitz comes from being located near Hollywood.

It's a brand thing

Very often, companies discount the effect that their geographic headquarters has on their brand. This is not just window dressing. Where a company is headquartered goes to the core of each company's brand and national identity. It's the reason why DeWitt and Lila Acheson Wallace kept the Reader's Digest address in Pleasantville, New York. A hotel company headquartered in Beverly Hills operates one way; a company located in Tyson's Corner, Virginia operates another way. Certainly, the same administrative and executive staff will move to the D.C. area. But the influences on the company will change, drastically. Frankly, great hotels are about show business, and you want your execs to be close to it.

In a statement to the Journal, CEO Christopher Nassetta said that they were moving because the "cost of operating here in Beverly Hills is really high."

Ya think so? Duh? Of course it is high. It has been "high" since, well forever, and Blackstone Group LP (NYSE: BX) knew that when they bought it. Beverly Hills is actually synonymous with expensive, and expensive has been part of the Hilton mystique. We can assure the company that no Hilton guests are bothered that the Hilton headquarters is in Beverly Hills.

Instead, moving headquarters to Washington signals that something else is "high," namely debt service. Blackstone Group bought the company with borrowed money. Like every company, Hilton is a cost saving mode, and Hilton's leveraged buyout has imposed debt-service costs on the company. Yes, it might save a few dollars here and there, and yes, the company was once headquartered in Chicago. But the expense, as amortized over Hilton's 3,200 hotels and 545,000 rooms, is small.

Don't get us wrong. We love Hilton. We hope Blackstone can pull it off, and we understand there will be cost savings. There always are cost savings. But be careful with the Hilton brand. It needs to keep some glamour and glitz, because with the state of the economy, it might need every trick in the book.

Disclosure: no positions

Comments

[MrBuzz:]

If Hilton and Blackstone are serious about saving money. Then move Hilton corporation to Orlando, Florida. It already owns the Hilton Grand Vacation Headquarters building.

Orlando is close to both coasts. It has vast talent pool with more hotel rooms than anywhere depending on how we cound Vegas. Its cheap to own property and taxes are half of Virginia's.

DC Area is no bargin. Traffic is gross ! you try driving there with out a limo? Or does the head of Hilton only care about the executives. Look at personal taxes. NO INCOME TAX IN FL>>>>> BIG INCOME TAX IN MD AND VA.

Move to Central Florida. Blackstone already owns part of Universal Orlando. and LXR in Boca. We got the best airport ! Welcome Home ... Welcom to Central Florida.

Have a Magical Day ! (You know where I work...lol)

Jan 24 02:31 PM

[MrBuzz:]

sorry about the typo's - need to watch my typing more.

Jan 24 02:33 PM

[Boogeyman:]

Many customers, who were loyal to Hilton (pre-Promus/Blackstone... have since fled to some of the upscale brands that have lowered their rates.
Group has also declined, as questions arise whether the new company
can pull off important meetings and conventions.It became obvious that those in charge during the transition were only interested in lining thier pockets, like many CEOS, and the customers and their needs took a back seat.

Hilton lost most of their management during the Promus purge, where the company's operations were left to the bean counters and the inexperienced.

Any glitz that Hilton may have had, has tarnished in the process. They've become as mundane and boring as meal at the Marriott.

Jan 26 02:21 PM

[Crocodilian:]

The question is: What is "the Hilton brand" about? You're quite right that location has a bearing on the overall brand, but the "mystique angle" for Hilton is a distraction, given where its hotels are, and who they serve.

I stay in Hiltons when I travel to conferences etc . . . they are far less of a "trendy glamorous spend" than even, say, a Westin. The Hilton family history is interesting, but its history now, and doesn't really have any bearing as one checks into an Embassy Suites or Doubletree.

So Northern Virginia makes sense . . . its "Embassy Suites country", and that's what Hilton really is, at this point.

Jan 27 08:23 AM