Team Members Come Together to Bring Stability and Hope to Youth in Pattaya

PATTAYA, Thailand - September 19, 2013 - Hilton Pattaya recently participated in The Youth Career Development Program in partnership with UNICEF, which runs between April 25, 2013 and September 7, 2013 in a show of support to youths in Pattaya, Thailand. To cater to the growing demand amongst local youths for careers in the hospitality industry, community partners including UNICEF have joined efforts to organize The Youth Career Development Program as a way to generate awareness and positively impact these youths. The initiative provides a comprehensive 20-week hospitality training program for selected students in Thailand to equip them with hospitality skills in various departments such as: food and beverage, kitchen, housekeeping and engineering. This is the first time that Hilton Pattaya is participating in this initiative by supporting four student trainees who will be trained on-property under a mentor system. 

Hilton Pattaya's participation in The Youth Career Development Program is part of its support of Bright Blue Futures, a global community relations initiative by Hilton Hotels & Resorts, designed to help young people achieve stability through the delivery of basic needs such as food, shelter and hope through education, life skills development, training and employment. As the flagship brand of Hilton Worldwide, Hilton Hotels & Resorts is contributing to the company's broader goal of creating opportunities for young people by engaging 144,000 team members across communities in this brand-wide effort.

"The Youth Career Development Program was established to support the growth and development of youths in our community," said Gerard Walker, director of operations, Hilton Pattaya. "This is a challenge we face globally, and at Hilton Pattaya, we see this as an opportunity to provide the resources we have available at our hotel to help young people reach their full potential."

Established in 1995, The Youth Career Development Program has provided resources, volunteers and mentors to developing youths in Thailand who experience sex trade issues, lack of proper education and career planning. More than 1,000 youths have been positively impacted by this effort to date, allowing them to lead a more well-balanced, thriving life toward a brighter future.

Youths are the next generation of leaders, innovators, employees and world travelers, comprising approximately one quarter of the world's population. Approximately 200 million youths worldwide live in poverty and an estimated 75 million youths are unemployed. The travel and tourism sector employs 255 million people around the world, and by the year 2022, an estimated 73 million new travel and tourism jobs will be created, providing ample opportunities for today's youths as they enter the workforce in the hospitality industry. Hilton Pattaya team members believe they can make a difference in the future of Pattaya's youths through their ongoing commitment to UNICEF.



Media can access information about Hilton Pattaya at http://news.hilton.com/pattaya. More information about Hilton Worldwide's global commitment to create opportunities for youth and a full version of the Creating Opportunities for Youth in Hospitality white paper is available at hiltonworldwide.com/youth. Learn more about Bright Blue Futures by visiting www.youth.hilton.com.

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About Hilton Pattaya

Unique by design and centrally located, Hilton Pattaya rises 34 levels above CentralFestival Pattaya Beach, South East Asia's largest beachfront shopping complex, with spectacular views North and South over Pattaya Bay and the Gulf of Thailand. Styled with the property's beachfront location in mind, all Hilton Pattaya rooms and suites feature 180 degrees of unobstructed ocean views with private balconies. This unique position forms the core of Hilton Pattaya's design concept and philosophy. Panoramic views, high quality design and finishes, and impeccable service play an integral part of the experience that is on offer to both leisure and business travelers. From the moment you arrive you will know that a new standard for style and sophistication has been set. A unique combination of light, textures and finishes create an atmosphere of pure indulgence. Just 90 minutes from Bangkok Suvarnabumi International Airport and with so much luxury to offer, the Hilton Pattaya is your new recreation and business destination of choice. For information, please visit www.pattaya.hilton.com or contact the hotel directly on + 66 (0)3 825 3000.

About Hilton Hotels & Resorts

One of the most recognized names in the industry, Hilton Hotels & Resorts stands as the stylish, forward thinking global leader in hospitality. From inaugural balls and Hollywood award galas to business events and days to remember, Hilton is where the world makes history, closes the deal, toasts special occasions and gets away from it all. The flagship brand of Hilton Worldwide continues to build upon its legacy of innovation by developing products and services to meet the needs of tomorrow's savvy global travelers while more than 144,000 Team Members shape experiences in which every guest feels cared for, valued and respected. Today, the Hilton Hotels & Resorts portfolio includes more than 550 hotels in 80 countries and the brand remains synonymous with "hotel." Access the latest Hilton news at news.hilton.com or begin your journey at www.hilton.com. Social media users can engage with Hilton at www.twitter.com/hiltonhotels, www.facebook.com/hilton and www.youtube.com/hilton. Hilton Hotels & Resorts is one of Hilton Worldwide's ten market-leading brands.



CONTACT:

Treamprom Klinhom

Hilton Pattaya

+663 825 3028

treamprom.klinhom@hilton.com