DoubleTree by Hilton is an American hotel chain managed by
Hilton Worldwide. DoubleTree has been the fastest growing Hilton brand by number of properties since 2007, and by number of rooms from 2007 to 2015.[4][5][6][7][8][9] As of December 2019[update], it has 587 properties with 135,745 rooms in 47 countries and territories, including 122 that are managed with 35,122 rooms and 465 that are franchised with 100,623 rooms.[3][needs update]
DoubleTree competes in the full service category, alongside sister chain
Hilton Hotels & Resorts. Among the many signature things that DoubleTree is known for are their
chocolate chip cookies, which were originally made in the early 1980s for VIPs but now given to all guests and made by
Nashville-based Christie Cookie Company for over 30 years.[10] In 2020, during the
COVID-19 pandemic the brand published a home-adapted recipe for their cookies.[11][12]
History
The first DoubleTree hotel opened in
Scottsdale, Arizona, in 1969.[13] It was located on the grounds of
Scottsdale Fashion Square and was built by Sam Kitchell.[2] The DoubleTree Hotels Corporation merged with the Guest Quarters Hotels Partnership of Boston in December 1993.[14] The acquired hotels were rebranded under the DoubleTree name. The Doubletree Corporation later merged with the
Promus Hotel Corporation in December 1997, bringing together the DoubleTree,
Red Lion,
Hampton Inn, and
Embassy Suites brands.[15] In December 1999, Hilton Hotels Corporation acquired Promus Hotel Corporation, which brought Doubletree Hotels and other Promus hotel brands under the umbrella of the newly renamed Hilton Worldwide.[16] In October 2010, Hilton Worldwide launched a logo and name rebranding for the chain, replacing the name "DoubleTree" with "DoubleTree by Hilton".[17]
DoubleTree's strategy to grow the brand has been to convince operators of other brands to switch flags. This is in contrast to brands like
Marriott or
Sheraton, prior to its acquisition, which rely on new construction to grow their footprint. DoubleTree also provides lower cost options to improve properties, which help operators remain in the brand system.[18]
On November 2, 2019, DoubleTree Cookie became the first cookie baked in space as ISS Commander
Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency baked the brand's cookie dough inside the prototype oven.
Boston, United States: The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston - Downtown is housed within the former
Don Bosco Technical High School, a Catholic school for immigrant boys.
Denver, United States:
The Curtis, a skyscraper in
Downtown Denver, has been affiliated with DoubleTree since 2010. Aside from hotel, the building also houses dormitories of the
Auraria Campus.
Harrogate, United Kingdom: Hilton assumed management of the historic
Majestic Hotel as a DoubleTree property in 2019. The hotel first opened in 1900, and was designed by
George Dennis Martin.[23]
Miami Beach, United States: The
Surfcomber Hotel, a historic
Art Deco building in Miami Beach, was operated by DoubleTree prior to 2011, when it was acquired by
Kimpton and turned into a luxury hotel.[28]
The original
Palace Theatre at
Broadway was partly demolished to make way for a DoubleTree Suites hotel (originally branded an
Embassy Suites), which opened in 1991. The theater reopened inside the DoubleTree building. In 2019, the hotel closed and was demolished, with plans to rebuild it into a 46-storey mixed-use skyscraper called
TSX Broadway, which contains a Tempo by Hilton hotel.[29]
Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom: The
Etruria Hall, a Grade II listed house and former home of
Josiah Wedgwood, formed part of a hotel complex which was taken over by Hilton as DoubleTree by Hilton Stoke-on-Trent in 2020.[36]
Utica, United States: The historic
Hotel Utica, which dates back to 1912, was renovated and reopened as DoubleTree by Hilton Utica on October 24, 2017.[37]