Educating students for hospitality industry

Though not affiliated with Hilton Worldwide Corporation, the Hilton Foundation promotes excellence in the sector that our founder and his family influenced so significantly. We do this by helping students from all backgrounds access quality programs in hotel and restaurant management.

Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, University of Houston

Founded in 1969 with a personal gift from Conrad N. Hilton, the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston is the Foundation's flagship grant program in hospitality education. Over the years, our funds have helped expand the college's facilities, endow professorships, and provide operating and scholarship support for under-represented groups. The University also houses the Hospitality Industry Archives, which include much of Mr. Hilton's personal papers and business memorabilia.

School of Hospitality Leadership, DePaul University

DePaul University received a $7.5 million challenge grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to establish the School of Hospitality Leadership within its nationally recognized College of Commerce. In addition to targeting traditional undergraduates, the school will seek to enroll qualified Chicago hospitality workers—many of whom are first-generation college students—and help them to embark on management career paths.

DePaul's program addresses two critical issues facing the hospitality industry nationally: a growing shortage of qualified, skilled employees and a significant lack of ethnic and cultural diversity among hospitality managers.