News

NEWPORT, R.I. — The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum has been selected as one of three candidates from Rhode Island in the Hampton Save-A-Landmark program, a national campaign to restore historic landmarks in all 50 states. If selected, the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum will receive a cash donation as well as volunteer service from Hampton Hotels employees to work on a restoration project at the property. The winning landmark will be determined by public vote on HamptonLandmarks.com. Voting is very simple — it takes just one click to vote and no registration is required. Voting runs through 11:59 p.m. EST, November 30, 2010.

“Each year, Hampton and our employee volunteers donate countless hours and resources to help preserve and restore landmarks across the country,” said Judy Christa-Cathey, vice president, global marketing, Hampton Hotels. “We’re thrilled to bring the program to Rhode Island next year.”

Since the program launched in April 2000, Hampton Hotels and Save-A-Landmark have provided more than 8,000 volunteer hours and more than $2.5 million dollars toward the research and preservation of landmarks for future generations. The program has helped to preserve 55 historical landmarks in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

In 2011, Hampton plans to preserve five additional landmarks across the U.S., including one in Rhode Island. In addition to the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, the other Rhode Island nominees are Beavertail Lighthouse and the Westerly Armory.

“From the remarkable architecture to the historic tennis courts, along with the diverse Museum collection, the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum holds a fascinating history of American sport, society and architecture,” said Mark L. Stenning, CEO of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum. “Maintenance of this property, like historic landmarks across the nation, requires an immense amount of resources, but it is vital to preserving the fabric of American history, which is why the Hampton Save-A-Landmark program is so important. It is an honor to be nominated, and we are grateful for the commitment to preservation that Hampton Hotels has shown.”

The buildings and grounds of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum and were designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987. The property was originally constructed in 1880 as a social club for the rich and famous summer residents of Newport, Rhode Island. The facility was designed by McKim, Mead & White, and it is known for its detailed Shingle Style exterior and beautiful lattice-style woodwork. The acclaimed designers were also the architects behind notable treasures like the RI State House, Boston Public Library, NY’s Penn Station and Rosecliff Mansion in Newport. The 6-acre property also features a recently restored 300-seat theatre, which is the last remaining example of theatre architecture credited to Stanford White.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Newport Casino hosted the city’s most famous summer residents, families like the Astors, Vanderbilts and Dukes, for social activities ranging from lawn tennis and horse shows to ballroom dancing and live theatre.

In 1881, the facility hosted the first U.S. National Lawn Tennis Championship, which attracted the best tennis players in the nation, thus launching its cache as a premier sporting destination. That tournament was held at the property through 1914, and in 1915, it moved to New York and is now known as the US Open. The Hall of Fame’s legendary grass courts still host professional tennis every summer during the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, an ATP World Tour event.

Adjacent to the grass courts, the Museum chronicles the history of tennis as a global sport, through an extensive collection that ranges from a 14th century painting of tennis in a castle courtyard to memorabilia from the epic 11 hour and 5 minute Wimbledon match between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon in 2011. The Museum’s 18 galleries showcase the history of the sport through art, fashion, equipment, memorabilia and more. In addition, the Museum manages an extensive research collection containing thousands of historic tennis photos, videos and books.

Earlier this year, to mark the 10th anniversary of Hampton’s Save-A-Landmark program, the hotelier updated its “Hampton Historical Landmark Survey,” first conducted in 2000, to gauge the attitudes of Americans toward the restoration of historic landmarks. The survey posed a variety of questions from which landmarks do Americans most enjoy visiting to general attitudes about historical preservation. Survey results show that 10 years later, Americans are still as passionate, if not more, about the preservation of these historical landmarks. In Hampton’s 2010 survey, 93 percent of American’s said they believed it was important to preserve our nation’s roadside landmarks, an increase from 91 percent in 2000. Moreover, four out of five Americans believe that they also have a responsibility to contribute to the preservation of American’s landmarks.

For more information about the Save-A-Landmark program or to cast your vote, log on to HamptonLandmarks.com before November 30, 2010. The winning landmark for each state will be announced on December 2, 2010.

About Hampton Hotels

The Hampton brand, including Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, Hampton Inn by Hilton, Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton and Hampton by Hilton, is an award-winning leader in the mid-priced hotel segment. With more than 1,800 properties globally, Hampton Hotels is part of Hilton Worldwide, the leading global hospitality company. All Hampton Hotels offer warm surroundings and a friendly service culture that share a common “personality” supported by the 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. High-quality accommodations, in-room conveniences and the latest technology, combined with numerous locations and consistent offerings, have made Hampton a leader in its segment and one of the fastest growing hotel brands. For more information about Hampton Hotels, please visit hampton.com/pressandmedia, facebook.com/Hampton or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/HamptonFYI.

About Hilton Worldwide

Hilton Worldwide is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For 91 years, Hilton Worldwide has been offering business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. The company is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Its brands are comprised of more than 3,600 hotels and 600,000 rooms in 82 countries and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors®. For more information about the company, visit www.hiltonworldwide.com.

About the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum

Established in 1954, the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is a non-profit institution dedicated to preserving the history of tennis, inspiring and encouraging junior tennis development, enshrining tennis heroes and heroines, and providing a landmark for tennis enthusiasts worldwide. The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum was recognized as the sport’s official Hall of Fame in 1986 by the International Tennis Federation, the governing body of tennis. The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is supported by Official Partners, such as BNP Paribas. For information on the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum and its programs, call 401-849-3990 or visit us online at tennisfame.com.