One influential leader in the hotel industry was Conrad Nicholson Hilton, the founder of the Hilton hotels, one of the biggest hotel chains that exist today. Conrad was born on December 25, 1887 in San Antonio, New Mexico territory. From a very young age he had been exposed to the hotel business. When he was a boy, he helped his father turn part of their house into an inn for traveling salesmen to stay at while passing by. He also started working at his father's store, A.H. Hilton & Son. At the age of 23 years, he decided he didn't want to work with his father. After his father's death, he bought the Mobley Hotel in Cisco, Texas. This of course was the beginning of a chain of hotels that would become very dominant.
There were three methods that Hilton used to build his empire. They were: “first, by the leasing and renovation of old hotels; second, by the erection of new hotels on leased land primarily in Texas; and third, by the purchasing of existing hotels at low prices.” His continued grow in business was affected by the Great Depression, a time in which he lost a lot of his profits. He didn't let this discourage him, instead it made him want to work harder. He once stated, “Success seems to be connected with action. Successful men keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.” Hilton's perseverance and desire to succeed played an important role in the growth of his empire. One key action that helped determined the future of his chain was buying the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in NYC. This action put, “. . .his financial problems to bed forever.” Hilton did not stop there. His religious belief and devotion to God, made him want to help those in need. In 1944 he founded The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, which, “provide[s] funds to nonprofit organizations working to improve the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable people throughout the world.” Hilton knew that he did not only want to be known for creating this empire of hotels, but he also wanted to be known for making a difference in helping the lives of others.
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