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Sweet Cookie Giveaway Splash at Barton Springs Pool in Austin Continues DoubleTree by Hilton Nationwide Chocolate Chip Cookie Celebration

WHEN:
Monday, July 11
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE:
Barton Springs Pool - Zilker Park
2201 Barton Springs Rd
Austin, TX 78746-5736

WHAT:
Thanks to the Honorable Rep. Elliott Naishtat and members of the Texas State House of Representatives, House Resolution #259 named July DoubleTree by Hilton Chocolate Chip Cookie Month, in honor of the hotelier's 25^th anniversary of its sweet hospitality icon across Texas and around the world. To celebrate in Texas Capital City, DoubleTree by Hilton Cookie CARE Crews will be sharing 5,000 of their legendary chocolate chip cookies in a single day with residents and visitors to Barton Springs Pool in Austin on Monday. A donation also has been given by DoubleTree by Hilton to the Barton Springs Pool for improvements and enhancements to guest facilities and a sweet stop will be made to share treats with employees, patients and guests at Dell Children's Medical Center, as well.

From Atlanta to Austin, Miami to Minneapolis and St. Louis to Seattle, the specially designed DoubleTree by Hilton Cookie CAREavan Tour is making its way across Texas on a 10-week, 10,000-mile, 50-city journey to deliver tens of thousands of smiles to people across the country through the sweet surprise of a chocolate chip cookie - the hotelier's longstanding icon of warm and welcoming hospitality. The Cookie CAREavan already has stopped in several Texas cities along the way including Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, before heading to its final stop in the state in El Paso later this week.

At every stop along the tour, people can enjoy a chocolate chip cookie in the summer sun, share their stories about the beloved all-American treat, learn more about the caring connection between DoubleTree by Hilton and the chocolate chip cookie, and find out about the DoubleTree by Hilton Cookie CAREavan Sweepstakes to win great prizes all summer long. Some of the weekly prizes include tins of DoubleTree by Hilton cookies, Hilton HHonors bonus points and DoubleTree by Hilton weekend getaways, as well as the grand prize of a five-day/four-night vacation and airfare for two to any DoubleTree by Hilton property in the U.S.

WHY:
DoubleTree by Hilton is celebrating the 25^th anniversary of its signature chocolate chip cookie this summer by doing something that many people have always dreamed of doing - taking the ultimate road trip across America.

Since 1986, the DoubleTree by Hilton chocolate chip cookie has represented a warm, friendly welcome for travelers. Every guest who checks into one of the more than 250 DoubleTree by Hilton hotels and resorts in 17 countries across five continents receives this same signature, sweet treat at check-in. The hotel brand anticipates sharing more than 250,000 cookies beyond their hotel doors and out in 50 communities this summer season to celebrate the cookie's silver anniversary. Some surprise stops to deserving community groups and charities are also planned along the route. Follow the Cookie CAREavan on Facebook (Facebook.com/DoubleTree) to track the tour and check out photos, videos and live tweets from the road.

**Photography, b-roll and background information available upon request.**

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotels
Thomas Wingham / Shahrzad Nadizadeh
703-883-5315 / 404-879-9234
thomas.wingham@hilton.com
shahrzad.nadizadeh@ketchum.com