Brief: Lodging giant fires salvo at Starwood

Thursday, Feb. 4, 1999 | 10:46 a.m.

"We believe Hilton HHonors still offers the industry's greatest earning opportunities and diversity of reward options," said Jeffrey Diskin, president of Hilton HHonorsWorldwide.

"Starwood may tout its new program as a 'world of rewards without boundaries,' but it is a world that has its limitations," he said.

Diskin said Hilton HHonors offers benefits Starwood's new program doesn't, such as allowing exchange of airline miles for hotel points and points for miles with selected airlines.

Relations between the two lodging companies have been strained since they began competing for control of ITT Corp. two years ago. The lodging business is also becoming more competitive, particularly at the high end of the market favored by business and well-to-do leisure travelers.

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