Hilton Named Official Hotel Partner of Big Ten Conference

Hilton will be the official hotel partner of the Big Ten Conference, the league announced on Thursday, with Hilton becoming the presenting sponsor of Saturday prime time football games on the Big Ten Network.

The Big Ten Conference will have access to discounted room rates at Hilton properties throughout the year for employees, student-athletes and team personnel. The partnership will offer premium tickets, on-field experiences and other Big Ten experiences exclusively to Hilton Honors members through the Hilton Honors Experiences platform.

“This partnership reinforces our commitment to providing exceptional stays in the world of sports,” said Mark Weinstein, chief marketing officer, Hilton. “We look forward to welcoming The Big Ten Conference and Big Ten Network to our properties, offering one-of-a-kind experiences to our Hilton Honors members and creating memorable stay experiences this season and beyond.”

The announcement comes after earlier this summer the announcement of the new Cities of the Big Ten passport initiative, a collaborative effort designed to encourage visitors to explore beyond athletic events and discover attractions in each of the Big Ten cities, which expanded to include four schools in the Western United States this fall.

“We are thrilled to work with Hilton as they become the official hotel partner of the Big Ten Conference,” said Kerry Kenny, Big Ten Conference chief operating officer. “Their portfolio of hotels across the country are perfectly suited to support the travel needs of our student-athletes, coaches and fans in this first year of our expanded footprint.”

Hilton will also have a media presence on the Big Ten Network, in-arena signage at Big Ten Championship events and digital assets on streaming and social platforms across the conference and network.

“With an 18-team league and prime time football scheduled for BTN’s first three weeks, including Oregon’s season opener, Hilton joins us at an exciting time as we partner in delivering memorable moments for Big Ten fans from coast-to-coast,” said BTN President François McGillicuddy.