From Active

Duty to Civilian

Life

10 Ways to Support

Your Military Spouse

Finding the Perfect Career Path

Veterans Day

TRIBUTE Lessons Learned from a Veteran Business Owner

FALL 2016

The general is, and always will be, a soldier for AmericaThh l i d l ill bb ldi f A i

GENERAL COLIN POWELL

56 U.S. VETERANS MAGAZINE | FALL 2016 | WWW.USVETERANSMAGAZINE.COM

In 2013, Hilton launched a broad-based commit-

ment to hiring and supporting Veterans—Operation:

Opportunity—as part of its goal of becoming the

military-friendly hospitality company. Bringing this

commitment to life has meant embedding it through-

out the organization.

A core component of Operation: Opportunity

military spouses and dependents by 2018. In Novem-

ber, Hilton announced it had reached that goal in only

three years.

To launch a successful military hiring program,

any company needs to have leadership support, and

Hilton was fortunate that the program was a direc-

tive of its CEO and president, Chris Nassetta, who

has multiple Veteran family members and recognizes

how good Veterans are for business. Hilton has also

created a dedicated team for military hiring which

consists of a director, manager and full-time recruiter.

Melissa Stirling serves as director of Military,

Campus and Youth Programs at Hilton, and oversees

the Operation: Opportunity program. “This was, in

a way, the easiest job I have ever had. Hilton was

hard wired to be a military friendly company. Our

Military Program Team stood up the process and

framework and then our hiring managers, recruiters,

HR Directors and Team Members ran with it from

there. Everyone is very passionate about our military

program—not just the hiring component, but all that

we do as a company to support the military commu-

nity. I am very proud to work at Hilton,” said Stirling.

Today, Hilton is thrilled to be called “home” to

many Veterans and their family members. Veterans

make Hilton a better company every day, Stirling

says, by bringing their invaluable life experiences

and skills needed to create memorable stays for Hil-

ton’s millions of guests. The skills they learn in the

military translate well to hospitality, be it hotel opera-

-

tunities our industry provides.

A key learning for the company is the importance

of offering Veterans career pathing and opportunities

for advancement. Hilton offers a sponsorship pro-

gram for new Veteran Team Members to help them

assimilate, Veteran lapel pins for each branch of ser-

vice they can wear on the job, recognition on Veteran

holidays, and membership in its nationwide Team

everyone that focuses on Veteran and military spouse

support, topics and interests. “It’s not enough to just

hire Veterans and Military Spouses,” Stirling says.

with us.”

Because the success of this program is a result of

everyone across the company in the United States,

Hilton will recognize this milestone by acknowledg-

hotel. The celebrations will differ, but the one thing

that will be consistent is the pride Hilton Team Mem-

bers feel in Hilton becoming the military-friendly

hospitality company. “We all recognize,” Stirling

added, “through personal experience and the many

stories that have been shared over the past few years,

the positive impact Veteran Team Members and their

families have on our company.”

Mission Complete But the Operation ContinuesHilton hires 10,000 veterans

EOE/AA/DISABLED/VETERANS

SEARCH & APPLY ONLINE AT HILTONWORLDWIDE.COM/MILITARYCAREERS

“HILTON HAS BECOME MY FAMILY.

NOT JUST MY EXTENDED FAMILY,

BUT MY CLOSE FAMILY. I LOVE

WHAT I DO AND I KNOW I SERVE

A PURPOSE.”

BRANDON JOHANNESADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT,

ASSOCIATION GROUP SALES

(US NAVY PS/IS)

“SOME OF MY FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT

WORKING FOR HILTON IS THAT I GET TO

MEET WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER

THE WORLD FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES

AND BACKGROUNDS. I ESPECIALLY

LOVE TO HELP PEOPLE AND THAT IS

WHAT HOSPITALITY IS ALL ABOUT.”

ALEX ESPINOSAACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE SUPERVISOR

(US ARMY 31B & 91B)

HIRED 10,000 VETERANS, MILITARY

SPOUSES & THEIR DEPENDANTS SINCE

SEPTEMBER 2013

CONTINUE YOURLEGACY OF SERVICE.

In August 2013, Hilton launched Operation:Opportunity with a commitment to hire

10,000 Veterans and Military Spouses by 2018. We are proud to announce that we

have accomplished our goal two years ahead of schedule. We will continue to hire

and support the military community as it is engrained in the culture of our company.

Veterans and Spouses are a natural fit at Hilton, because of our shared values like

leadership, integrity and teamwork, that support our success together. Join us now to

put your skills to work.

START YOUR CAREER IN:

CALL CENTER • CORPORATE • CULINARY • ENGINEERING/FACILITIES

FINANCE • FOOD & BEVERAGE • HOTEL MANAGEMENT • GUEST SERVICES

HOUSEKEEPING • HR • IT • REVENUE MANAGEMENT • SALES & MARKETING

• SECURITY & MORE • WORK FROM HOME OPPORTUNITIES