Blankets for a Cause…

Throughout our $70 million dollar renovation, we have been able to donate furniture and other goods to local organizations throughout Southern California.

On Friday, February 12th, 300 blankets were donated to Human Options in Irvine, California. Human Options was founded in 1981 and their mission is to help battered women, their families and our community, break the cycle of domestic violence.

Human Options offers a variety of services including hotline, shelter, transitional housing and a community resource center. They served over 3,000 clients last year and continue to provide safety for women and their children. Human Options also engages in a very active education/prevention program. They spoke to over 22,000 youth last year alone.

On Friday, Darla Olson, Chief Development Officer for Human Options, picked up the 300 blankets at Hilton Anaheim. They will be used in the shelters and transitional housing. We are very excited that we are able to donate these blankets to such a remarkable organization.

ABOVE: Harold Rapoza, General Manager and Darla Olson, place the last bag of blankets onto the truck.

Demolition Derby

As our $60+ million renovation enters the home stretch and we race toward the finish line, let us pause to reflect. And by reflect, we mean “look at really cool pictures of demolition and chaos!” from more than a year’s worth of renovation construction. (Note that these are old photos. For current, renovated photos click here. All of our 1,572 guestrooms are completely renovated, as is our meeting space. And we’re putting the final touches on a gorgeous new lobby bar and restaurant.) But, right now, grab your hard hat as we look to the past year for a tour of our very own “Demolition Derby” behind-the-scenes tour of what the start of renovation looked like.

Some things never change

Maybe that headline should be re-written to say: Some things don’t need to change. For instance, while nearly everything in the HIlton Anaheim lobby is new or undergoing renovation, we’re keeping a few timeless elements, including this 40-foot sculptural mural created 24 years ago by renowed Orange County artist Dora DeLarios.

The porcelain and gold leaf artwork has taken on a new prominence now that it is surrounded by the darker, earthier tones of the new lobby. DeLarios’ work is featured throughout Southern California and internationally. You can learn more about her work at her website. And stay tuned for lots of updates about new features and artwork in our lobby.

Welcome to Anaheim

Welcome to Today @ Hilton Anaheim, the blog of Orange County’s largest hotel. With 1,572 rooms and 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, we love big groups. But we’re also a great place to stay for families, couples and individuals looking for an upscale hotel within walking distance of Disneyland Resort and in the heart of OC.

To book your visit with us, please visit the official Hilton Anaheim website here.