Hilton Hotels Corp.'s first order of business after its acquisition by the Blackstone Group was the announcement of a new casual dining concept for its full-service properties, done in conjunction with famed restaurateur, Donna Scala. Scala, owner of the renowned Bistro Don Giovanni in Napa Valley, will be responsible for the design of the causal restaurants, which Hilton says is consistent with its direction to license and lease restaurants to proven third-party operators. Hilton expects its owners to build or re-concept nearly all existing casual restaurants in company-owned and -managed North American full-service hotels by 2009. The first project to come out of the partnership will be the Urban Tavern at the Hilton San Francisco, with the restaurant set to open in the beginning of 2008.
