Hilton is planning more than 1,000 job losses

Hilton Hotels Corporation (HHC), the US hotel operator, is planning more than 1,000 job losses under a $250 million (£175 million) cost-cutting program. HHC, controlled by Blackstone Group, announced plans to close its corporate headquarters in Beverly Hills, California, and move to Virginia last week. The 500 staff at its Watford[,UK] international center also expect big job cuts.

HHC declined to comment although industry sources confirmed that its offices in Watford, Dubai and Singapore would all suffer job losses. Insiders expect at least half the employees in Watford to lose their jobs as the old Hilton International headquarters becomes a European center.