Skift Take
Vying for market share breeds opportunity and risk. Hilton's oneupmanship in electric vehicle charging is more than just a win for Tesla. It will prompt hotel rivals to sharpen their strategies.
Skift Global Forum was held in New York City on September 26-28, 2023. Read coverage of the event at the link below.
Hilton said Thursday that it plans to install at least six electric vehicle chargers per property at 2,000 hotels in North America, and will buy devices from Tesla. Once it fully installs them, Hilton will own more electric vehicle chargers than any other U.S.-based hotel group.
"Part of the reason why we're doing this is to help travelers get past their 'range anxiety,'" said Matt Schuyler, Hilton's chief brand officer. "If I knew I had a place I could stay in charge, I'd be much more comfortable planning a long-distance road trip."
What's new is that Hilton is installing up to 20,000 Tesla Universal Wall Connectors — a product designed to seamlessly charge any North American electric vehicle, not just Tesla-branded ones.
Hilton