Ashley Zimmerman, Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort’s new human resources coordinator, joined the company a year ago, helping Hawaii place in the top-five states in the chain in hiring veterans and their family members.
Over two years, Hilton Hawaii has hired 300 veterans and family members via a nationwide program called Operation: Opportunity. The military hiring push was launched in 2013 with the aim of hiring 10,000 veterans and family members by 2018. Hilton today announced that it has met its goal early and will keep the program going by making veterans and family members 10 percent of its new hires in the United States. The company also will expand its Hilton Honors Points donation program, which helps veterans traveling for job-related activities.
“At Hilton, we know military veterans and their families have made incredible sacrifices for our country, and we are strongly committed to ensuring they have great jobs when they return home from service,” Christopher Nassetta, president and CEO of Hilton, said in a statement.
This renewed military focus comes as Hilton Hawaii prepares for the 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack. Hilton is working with veterans’ groups like the USS Arizona survivors and the Greatest Generation Foundation survivors on their visits to Oahu. The survivors’ commemoration dinner on Dec. 6 will be held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and team members will march in the Dec. 7 parade in Waikiki.
“Our founder, Conrad Hilton, was a veteran who served in World War I. Military values and Hilton values fit naturally, like hospitality, leadership, integrity, teamwork and ownership,” said Jerry Gibson, Hilton Hawaii area vice president. “Hilton has stepped up to make sure these servicemen and servicewomen are supported with the tools they need to succeed in the workplace.”
Zimmerman formerly served aboard the USS Benfold, specializing in anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, and naval gunfire. A Navy Accommodation Medal recipient, she completed two deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom before leaving the Navy to raise a family with her active-duty husband, Kyle.
“Hilton aligned with my moral compass,” Zimmerman said. “They have high standards and integrity. I think they are very hospitable, and very much about putting people first. That kind of relates to the military, which is all about taking care of their people.”
