As part of the initiative, Hilton will make its largest-ever charitable donation of Hilton Honors Points, contributing 250 million points to BBBSA. The donation, equivalent to more than 3,000 standard room nights, will be used to create travel opportunities for Big Brothers Big Sisters’ youth participants, known as Littles, and their families.
The partnership also includes immersive career exploration and mentorship experiences at Hilton properties and corporate locations throughout the United States. Through these activities, participants will gain exposure to hospitality careers, professional development opportunities and workplace skills.
Katherine Lugar, Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs at Hilton and President of the Hilton Global Foundation, said: “At Hilton, we know hospitality is a powerful engine for opportunity; a first step on the career ladder helps open doors to meaningful careers, economic mobility and life-changing success. Through this partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, our team members will help young people see what’s possible through hospitality – connecting them with mentors, real-world career exposure and the tools and travel experiences to build confidence and strengthen their skills – inspiring and expanding their horizons along the way.”
The programme is intended to address opportunity gaps affecting young people in the United States. According to figures cited by the organisations, an estimated 4.3 million people aged 16 to 24 are neither in education nor employment.
Over the next year, Hilton and BBBSA plan to create more than 10,000 mentoring moments across six U.S. markets. The initiative aims to help participants build confidence, develop skills and explore future career opportunities.
Beginning in the 2026–2027 school year, BBBSA participants aged 16 to 25 will take part in a structured development programme hosted at Hilton properties and corporate offices. Participants from local middle and high schools will be paired with Hilton team members in six U.S. markets: Anaheim, California; Atlanta, Georgia; Dallas, Texas; Columbus, Ohio; Miami, Florida; and Washington, D.C.
The programme will include monthly on-property mentoring sessions, providing guidance and career insights from Hilton team members, as well as curated skill-building activities focused on workplace readiness, communication and professional development.
Artis Stevens, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, said: “For 120 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has seen the impact when a positive adult empowers a young person and opens doors they never knew existed. Hilton shares our belief that every young person deserves the chance to realize their potential, and through our partnership, we’re meeting them where they are and connecting them to meaningful careers by providing career exposure, skills training and onramps to meaningful employment.”
The organisations stated that the initiative is intended to serve as a scalable model that can be expanded nationally over time, supporting mentorship, career development and community engagement across additional markets.