Hilton Baltimore

The Hilton Baltimore, seen from the corner of Pratt and Paca Streets

The Hilton Baltimore, also known as Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor,[1] is a 757–room hotel located on West Pratt Street in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Initially proposed in 2003, actual construction of the city-owned venture took place between 2006 and 2008 as part of the Baltimore Convention Center. A month before the hotel's scheduled opening in August 2008, Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon said that an 18% increase in room night bookings through 2017, as of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, compared to the previous year's, confirmed the city's decision to move forward with the hotel development project as a means of bolstering Baltimore's convention business.[2] The massive hotel has been criticized for blocking the once-celebrated views of Baltimore's skyline from the Oriole Park at Camden Yards grandstand, however. The hotel has underperformed projections, losing money in its first three years of operation.[3]

On September 2, 2024, The Hilton Baltimore was the site of the first hotel worker strike in 54 years. Members of the Unite Here Local 7 went on a one-day Labor Day strike for better pay and better working conditions.[4] A new four year labor contract calling for significant wage increases and increased funding for the pension and health care plans of Hilton Baltimore employees would later be ratified on October 22, 2024.[5] Collective bargaining for a new contract would then end on October 27, 2024 when Hilton Baltimore employees would again approve the now ratified contract.[1] Despite baring the Hilton name, the Hilton Baltimore remains owned by the city of Baltimore.[6] It has also been reported that in spite of the October 2024 labor contract, issues plaguing the Hilton Baltimore would remain ongoing.[6]

  1. ^ a b Moulton, Brin (October 28, 2024). "Hilton Hotel workers in Baltimore's Inner Harbor reach new labor agreement". WMAR. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  2. ^ Lorraine Mirabella (2008-07-19). "Officials Laud High Hotel Bookings". The Baltimore Sun. p. B1.
  3. ^ Sernovitz, Daniel J. (October 18, 2010). "Baltimore's Hilton convention headquarters hotel still losing money". Retrieved March 25, 2012.
  4. ^ Blackwell, Penelope (2024-09-02). "Baltimore hotel workers hold daylong strike at city-owned Hilton". The Baltimore Banner. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  5. ^ Belson, Dan (October 28, 2024). "Baltimore hotel workers ratify new contract with Hilton". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Belson, Dan (October 31, 2024). "Economist: Baltimore-owned Hilton's issues will continue, despite new labor contract". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved November 13, 2024.