The Light and Warmth of Hospitality

An awesome, timeless and inspirational speech given by Hilton Hotels founder Conrad Hilton at the American Hotel Association Conference in New York City on November 5, 1954 :

One upon a time, darkness and cold filled the world. Then one day, Prometheus decided to steal fire from the gods and bring it to earth. Lines of men, women and children waited, stretched from the highest mountaintop to the ends of the earth, ready to receive the flame — and pass it on. Suddenly came a flash of lightning, and the first torch of the nearest man was afire. Quickly the flame passed from hand to hand. From one flame came ten, from a hundred came a thousand, from city to city, country to country, until light and warmth filled the earth. That is the story of our industry. As hotel men and women, it is our responsibility to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality.