The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® Goes to Washington

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In the midst of this caffeinated campaign season, folks inside and outside the beltway are about to see their coffee & tea stock options rise when The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®, the largest privately held specialty coffee and tea retailer in the U.S., opens its first D.C. location at Washington Hilton, just off Connecticut Avenue, in mid-February.

Residents and visitors alike will have the opportunity to enjoy The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf's® famous Ice Blended® drink as well as the premium hand-plucked whole leaf teas, and coffees roasted in-house daily that have been delighting constituents of every persuasion for almost 50 years.

"We are proud to be affiliated with Washington Hilton, whose excellent reputation for service and quality aligns with our own," said Bob Kaufman, Vice President of Business Development & Franchises for The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf's® Dupont Circle cafe will offer complimentary wi-fi access, and plenty of comfortable seating for catching up on emails or sipping your favorite Tea Latte.

"We are delighted to participate in bringing The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® east and to our nation's capital," said Steve Cowan, general manager, Washington Hilton.

Designed by Gensler – the renowned global architecture, design, and planning firm – this 1,700 square foot cafe has been seamlessly integrated into Washington Hilton's lobby.

ABOUT THE COFFEE BEAN & TEA LEAF®

Born and brewed in Southern California since 1963, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® is the oldest and largest privately-held specialty coffee and tea retailer in the United States. Embodying a passion for connecting loyal customers to one another with carefully handcrafted products, the company is known for sourcing and providing the finest ingredients and flavors from around the world. For nearly 50 years, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® has demonstrated a passion for product innovation epitomized by The Original Ice Blended® beverage. The company has grown to be an international icon and currently has more than 800 stores in 22 countries.

Current markets include the US (California, Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Nevada, New York and Texas), Bahrain, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Israel, Korea, Kurdistan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, the UAE, and Vietnam. In 2010, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® launched the CBTL® Single Serve Beverage System that allows consumers to make their favorite espresso, brewed coffee, tea and specialty beverages at home, at the touch of a button. For more information, visit www.coffeebean.com or www.facebook.com/thecoffeebean

ABOUT HILTON HOTELS & RESORTS

One of the most recognized names in the industry, Hilton Hotels & Resorts stands as the stylish, forward thinking global leader in hospitality. From inaugural balls and Hollywood award galas to business events and days to remember, Hilton is where the world makes history, closes the deal, toasts special occasions and gets away from it all. The flagship brand of Hilton Worldwide continues to build upon its legacy of innovation by developing products and services to meet the needs of tomorrow's savvy global travelers while more than 144,000 Team Members shape experiences in which every guest feels cared for, valued and respected. Today, the Hilton Hotels & Resorts portfolio includes more than 540 hotels in 78 countries and the brand remains synonymous with "hotel." Access the latest Hilton news at www.hiltonglobalmediacenter.com or begin your journey at www.hilton.com. Social media users can engage with Hilton at www.twitter.com/hiltononline, www.facebook.com/hilton and www.youtube.com/hilton. Hilton Hotels & Resorts is one of Hilton Worldwide's ten market-leading brands.

ABOUT HILTON WORLDWIDE

Hilton Worldwide is the leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector for luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. For 93 years, Hilton Worldwide has offered business and leisure travelers the finest in accommodations, service, amenities and value. The company is dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences across its global brands. Its brands are comprised of more than 3,800 hotels and timeshare properties, with 630,000 rooms in 88 countries and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors®. Visit www.hiltonworldwide.com for more information and connect with Hilton Worldwide at www.facebook.com/hiltonworldwide, www.twitter.com/hiltonworldwide, www.youtube.com/hiltonworldwide, www.flickr.com/hiltonworldwide and www.linkedin.com/company/hilton-worldwide.

SOURCE The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf