<P> In 1925, the Dallas Hilton became the first hotel to use the Hilton name . In 1927, Hilton expanded to Waco, Texas, where he opened the first hotel with air - conditioning in public areas and cold running water . </P> <P> In 1943, Hilton purchased the Roosevelt Hotel and the Plaza Hotel in New York, establishing the first hospitality company to span the contiguous United States . The company incorporated in 1946 as the Hilton Hotels Corporation, and subsequently began public trading of shares on the New York Stock Exchange . In 1947, the Roosevelt Hotel became the first hotel in the world to have televisions in its rooms . </P> <P> Hilton International was founded a few years later, in 1949, with the opening of the Caribe Hilton Hotel in Puerto Rico . Barman Ramon "Monchito" Marreno claimed he created the piña colada cocktail at this resort . Hilton purchased the Waldorf Astoria New York in the same year . </P> <P> The Hotels Statler Company was acquired in 1954 for $111 million in what was then the world's most expensive real estate transaction . One year later, Hilton created the world's first central reservations office, titled "HILCRON". The reservations team in 1955 consisted of eight members on staff booking reservations for any of Hilton's then 28 hotels . Reservations agents used the "availability board" to track records . The chalk board measured 30 feet (9.1 m) by 6 feet (1.8 m) and allowed HILCRON to make over 6,000 reservations in 1955 . Bookings could be made for any Hilton via telephone, telegram, or Teletype . </P>

How many hilton hotels are in the united states