MCLEAN, Va. — Doubletree by Hilton will soon have its famous chocolate-chip cookie become the first food baked in space as part of a partnership with Zero G Kitchen, NanoRacks and the International Space Station (ISS).
“Hilton has long been an industry innovator and, as we celebrate our 100th year, we’re excited to send our hospitality into orbit,” says Shawn McAteer, SVP and global brand head, Doubletree by Hilton. “The simple gesture of a warm-cookie welcome is a favourite of DoubleTree guests around the world and now we are sharing that moment of hospitality as part of this experiment aboard the International Space Station.”
Working in partnership with Zero G Kitchen, which creates appliances for microgravity use in long-duration space flights, and NanoRacks — a leading provider of commercial access to space — Hilton will be the first hospitality company to participate in research aboard the space station.
“Opening up the frontier of space means making it relatable to people’s everyday lives and what could be more relatable than a freshly baked cookie?” says Ian Fichtenbaum, co-chef and co-founder at Zero G Kitchen. “When we first [created] the oven, we naturally thought of DoubleTree by Hilton and its signature cookie. It is the perfect treat to bring a warm welcome to space.”
The brand will also partner with Scholastic to development an educational program related to hospitality in space for 50,000 middle-school classrooms across the U.S. The initiative is part of Hilton’s Open Door Pledge — the company’s plan to connect, prepare or employ at least one-million young people by the end of 2019.
