At Hilton, we’re committed to creating an environment where our Team Members can pursue their personal and professional dreams. For many, this includes starting or expanding their families in many ways, including adoption. Our Adoption Assistance Program provides financial support to eligible Team Members, offering reimbursement of up to $10,000 per adoption with no limit on the number of adoptions.
In this blog, Hilton Team Member Nick shares the journey he and his husband embarked on that brought them their daughter—and with Hilton’s support, they were able to navigate the process with ease and joy.
Meet Nick
Nick (left) has built his entire career in hospitality, the last five years of which have been with Hilton. Today, he is the Director of Marketing for Hilton San Francisco Union Square and Parc 55 – a Hilton Hotel!
What inspired you to pursue adoption, and how did the journey begin for you?
“My husband Jeff and I began discussing our desire to become parents even before our first date. Fast forward... we got married, moved cross country, built a beautiful home together, took incredible vacations, and even got matching tattoos. Then, in 2020, we realized we were ready for the next great chapter of our story: fatherhood. We began researching the adoption process, finding a fantastic agency to support and represent us, and began the miles and piles of paperwork.”
How did Hilton’s Adoption Assistance Program support you throughout the process?
“Hilton’s Adoption Assistance Program was one of the first things we researched, and we were thrilled by what we learned. This program helped to answer some of our earliest adoption questions. Knowing that Hilton’s Adoption Assistance Program would also reimburse up to $10,000 of our eligible adoption expenses gave us a lot of reassurance that we could start our family without mountains of debt. Once our adoption was finalized, it was a breeze to submit for reimbursement, and the money was deposited quickly.
Hilton’s benefit Wellthy provides dedicated support for every step of our journey. Through this, they assisted us with adoption grant applications, research adoption programs, guidance on welcoming a new child, and more. We were grateful to have all these resources at our fingertips.”
What were your most meaningful moments or challenges during the adoption journey?
“On a snowy December 2022, we received the phone call that would change our lives forever. Our case worker was calling to tell us that a baby girl had been born in Oklahoma the night before, that her birth parents had selected us, and that we needed to drop everything and get to Tulsa as soon as possible. We packed the car and hit the road as quickly as we could. We drove through the night – and through a terrible blizzard – but arrived at the hospital safe and sound (albeit exhausted) the following day. The nurses introduced us to our daughter; we’ve been inseparable ever since. We spent the next three weeks living in a Homewood Suites in Tulsa (with help from the Go Hilton Team Member Travel Program) until we were given clearance to bring our daughter home to Denver. Those first days were some of the most magical days of our lives.”
How did the support from Hilton and your fellow Team Members impact your experience?
“First, I was supported by my day-to-day teammates and commercial leaders. They were an excellent source of support and encouragement. When they learned of the birth of our daughter, they were overjoyed. They immediately stepped up to support me while I was on paternity leave.
Second, we were supported by the entire team at the Homewood Suites in Tulsa after the adoption. We were far from home but we still felt like we were with family. The team in Tulsa doted on our daughter at breakfast each morning, followed along with her doctor’s appointments, and celebrated with us when we were given clearance to go home. We’ll never forget the light and warmth of their hospitality. It made all the difference in the world.”
What advice would you give other team members considering adopting and using Hilton’s Adoption Assistance Program?
“Hilton’s Adoption Assistance Program is very easy to use! One tip is to make sure you get everything organized as early as possible so that once your adoption is officially finalized, you can submit everything quickly and easily.
Lastly, know that adoption is a leap of faith and one of the most beautiful experiences you’ll ever have. However, while you wait for your little bundle of joy to arrive, you must remember to continue living your life. Take the vacation. Make fun plans. One day – probably when you least expect it – the call will come that will change your life forever. You can be certain that call will come - so don’t put the rest of your life on hold while you wait.”
