| It could be forgiven to think that the name | | | | hotel market, with the launch of their Ladbrokes |
| 'Ladbrokes' is only synonymous with the gambling | | | | chain of hotels. In 1999 the group bought over the |
| industry. However, if one looks deeper into the | | | | 'Stakis' chain of hotels, owned by the late Cypriot |
| company portfolio, they will find that in addition to | | | | owner, Sir Reo Stakis who sadly passed away in |
| being recognised as the world's leading bookmaker, | | | | 2001. Other ventures that the Ladbroke group were |
| they also have the likes of Vernon's football pools | | | | involved in were the acquisition of DIY chain 'Texas |
| and Hilton Hotels International among their list of | | | | Homecare' who they later sold to the Sainsburys |
| companies. | | | | group, who then merged the brand with their own |
| Originally formed as a bookmaking operation in 1886, | | | | Homebase brand. Ladbrokes are also responsible for |
| betting on horses that were trained by one of the | | | | the football pools company 'Vernons', who they still |
| founding partners of the company, it was soon | | | | own today. |
| realised that taking bets rather than making bets | | | | Soon after the acquision of Stakis hotels, the |
| would be a far more lucrative market to be involved | | | | Ladbroke Group renamed and rebranded their entire |
| in. Gambling was the company's main business which | | | | hotel stock as Hilton Hotels International, making |
| they began first through the 'gentlemans clubs' of | | | | them one of the largest hotel operators in the world. |
| London and later through a telephone office. This | | | | Subsequently the company renamed themselves as |
| office marked the first Ladbrokes betting office, as | | | | the Hilton Group Plc, in order to reflect the increased |
| betting shops as they are today were illegal until 1961. | | | | size of the hotel business within the group, and |
| An aggressive expansion campaign between 1964 | | | | entered a joint marketing arrangement with the US |
| and 1967 saw the group buy up properties, extending | | | | based Hilton Hotels corporation, which operates Hilton |
| and refurbishing them to open as licensed betting | | | | Hotels in the US. |
| offices. As a result, group profits soared as betting | | | | In 2005 Hilton Group Plc announced its intention to sell |
| turnover increased markedly, allowing the company | | | | off their UK hotels to the Hilton Hotels Corporation in |
| to float on the stock exchange for almost £1 | | | | the US and in February 2006, the sale was approved |
| million. In turn, the Ladbrokes shop estate ballooned | | | | by shareholders and subsequently finalised for |
| from around 400 shops to over 1000 shops up until | | | | £3.3 billion ($5.7 billion), with the Hilton Group |
| 1971. | | | | readopting their original Ladbrokes name and retaining |
| Not content with their lot, the company then | | | | their gambling business. |
| diversified into several other markets, including the | | | | |