The whispers that Hilton Hotels is seeking a negotiated settlement in its corporate espionage case with its rival Starwood sound plausible. Given the damning nature of the claims made by Starwood, it would be amazing if Hilton were prepared to see more allegations aired in public in a lengthy court case.

Starwood, operator of Sheraton and W Hotels, alleged that two of its former executives who were poached by Hilton to spearhead its entry into the lucrative lifestyle hotel business took with them thousands of documents and computer files. These included a step-by-step guide on how to create a lifestyle brand from scratch. And it has to be said that Hilton’s recently launched Denizen brand bears an uncanny resemblance to Starwood’s W chain.

Whatever the outcome, the damage done to Hilton’s reputation will not easily be repaired while its high-profile entry into lifestyle hotels is in tatters.

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