Hilton received honorary degrees from the University of Detroit (1953), DePaul University (1954), Barat College (1955), Adelphi College (1957), Sophia University, Tokyo (1963), and the University of Albuquerque (1975). His autobiography, "Be My Guest", was published in 1957. In 1966, Hilton was elected chairman of the board. His son Barron took over as president.