Hilton College was founded in 1969, when James C. Taylor, who would become the first dean, presented Eric and Barron Hilton—sons of Conrad Hilton—with plans to build a hospitality school at the University of Houston.

In 1983, the Hilton Foundation gave the college a $21.3-million grant to expand its facilities and increase endowment and operation support.

That gift led to the construction of the South Wing, which opened in 1989 and added 94,000 square feet of education and meeting space to Hilton College.

Students in the Barron's courses are expected to learn foodservice and hospitality industry standards in the lecture portion of their studies, and then apply those teachings in their weekly lab shifts.

[citation needed] Cougar Grounds serves as the laboratory for an entrepreneurship class, in which students learn about small-business operations, including marketing and sales, price-setting, payroll, cost control, supply management and new product development.

The induction ceremony includes a formal reception and dinner, which are held at the Hilton University of Houston and planned by a team of student leaders.