The term HOTEL CHAIN OPERATED BY HILTON can be summarized as 'Hilton is a global hospitality company that operates a chain of hotels.' Hilton is one of the largest and most recognized hotel companies in the world, with over 5, 000 properties in more than 100 countries. The company was founded in 1919 by Conrad Hilton and has since grown to become a leader in the hospitality industry. The answer to the crossword clue 'TREE' is HILT, which is an acronym for Hilton International.