Key Stats
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HLT) is a multinational hospitality company headquartered in Tysons Corner, Virginia. Founded in 1919 by Conrad Hilton, it now operates 25 hotel brands across more than 9,000 properties in 141 countries and territories.
The company runs on a fee-based, asset-light model, earning revenue through franchising and management contracts rather than direct property ownership. Its loyalty program, Hilton Honors, had roughly 195 million members as of 2024.
With around 181,000 employees globally and a development pipeline exceeding 498,000 rooms, Hilton remains one of the two largest hotel companies in the world by available rooms, alongside Marriott International.
Hilton Worldwide Holdings History
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Co-Founders
Hilton was founded solely by Conrad Hilton, who remained the driving force behind the company’s growth for decades. His son Barron Hilton later served as Chairman and CEO from 1966 to 1996, overseeing the company’s expansion into gaming and the domestic hotel market.
Conrad Hilton’s guiding philosophy was standardized service and consistent quality across properties, an approach that became standard across the hotel industry. He died in 1979 at age 91; the Conrad Hotels brand was created in his honor two years later.
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Market Cap
Hilton Worldwide Holdings trades on the NYSE under the ticker HLT. Its market cap reached approximately $72 billion in early 2026, reflecting strong post-pandemic recovery and continued expansion of its asset-light franchise model.
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Revenue
Hilton’s revenue dropped sharply in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, falling to $4.31 billion from $9.45 billion in 2019. It has since recovered strongly, reaching $11.17 billion in 2024, a 9.2% increase over 2023.
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Acquisitions
Hilton’s acquisition history spans more than a century, with deals that added entire brand families and shaped the modern hospitality industry. The most transformative came in the company’s mid-20th-century era and again around the turn of the millennium.
In 1943, Hilton purchased the Roosevelt Hotel and the Plaza Hotel in New York City for a combined sum that made it the first hotel company to operate coast to coast in the United States. In 1949, Hilton purchased the Waldorf Astoria New York, one of the most recognized properties in the world, which it would later sell to Anbang Insurance Group in 2015 for roughly $1.95 billion while retaining a 100-year management contract.
The $111 million purchase of The Hotels Statler Company in 1954 added eight properties in a single transaction and stood as the largest real estate deal in history at the time. In 1970, Hilton acquired the International Leisure Company, which included the Flamingo Hotel and the Las Vegas International, bringing the company into domestic gaming for the first time.
In 1999, Hilton paid approximately $3.7 billion for Promus Hotel Corporation, then the parent of DoubleTree, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, and Homewood Suites. That transaction took Hilton from roughly 200 hotels to over 1,400 almost overnight and firmly shifted the company toward a franchise-and-management model.
In 2006, Hilton reacquired Hilton International from Hilton Group plc for around $5.7 billion, reuniting the domestic and international businesses that had been separated since 1964. The combined entity gave Hilton control of a unified global brand for the first time in four decades.
More recently, in April 2024, Hilton acquired a majority controlling interest in Sydell Group, owner of the NoMad Hotels brand, aiming to open up to 100 NoMad locations globally. In February 2024, Hilton also announced an exclusive partnership with Small Luxury Hotels of the World, adding hundreds of independent properties to its distribution network. Hilton also completed the acquisition of Graduate Hotels, a portfolio of properties located near major university campuses in the U.S. and U.K.
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Competitors
Hilton competes with both global hospitality chains and alternative accommodation platforms. Its primary rivals operate across similar market segments, from budget to ultra-luxury, and vie for the same corporate and leisure travel demand.
Marriott International is Hilton’s closest rival by scale, operating approximately 9,500 properties with 1.7 million rooms across 144 countries. InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) competes strongly in the midscale and upscale segments through brands like Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza.
| Company | Headquarters | Key Brands | Properties (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marriott International | Bethesda, Maryland, USA | Ritz-Carlton, Sheraton, Westin, Courtyard | 9,500+ |
| InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) | Windsor, England | InterContinental, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza | 6,500+ |
| Hyatt Hotels Corporation | Chicago, Illinois, USA | Grand Hyatt, Park Hyatt, Andaz, Hyatt Place | 1,400+ |
| Accor | Paris, France | Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure, ibis | 5,800+ |
| Wyndham Hotels & Resorts | Parsippany, New Jersey, USA | Days Inn, La Quinta, Ramada, Super 8 | 9,100+ |
| Best Western International | Phoenix, Arizona, USA | Best Western, SureStay, Vib | 4,700+ |
| Choice Hotels International | North Bethesda, Maryland, USA | Comfort Inn, Quality Inn, Econo Lodge | 7,100+ |
| Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts | Toronto, Canada | Four Seasons | 100+ |
| Radisson Hotel Group | Brussels, Belgium | Radisson Blu, Park Inn, Radisson RED | 1,700+ |
| Airbnb | San Francisco, California, USA | N/A (short-term rentals platform) | 7M+ listings |
FAQs
Who founded Hilton Worldwide Holdings?
Conrad Nicholson Hilton founded the company in May 1919 after purchasing The Mobley Hotel in Cisco, Texas. He led the business for several decades before his son Barron Hilton took over leadership in 1966.
How many hotels does Hilton Worldwide have?
As of 2024, Hilton operates more than 9,000 properties across 141 countries and territories, spanning 25 brands with over 1.3 million total rooms worldwide.
What is Hilton Worldwide Holdings’ annual revenue?
Hilton reported $11.17 billion in revenue for the full year 2024, a 9.2% increase from $10.24 billion in 2023, driven by higher RevPAR and continued net unit growth.
What brands does Hilton own?
Hilton’s 25 brands include Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree, Hampton by Hilton, Embassy Suites, Homewood Suites, Home2 Suites, Curio Collection, Canopy, Tru, Spark, and Hilton Grand Vacations, among others.
Is Hilton Worldwide Holdings publicly traded?
Yes. Hilton Worldwide Holdings trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol HLT. The company went public again in December 2013 after being taken private by The Blackstone Group in 2007.

