Hilton Sydney exterior

Hilton has used this week’s Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) in Los Angeles to release its latest pipeline and accolades, which show the global powerhouse is set for another big year.

Hilton’s President and CEO, Christopher J. Nassetta, said 2016 was an extraordinarily impactful year for the company, which achieved record pipeline and net unit growth, accomplished its most successful brand launch with Tru by Hilton and maintained its position as the fastest-growing hospitality company.

It also completed the spin-offs of Park Hotels and Resorts and Hilton Grand Vacations, creating three pure-play businesses that will lead their respective segments with tremendous growth potential.

Yesterday (Jan 23 local time), the company also launched its 14th brand, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, which is targeting the huge upscale unbranded market.

“For nearly 100 years, one name has stood for hospitality: Hilton. And it’s for this reason that we continue to build on our success and expand at a rapid rate,” Nassetta said.

“As the result of our spin-offs, Hilton is a more simplified, focused and resilient business, which allows us to offer even more exceptional experiences to our guests, extensive opportunities to our team members and premium returns for our hotel owners and shareholders,” he said.

Chris Nassetta Canopy by Hilton edited

From a development standpoint, Hilton held its position as the fastest-growing global hospitality company on an organic net unit growth percentage basis.

Hilton grew its pipeline to a record of more than 300,000 rooms, with more than one in five hotel rooms under construction globally destined for Hilton brands, which is 4.5 times Hilton’s existing share of global rooms.

Four of Hilton’s brands make up the top five brands in the industry under construction globally.

The company approved 106,000 new rooms, started construction on 76,000 rooms and delivered net unit growth of 45,000 rooms, representing 6.6 percent growth of the managed and franchised portfolio.

Hilton also opened nearly one property a day (a total of 354 properties) and expanded its footprint across five new countries (Philippines, Armenia, Montenegro, Estonia and Morocco) for a total of 104 countries and territories.

The company’s 13th brand – Tru by Hilton – which was launched in 2016 and has become the fastest-growing new brand in company history and “we believe the most successful new-build hotel brand in the industry, with nearly 400 deals now signed or in progress”, Nassetta said.

In 2016, Hilton welcomed 150 million guests to its nearly 4,900 owned, managed and franchised properties.

It also created nearly 20,000 new hotel jobs worldwide as a result of opening managed and franchised properties across its portfolio and grew the HHonors loyalty program by 9 million members for a total of nearly 60 million members, accounting for 55 percent of total room occupancy.

In the Americas and for the second consecutive year, Hilton delivered a record number of approvals across the region – signing more than 600 deals, representing approximately 73,000 rooms.

In Asia Pacific, Hilton had a record-breaking year for approvals with the signing of nearly 17,000 rooms. Greater China alone also had a banner year with nearly 60 deals (more than 12,000 rooms) signed, including the first two Curio – A Collection by Hilton and Canopy by Hilton hotels. Hampton by Hilton opened seven hotels and signed 30 hotels in China through its partnership with Plateno Hotels Group.

In Europe, Middle East and Africa, Hilton closed the year with almost 100 new approvals (approximately 16,500 rooms) including its first properties in Lithuania, Latvia and Serbia.

James Wilkinson

Editor-In-Chief, Hotel Management