President, Chief Executive Officer & Director, Hilton Worldwide
Search every verified Christopher Nassetta interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Christopher Nassetta, president and CEO of Hilton Worldwide, said in April 2026 that he remained optimistic about the company’s performance despite global conflicts, including the war with Iran and ongoing fighting in Eastern Europe. He stated that while those events had not been good for Hilton’s business in affected regions, they had not “infected” operations elsewhere. Nassetta noted that about 75% of Hilton’s business is driven out of the U.S., where he said supportive tax and regulatory policy, lower interest rates, and increased investment in AI were benefiting demand. He added that Hilton expected improving performance in lower and mid-chain scales, describing a “C-shaped economy.” In a separate conversation with American Express, Nassetta discussed Hilton’s shift from a transactional relationship with the company to a partnership, which he described as more rewarding for both sides. He also spoke about his personal history, including meeting his wife in high school and raising six daughters. On the topic of travel, he said the Bahamas never gets old as a destination. During Hilton’s first-quarter 2026 earnings call, Nassetta said the Middle East accounts for about 3% of Hilton’s business and could see a 50% decline in the second quarter, but he emphasized that the company’s overall outlook remained strong, with a focus on unit growth and returning capital.
“My first job was as an auditor for Arthur Andersen in Houston, Texas auditing oil and gas companies.”
“We transform what had been I would say a good relationship as as you pointed out a very long relationship but I would argue a not a partnership... my impression of it was strong impression was it was it was a transactional relationship. It wasn't a partnership. And I and I think in the end that's less fun. I think it's...”
“I think in the end, it's all the travel assets, and it is the experiential side. It is that you all are very much a travel company, right? And And those assets and that history, you know, properly tapped into, I thought was super powerful.”
“We have to be part of the solution here. Okay? There's nothing we can do about the fact that we're empty. There's no demand for us to go get. So, let's put our time into doing something that makes a difference. All these first responders need us. Let's house them and let's feed them.”
“My philosophy in in life has always been you do well by doing good. And And it's a cop-out to think that you shouldn't do both, and that they're not both inexorably linked to one another.”
“For the full year, we expect improving performance in the lower and mid-chain scales with RevPAR strength continuing to move downstream from luxury and upper upscale toward a more balanced convergence demand shape or what I have been calling a C-shaped economy.”
“This trend should be most evident in the US where supportive tax and regulatory policy, expected lower interest rates, increased private sector investment in AI and the AI complex, and ongoing public infrastructure spending are benefiting the middle and lower income consumer and driving broader demand growth.”
“Middle East is about 3% of the business. You'd say, all right, well, it's not that big a part of the business, but, you know, like Q2, you see that, you know, it's impacted by a few things, some one-time stuff that Kevin mentioned from last year, but it's also impacted by the Middle East. I mean, the Middle East, you k...”
“I think on the margin though, if we do our job, I think AI allows us, as I said, to be more efficient and more effective. We do that is code for continuing to build more direct lines to our customers. I mean, that's where we have a terrific relationship with the OTAs and we do a certain segment of our business with the...”
“We've taken the company from eight brands to 24 brands going, you know, from Sparked by Hilton in the premium economy space to Waldorf Astoria, two of which are going to open here in Riyadh in the next 12 months at that the very highest end. We've taken our growth rate from a laggard in the industry to leading the indu...”
“I don't think we have an over tourism issue broadly in the world. I think we have an over tourism issue in certain destinations around the world and I think we as an industry in working in and public private partnerships need to make sure that we're addressing that and that we are making sure we're taking care and are...”
“I think the most revolutionary change is being able to use massive amounts of data using AI and all sorts of other tools to enable our teams because we are ultimately a people business and always will be a business of people serving people. Enabling our teams with the technology and information to deliver mass customiz...”
“I think there's a big sea change coming in terms of broader economic growth and the setup over the next several years is going to be very, very different and much, much better in the sense that you're going to start to see this bifurcated economy come together, where you're going to see not just the K economy where the...”
“Fundamentally, what is really going on is inflation is structurally coming down. The largest input to inflation is housing costs. Housing costs are on a two-quarter lag. Talk to anybody in housing, and they're trying to stimulate tons more housing. Housing input is coming down. Inflation is coming down again short of a...”
“You have this thing, and I'll come back to the investment, but this AI thing that is going to create one of the greatest productivity booms. There's all sorts of ins and outs, but the thing that, you know, that ultimately drives economic growth, if you look at the last 100 years of American history, are these big produ...”
Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta sits down with Semafor Business Editor Liz Hoffman at Semafor World Economy 2026.
The conversation is part of American Express' “In Partnership With” series, where Chief Partner Officer, Glenda McNeal, discusses modern leadership topics with executives from the company’s expansive roster of strategic partners. » Subscribe to the Amex YouTube Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribeAMEX About: American Express is a global service company, providing customers with exceptional access to charge and credit cards, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Get up close to the passionate lives of rising artists, a new wave of entrepreneurs, and everyday peop…
Hilton, a leading hotel group, focuses on delivering exceptional hospitality experiences by collaborating with third-party owners and maintaining a strong performance on the New York Stock Exchange. The company emphasizes a reliable and friendly customer experience, adapting to modern demands through the integration of product, service, and technology. Hilton's CEO, Christopher Nassetta, highlights the importance of culture, having transformed Hilton into a top workplace and expanded its brand portfolio from eight to 24 brands. The company addresses over-tourism by promoting lesser-known desti…
Celebrate the remarkable leadership of Chris Nassetta as he shares his personal journey, Hilton’s growth vision, and the bold decisions shaping the future of global hospitality.
Live from the 37th Hunter Conference, Teague sits down with Hilton President & CEO Chris Nassetta for an on-stage conversation on what it takes to lead, evolve, and win in today’s hospitality industry. A 40-year industry veteran who started out plunging toilets at a Washington DC Holiday Inn, Chris brings a ground-level perspective that spans ownership, development, and running one of the world's largest hospitality brands. Now overseeing more than 9,500 properties across 150 countries, he opens up about why this industry has earned his life's work and why he feels it's his duty to give back…
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