Hilton’s net income, RevPAR and pipeline grew in Q4
It added 22,600 rooms to the network in the quarter
Hilton Worldwide Holdings reported $505 million in 2024 fourth-quarter net income and $1.54 billion for the year, with systemwide comparable RevPAR up 3.5 percent on higher occupancy and ADR.
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By Vishnu Rageev RFeb 10, 2025
Hilton Achieves $1.54B Net Income in 2024 with Continued Growth
HILTON WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS reported net income of $505 million for the fourth quarter of 2024 and $1.54 billion for the full year. The company’s systemwide comparable RevPAR increased 3.5 percent in the fourth quarter, driven by higher occupancy and ADR.
It added 22,600 rooms in the fourth quarter, contributing to 98,400 room openings for the year and resulting in 7.3 percent net unit growth from the prior year-end, Hilton said in a statement.
“We are pleased to report a strong fourth quarter, with both top- and bottom-line results exceeding our expectations,” said Christopher J. Nassetta, Hilton’s president and CEO. “All segments drove RevPAR outperformance, with strong trends in leisure occupancy and continued growth in business transient and group results. We expect favorable trends to continue into 2025. We also delivered the highest number of approvals, construction starts, and openings in our history in 2024, helping us achieve 7.3 percent net unit growth. With a development pipeline of nearly half a million rooms, we are confident in delivering 6 to 7 percent net unit growth in 2025.”
Hilton approved 34,200 new rooms for development in the fourth quarter, bringing its total pipeline to 498,600 rooms as of Dec. 31, an 8 percent year-over-year increase. Meanwhile, the company’s systemwide comparable RevPAR rose 1.4 percent in the third quarter on a currency-neutral basis, with net income of $344 million.
Key highlights:
Adjusted EBITDA: $858 million for the fourth quarter, $3.429 billion for the full year.
Diluted EPS: $2.06 for the fourth quarter, $6.14 for the full year.
Adjusted diluted EPS: $1.76 for the fourth quarter, $7.12 for the full year.
Repurchased 3.1 million shares in the fourth quarter, bringing total capital return, including dividends, to $781 million for the quarter and $3 billion for the full year.
Full-year 2025 projections:
Systemwide comparable RevPAR growth of 2 percent to 3 percent on a currency-neutral basis.
Net income between $1.829 billion and $1.858 billion.
Adjusted EBITDA between $3.7 billion and $3.74 billion.
Capital return of approximately $3.3 billion.
Net unit growth of 6 percent to 7 percent.
Financial results
Systemwide comparable RevPAR rose 3.5 percent for the fourth quarter of 2024, driven by higher occupancy and ADR. Management and franchise fee revenues increased 4.8 percent year over year.
For the full year, systemwide comparable RevPAR rose 2.7 percent, with management and franchise fee revenues up 9.1 percent year over year, Hilton said.
The company exceeded its high-end guidance in several key metrics. Diluted EPS was $2.06 for the fourth quarter and $6.14 for the year. Net income reached $505 million for the fourth quarter and $1.54 billion for the full year. Adjusted EBITDA totaled $858 million for the fourth quarter and $3.43 billion for the year.
It repurchased 3.1 million shares in the fourth quarter, with total capital return, including dividends, reaching $781 million for the quarter and $3 billion for the year, the statement said.
As of Dec. 31, Hilton had $11.2 billion in outstanding debt, excluding deductions for deferred financing costs and discounts, with a weighted average interest rate of 4.77 percent.
Development pipeline
Hilton opened 171 hotels with 22,600 rooms in the fourth quarter of 2024, adding 17,200 net rooms, the statement said. With more than 500 luxury hotels worldwide, Hilton plans to expand in 2025 with the reopening of Waldorf Astoria New York and new openings in Costa Rica, Shanghai, Osaka, Rabat, Hamburg and Athens.
The company added 34,200 rooms to its pipeline in the fourth quarter, bringing the total to 3,578 hotels with 498,600 rooms across 118 countries and territories, including 25 without existing properties. Nearly half of the pipeline rooms were under construction, with more than half outside the U.S.
It surpassed 1,000 hotels in the Asia-Pacific region and entered Bonaire and Paraguay, expanding its presence to 140 countries and territories. The company also grew its luxury pipeline in the Middle East and Africa.
2025 outlook
Hilton projects systemwide comparable RevPAR to increase between 2 percent and 3 percent for full-year 2025 on a currency-neutral basis, the statement said. Diluted EPS is expected to range from $7.45 to $7.56, while adjusted diluted EPS is projected between $7.71 and $7.82. Net income is forecast between $1.829 billion and $1.858 billion, with adjusted EBITDA anticipated between $3.7 billion and $3.74 billion.
The company expects contract acquisition costs and capital expenditures, excluding third-party reimbursements, to range from $250 million to $300 million. Capital return is projected at approximately $3.3 billion, with general and administrative expenses between $420 million and $430 million. Net unit growth is expected to be between 6 percent and 7 percent.
Hilton expects systemwide comparable RevPAR to increase between 2.5 percent and 3.5 percent year over year for the first quarter of 2025 on a currency-neutral basis. Diluted EPS is projected between $1.52 and $1.58, while adjusted diluted EPS is expected between $1.57 and $1.63. Net income is forecast between $373 million and $388 million, with adjusted EBITDA ranging from $770 million to $790 million.
Hilton and American Express provided 20,000 free room nights for those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires. Hilton also worked with 211 LA to house displaced individuals seeking aid.
AHLA Foundation is partnering with ICHRIE and ACPHA to support hospitality education.
The collaborations align academic programs with industry workforce needs.
It will provide data, faculty development, and student engagement opportunities.
THE AHLA FOUNDATION, International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education and the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration work to expand education opportunities for students pursuing hospitality careers. The alliances aim to provide data, faculty development and student engagement opportunities.
Their efforts build on the foundation’s scholarships and link academics to workforce needs, AHLA said in a statement.
"We're not just funding education—we're investing in the alignment between academic learning and professional readiness," said Kevin Carey, AHLA Foundation president and CEO. "These partnerships give us the insights needed to support students and programs that effectively prepare graduates to enter the evolving hospitality industry."
ACPHA will provide annual reports on participating schools’ performance, enabling the Foundation to direct resources to programs with curricula aligned to industry needs, the Foundation said.
Thomas Kube, incoming ACPHA executive director, said the partnership shows academia and industry working together for hospitality students. The collaboration with ICHRIE includes program analysis, engagement through more than 40 Eta Sigma Delta Honor Society chapters and faculty development.
“Together, we are strengthening pathways to academic excellence, professional development and industry engagement,” said Donna Albano, chair of the ICHRIE Eta Sigma Delta Board of Governors.
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Global hotel RevPAR is projected to grow 3 to 5 percent in 2025, JLL reports.
Hotel RevPAR rose 4 percent in 2024, with demand at 4.8 billion room nights.
London, New York and Tokyo are expected to lead investor interest in 2025.
GLOBAL HOTEL REVPAR is projected to grow 3 to 5 percent in 2025, with investment volume up 15 to 25 percent, driven by loan maturities, deferred capital spending and private equity fund expirations, according to JLL. Leisure travel is expected to decline as consumer savings tighten, while group, corporate and international travel increase, supporting RevPAR growth.
Major cities continue to attract strong demand and investor interest, particularly London, New York and Tokyo. APAC is likely to post the strongest growth, fueled by recovering Chinese travel, while urban markets remain poised for continued momentum.
Lifestyle hotels are emerging as the new “third place,” blending living, working and leisure. The trend is fueling expansion into branded residences and alternative accommodations. JLL said investors must weigh regional performance differences, asset types and lifestyle trends when evaluating opportunities.
Separately, a Hapi and Revinate survey found fragmented systems, inaccurate data and limited integration remain barriers for hotels seeking better data access to improve guest experience and revenue.
Fragmented systems, poor integration limit hotels’ data access, according to a survey.
Most hotel professionals use data daily but struggle to access it for revenue and operations.
AI and automation could provide dynamic pricing, personalization and efficiency.
FRAGMENTED SYSTEMS, INACCURATE information and limited integration remain barriers to hotels seeking better data access to improve guest experiences and revenue, according to a newly released survey. Although most hotel professionals use data daily, the survey found 49 percent struggle to access what they need for revenue and operational decisions.
“The Future of Hotel Data” report, published by hospitality data platform Hapi and direct booking platform Revinate, found that 40 percent of hoteliers cite disconnected systems as their biggest obstacle. Nearly one in five said poor data quality prevents personalization, limiting satisfaction, loyalty and upsell opportunities.
“Data is the foundation for every company, but most hotels still struggle to access and connect it effectively,” said Luis Segredo, Hapi’s cofounder and CEO. “This report shows there’s a clear path forward: integrate systems, improve data accuracy and embrace AI to unlock real-time insights. Hotels that can remove these technology barriers will operate more efficiently, drive loyalty, boost revenue and ultimately gain a competitive edge in a tight market.”
AI and automation could transform hospitality through dynamic pricing, real-time personalization and operational efficiency, but require standardized, integrated and reliable data to succeed, the report said.
Around 19 percent of respondents cited communication delays as a major issue, while 18 percent pointed to ineffective marketing, the survey found. About 10 percent reported challenges with enterprise initiatives and 15 percent said they struggled to understand guest needs. Nearly 46 percent identified CRM and loyalty systems as the top priority for data quality improvements, followed by sales and upselling at 17 percent, operations at 10 percent and customer service at 7 percent.
Meanwhile, hotels see opportunities in stronger CRM and loyalty systems, integrated platforms and AI, the report said. Priorities include improving data quality for personalized engagement, using integrated systems for real-time insights, applying AI for offers, marketing and service and leveraging dynamic pricing and automation to boost efficiency, conversion and profitability.
“Clean, connected data is the key to truly understanding the needs of guests, driving amazing marketing campaigns and delivering direct booking revenue,” said Bryson Koehler, Revinate's CEO. “Looking ahead, hotels that transform fragmented data into connected data systems will be able to leverage guest intelligence data and gain a significant advantage. With the right technology, they can personalize every interaction, shift share to direct channels and drive profitability in ways that weren’t possible before. The future belongs to hotels that harness their data to operate smarter, delight guests and grow revenue.”
In June, The State of Distribution 2025 reported a widening gap between technology potential and operational readiness, with many hotel teams still early in using AI and developing training, systems, and workflows.
Hyatt partners with Way to unify guest experiences on one platform.
Members can earn and redeem points on experiences booked through Hyatt websites.
Way’s technology supports translation, payments and data insights for Hyatt.
HYATT HOTELS CORP. is working with Austin-based startup Way to consolidate ancillary services, loyalty experiences and on-property programming on one platform across its global portfolio. The collaboration integrates Way’s system into Hyatt.com, the World of Hyatt app, property websites and FIND Experiences to create a centralized booking platform.
World of Hyatt members can earn and redeem points on experiences booked through Hyatt websites, including wellness programs, cultural activities, ticketed events and local collaborations, the companies said in a statement. Members can also access FIND Experiences, which includes activities and auctions where points can be used to bid on events.
"In our search for an on-brand platform to power experiences and tap into ancillary revenue opportunities, Way's collaboration has been a true unlock for us," said Arlie Sisson, Hyatt’s senior vice president and global head of digital. "After a thorough evaluation of potential solutions, Hyatt chose Way to power the next chapter of our digital strategy by streamlining operations, elevating brand differentiation, enhancing personalization and, most importantly, delivering care at every touchpoint in the guest journey."
The Way initiative spans Hyatt’s portfolio, covering cabana rentals, in-room amenities and partnerships with local providers, the statement said. Way’s technology supports real-time translation, more than 100 currencies, multiple payment methods and data insights to help Hyatt manage operations globally.
"Hyatt set a high bar and Way is proud to bring their vision to life," said Michael Stocker, Way’s co-founder and CEO.
"The platform supports enterprise needs while preserving the guest experience."
U.S. CMBS delinquency rate rose 10 bps to 7.23 percent in July.
Multifamily was the only property type to increase, reaching 6.15 percent.
Office remained above 11 percent, while lodging and retail fell.
THE U.S. COMMERCIAL mortgage-backed securities delinquency rate rose for the fifth consecutive month in July, climbing 10 basis points to 7.23 percent, according to Trepp. The delinquent balance reached $43.3 billion, up from $42.3 billion in June.
Trepp’s “CMBS Delinquency Report July” showed multifamily led the increase, with its delinquency rate rising 24 basis points to 6.15 percent. Lodging fell 22 basis points to 6.59 percent and retail declined 16 basis points to 6.90 percent. Office delinquencies edged down to 11.04 percent after hitting a record 11.08 percent in June.
Loan-level analysis showed $4.4 billion in loans became newly delinquent in July, exceeding $3 billion that cured. Mixed-use, retail and office each accounted for more than $800 million of newly delinquent loans.
The seriously delinquent share, 60+ days, foreclosure, REO, or non-performing balloons, rose to 6.93 percent, Trepp said. Excluding defeased loans, the overall delinquency rate would be 7.41 percent.
A separate report from Lodging Econometrics showed the global hotel pipeline at 15,871 projects, up 3 percent year-over-year, totaling 2,436,225 rooms, up 2 percent.