Hyatt’s Hoplamazian is Cornell Hospitality Icon

Who is the CEO of Hyatt and why was he honored?

Mark Hoplamazian, president and CEO of Hyatt Hotels Corp., received the Cornell Hospitality Icon of the Industry Award on June 3 in New York, recognizing his 18 years of leadership. The company also renewed its RiseHY commitment to hire 5,000 additional opportunity youth across the company and its hotels by the end of 2028.

The program provides employment access for individuals disconnected from the economy and supports their workforce participation through ongoing investment, Hyatt said in a statement.

“We are committed to bringing people who are disconnected from the economy into the workforce. Talent is evenly distributed, but opportunity is not,” said Hoplamazian while receiving the award. “We view RiseHY as the ultimate expression of our purpose of care and believe supporting untapped talent will have a lasting impact on our industry and communities. This is where hospitality meets humanity.”

In January 2024, Shatterproof, a national nonprofit addressing the U.S. addiction crisis, recognized Hoplamazian at its seventh Hospitality Heroes Reception in Los Angeles during the Americas Lodging Investment Summit for mobilizing hospitality leaders to raise awareness and reduce addiction stigma.

Talent pipeline

Hyatt has more than 1,450 hotels and all-inclusive properties in 79 countries and a pipeline of about 138,000 rooms, providing pathways to careers, the statement said. Through RiseHY, the company is building a talent pipeline for Opportunity Youth, individuals aged 16 to 24 from under-resourced communities who are not working or in school. The program connects them with jobs at Hyatt hotels worldwide, offering a path into the workforce.

The hospitality industry allows individuals to enter with little experience and build careers with opportunities for advancement. The renewed goal builds on Hyatt’s prior commitment to hire 10,000 young people by 2025, a target it continues to pursue. The program also supports industry hiring needs by developing a long-term talent pipeline.

Employees at Hyatt hotels worldwide advance into leadership roles and remain with the company, the statement said.

“My mentors and my colleagues always believed in my potential and encouraged me,” said Yemsijongla Chang, housekeeping team leader at Hyatt Hyderabad Gachibowli and RiseHY participant. “I was promoted to team leader in housekeeping and my role now is to inspire and empower my team. My Hyatt journey is far from over and to anyone who starts in hospitality, my advice is simple – believe in yourself, work hard and never stop learning. Opportunities are endless if you are willing to take them.”

In July 2024, Hyatt India launched the Vocational Education and Training Swiss Professional Diploma program at its properties, including Hyatt Regency Delhi, Andaz Delhi, Grand Hyatt Gurgaon and Hyatt Regency Lucknow. The company announced plans to open six hotels in India and one in Nepal in 2025, following 21 signings in India and Southwest Asia in 2024, focusing on lifestyle brands JdV, Andaz and Standard Hotels.