- Thomas Pritzker resigns as Hyatt chairman after Epstein link revealed.
- CEO Mark Hoplamazian to succeed him as chairman.
- Board vows to prioritize growth, operations and shareholder value.
THOMAS PRITZKER RESIGNED as executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels Corp., effective immediately. The resignation followed the release of U.S. Justice Department files showing his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
According to CNN, the files showed recurring contact, including in 2018, when Pritzker helped Epstein arrange travel for a woman reportedly linked to him. Hyatt named President and CEO Mark Hoplamazian to succeed Pritzker, who will not seek board reelection.
Pritzker served on Hyatt’s board and as executive chairman since August 2004 and held senior executive and chairman roles for predecessor entities from 1980. He oversaw Hyatt’s global expansion, asset-light model and value creation for stockholders.
“I have been a proud member of the Hyatt family since the beginning of Hyatt,” Pritzker said. “As I said in my letter to the board, it has been an honor to contribute to Hyatt’s growth. Hyatt is well positioned for the future, and I have confidence in Mark, our leadership team and the board as they continue to build on our strong foundation.”
Lapse of judgment
“I exercised terrible judgment in maintaining contact with them and there is no excuse for failing to distance myself sooner,” Pritzker said in a statement reported by CNN.
The CNN report also said he expressed regret over his association with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell and said he wanted to protect Hyatt from reputational harm.
The newly released records, according to CNN, indicate that Pritzker remained in recurring contact with Epstein even after the financier’s 2008 guilty plea to prostitution charges, including soliciting an underage girl. One exchange from 2018 shows Epstein seeking Pritzker’s help with hotel reservations for a woman travelling through Asia who was reportedly his girlfriend.
When Pritzker asked about her plans, CNN said the woman responded by email, “Going to try to find a new girlfriend for Jeffrey.” Pritzker replied, “May the Force be with you,” accompanied by a smiley face emoji.
Moving forward
Hyatt’s board said the company will focus on growth, operations and value for stockholders while reaffirming its commitment to colleagues, guests and its global brand.
“Tom’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping Hyatt’s strategy and long-term growth and we thank him for his service,” said Richard Tuttle, chair of Hyatt’s board nominating and governance committee. “The board is confident that Mark’s knowledge of Hyatt, strong relationships with owners and colleagues, and proven track record as CEO position him to serve as chairman and continue driving Hyatt’s success.”
Hoplamazian said he is honored by the board’s confidence and looks forward to serving as chairman.
“Tom’s decision reflects his stewardship and commitment to Hyatt,” he said. “We remain focused on executing our strategy for long-term growth, supporting our colleagues, delivering meaningful experiences for guests and creating value for owners and stockholders.”
The company reported higher RevPAR for the fourth quarter and full-year 2025, despite a drop in net income. Comparable systemwide RevPAR rose 4 percent in the quarter and 2.9 percent for the year versus 2024.
