Skip to content

Search

Latest Stories

Report: Hilton, Hyatt lead in value, Taj is strongest brand

Hilton and Hyatt are the only two U.S. hotel brands to feature in the list

Report: Hilton, Hyatt lead in value, Taj is strongest brand

HILTON HOTELS & RESORTS retained its title as the world’s most valuable hotel brand for the ninth consecutive year, while Hyatt Hotels Corp. secured the second spot again, according to the latest data from Brand Finance. Meanwhile, India’s Taj Hotels is the world’s second-fastest-growing brand, primarily due to revenue growth and improved brand strength.

Hilton’s brand value is estimated at $11.6 billion in the Brand Finance Global 500 2024 ranking. Hyatt holds a value of $6 billion, and Taj increased its brand value by 45 percent to $545 million, Brand Finance said in a statement.


“Many top hotel brands have struggled to grow their brand value as robustly as in the years leading up to 2020, and the Brand Finance Hotels 2024 ranking shows that these challenges are ongoing as the industry recovers,” said Henry Farr, Brand Finance’s associate director. “Despite an uptick in travel and hotel demand, the actual growth hasn’t matched expectations, resulting in slight declines or minimal brand value growth for the world’s leading hotel brands.”

Hilton and Hyatt are the only two U.S. hotel brands to feature in the list, Brand Finance data showed.

Eight of the top 10 brands in the ranking decreased in brand value, and more than 60 percent of U.S. brands featured also saw a decrease. This indicates that the industry is struggling to fully capitalize on brand growth potential despite rising demand, the London-based brand valuation consultancy said.

Brand Finance unveiled the world's top 25 strongest and most valuable leisure and tourism brands for the first time, with a total brand value of $59.1 billion. Booking.com, Airbnb, and Trip.com Group secured the top three positions, each with double-digit brand value growth.

Rise of Taj

Taj became the world’s second fastest-growing brand, after Sheraton’s Four Points, climbing three positions in the brand strength index ranking to become the world’s strongest hotel brand, according to Brand Finance data. With an improved BSI score of 92.3 out of 100, Taj earned a AAA+ rating, the highest awarded by Brand Finance.

Indian Hotels Company Ltd, owned by Tata Group, operates the Taj Group of hotels.

Brand Finance noted that Taj excelled in brand strength metrics like familiarity, consideration, recommendation, and reputation, reinforcing its dominant position in India's hotel sector.

“We are delighted for the iconic brand Taj to be honoured as the World's Strongest Hotel Brand yet again, in its milestone 120th year. Receiving this recognition for four years, thrice as number one in the world, is a testament to the brand’s century-old legacy of pioneering destinations, setting global benchmarks, and showcasing Indian hospitality to the world,” said Puneet Chhatwal, IHCL’s managing director and chief executive officer.

“This achievement underscores the trust and affection of our guests and the steadfast dedication and commitment of our colleagues in delivering warm and sincere service, a true hallmark of Taj,” Chhatwal added.

In January, Chhatwal succeeded Nakul Anand as the new chairman of the Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality, following Anand's tenure as executive director of ITC Ltd. IHCL recently reported a 29.36 per cent growth in its consolidated profit after tax to Rs 438.33 crore in the fourth quarter ended March 2024.

More for you

Wyndham & Grubhub Offer Free Delivery to Guests & Staff

Wyndham, Grubhub offer free delivery to guests, staff

Summary:

  • Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is partnering with Grubhub to offer free product delivery to guests and staff at nearly 6,000 U.S. hotels across 20 brands.
  • A Grubhub account is required to activate the complimentary Grubhub+ membership; no credit card is needed and the membership does not auto-renew.
  • Wyndham recently deployed Elavon’s cloud payments interface to more than 6,000 U.S. and Canadian franchisees.

WYNDHAM HOTELS & RESORTS and Grubhub, an online ordering and delivery platform, will offer item delivery to guests and staff with no delivery fees and other benefits. The service is available at nearly 6,000 U.S. hotels across 20 brands, with orders placed through the Grubhub app on-site or by scanning a hotel QR code.

Keep ReadingShow less
U.S. Hotel Construction Hits 20-Quarter Low in June

CoStar: Hotel construction drops in June

Summary:

  • U.S. hotel rooms under construction fell year over year for the sixth straight month in June, hitting a 20-quarter low, CoStar reported.
  • About 138,922 rooms were under construction, down 11.9 percent from June 2024; the luxury segment had 6,443 rooms, up 4.1 percent year over year.
  • Lodging Econometrics recently said Dallas led all U.S. markets in hotel construction pipelines at the end of the first quarter, with 203 projects and 24,496 rooms.

THE NUMBER OF U.S. hotel rooms under construction declined year over year for the sixth straight month in June, reaching a 20-quarter low, according to CoStar. Additionally, more than half of all rooms under development are in the South, mostly outside the top 25 markets.

Keep ReadingShow less
Auro Hotels Showcases India Culture at TCMU Exhibit

Auro unveils 'India Cultural Corner' for children

Summary:

  • Auro Hotels opened the India Cultural Corner, where children can check in and explore Indian culture at The Children's Museum of the Upstate.
  • Families can engage with community art, activities and storytelling about daily life in India.
  • The exhibit runs through May 2026, offering interactive learning on Indian culture.

AURO HOTELS RECENTLY opened the India Cultural Corner at The Children's Museum of the Upstate in Greenville, South Carolina, offering a look into Indian stories for American families. The exhibition, held at The Grand Geo Hotel and running through May 2026, includes a hotel desk where children can check in and explore Indian culture through interactive activities.

Keep ReadingShow less
U.S. Firms Lose $2.4 Trillion by Skimping on Business Travel

Report: Business travel gaps cost U.S. firms $2.4T

Summary:

  • U.S. companies risk losing more than $2.4 trillion in sales due to underinvestment in business travel, says GBTA.
  • An 8.3 percent T&E increase could drive a 6 percent sales gain, despite post-COVID virtual meeting tools.
  • Current T&E spending is $294 billion—$24 billion short of the $319.1 billion needed for peak profitability.

U.S. COMPANIES ARE missing more than $2.4 trillion in potential sales due to underinvestment in business travel, according to a Global Business Travel Association report. Despite a post-pandemic rebound, travel and entertainment spending remains $66 billion below 2019 levels.

Keep ReadingShow less
AI threats in hospitality

Study: Cyberattacks on hotels to surge

Summary:

  • Around 66 percent of hotel IT and security executives expect more cyberattacks this summer, and 50 percent anticipate greater severity, according to VikingCloud.
  • Guest-facing systems most at risk include POS and payment technology at 72 percent, guest WiFi at 56 percent and front desk systems at 34 percent.
  • About 48 percent of executives lack confidence in their staff’s ability to detect and respond to AI-driven attacks and deepfakes.

APPROXIMATELY 66 PERCENT of hotel IT and security executives expect an increase in cyberattack frequency and 50 percent anticipate greater severity during the summer travel season, according to cybersecurity firm VikingCloud. In summer 2024, 82 percent of North American hotels experienced a cyberattack and 58 percent were targeted five or more times.

Keep ReadingShow less