Hilton closed 2024 with “record” levels of growth, adding 973 hotels

Hilton closed out 2024 with record levels of growth, saying that it opened more rooms than any year in its history.

According to a press release, the hotelier added 973 hotels and nearly 100,000 rooms last year – the single-biggest increase in rooms in Hilton’s more than 100-year history, achieving net unit growth of 7.3 per cent.

The company also strengthened its development pipeline, signing more than 1,430 hotels representing 154,000 rooms in 2024.

Hilton’s pipeline now stands at roughly 3,600 hotels totalling more than 498,500 rooms, a year-over-year increase of eight per cent in pipeline rooms.

“We’re incredibly proud of our growth last year, driven by the performance of our brands and our team’s commitment to delivering the very best stays for our guests and impressive returns for owners,” said Chris Nassetta, president and CEO, Hilton, in a press release.

“Given the strength of our commercial engines, family of brands, and global network, we continue to feel good about our growth this year. Our development pipeline and construction starts are strengthening around the world, and demand for travel remains strong, leading to increased confidence in our expectations for net unit growth of 6-7 per cent in 2025.”

Global miletones

The growth has been bolstered by global milestones.

Lifestyle brands Graduate by Hilton and NoMad joined Hilton’s portfolio in spring 2024, expanding Hilton’s new development opportunities in university communities and growing luxury markets around the world.

The launch of an exclusive partnership with Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) added hundreds of independently minded luxury hotels to Hilton’s luxury portfolio, which continues to be anchored by the Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, LXR Hotels & Resorts and Signia by Hilton brands.

With more than 500 hotels worldwide, Hilton’s luxury portfolio will see additional marquee openings slated for this year to include Waldorf Astoria New York, Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique, Waldorf Astoria Shanghai Qiantan, Waldorf Astoria Osaka, Waldorf Astoria Morocco Rabat Sale, Conrad Hamburg, Conrad Athens and Signia by Hilton Amman.

Spark by Hilton, which continues to define the premium economy segment, opened its first hotel in September 2023 and has now surpassed 100 trading hotels, including locations in the UK, Canada and Austria, with plans to further expand the brand in new markets around the world.

Long-stay brand LivSmart Studios by Hilton, launched in 2023, expects to open its first hotel this summer in Kokomo, Indiana, with hundreds more in various stages of negotiation.

“Our diversified and strategic approach to development continues to generate robust growth, bringing us closer to our goal of serving any guest, for any stay occasion, anywhere in the world,” said Kevin Jacobs, CFO and president, global development, Hilton, in a statement.

Hilton has more than 8,400 properties trading worldwide. The company debuted its brands in several new markets in 2024, including Paraguay, Nepal and Bonaire, bringing the total number of countries and territories where Hilton operates to 140.

Hilton also welcomed more than 224 million guests to its properties last year, more than any year in its history.

More information is available here.

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