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You don't tune into a Hilton earnings call to sing the blues, to paraphrase a colleague.

CEO Chris Nassetta is known for his optimism in all seasons, and he delivered once again during the first-quarter call. About 75% of Hilton's business is in the U.S., and Nassetta said he expects the U.S. will be relatively insulated from global economic uncertainty this year.

Nassetta's optimism rests on a thesis he has been workshopping since mid-2025: the lower and middle ends of the consumer base will spend more on hotels thanks to factors such as cooling housing inflation, anticipated Fed interest rate cuts, tax refunds, and a frenzy of data center construction to support AI. 

Yes, Middle East hotel revenue per available room could drop in half in the second quarter, his team said. But that's only 3% of the business. 

Call it the American exceptionalism argument. Europe and Asia may be seeing a softening in travel demand amid the global energy crisis. But either the Iran war will be quickly resolved, or the U.S. will not feel significant knock-on effects of global supply chain and financial market disruptions.

Smart Procurement in Hospitality Is Transforming the Guest Experience

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The way hotels buy and manage supplies is overdue for a major upgrade. Discover how AI, data analytics, and smarter procurement strategies are helping hotels cut costs, meet guest expectations, and stay resilient no matter what the market brings.

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EDITOR’S PICKS

Hilton Earnings: ChatGPT App Is Coming, More 'Select' Deals

by Luke Martin
April 28, 2026

Hilton wants AI platforms to need it more than it needs them. That's a bold position for a company still describing its tools as “early days.”

Whitbread to Sell $2 Billion in Hotels and Cut 3,800 Jobs in Strategic Overhaul

by Luke Martin
April 30, 2026

Whitbread blinked. Facing an activist investor and a widening gap between its market value and its property assets, Premier Inn's owner has opted for a sweeping reset.

Uber to Add Hotels Via Expedia Deal, With Vrbo Rentals to Come

by Sean O'Neill
April 29, 2026

For Uber, this is bait to drive more sign-ups to its paid subscription service. For Expedia, it's an incremental channel. For hoteliers, another distribution tax of sorts.

Hilton: Asia Pacific Still Has Room for More Luxury Hotels – Exclusive

by Peden Doma Bhutia
April 27, 2026

The long-term story in Asia Pacific isn't ultra-luxury. It's the expanding middle class, moving up the travel ladder and willing to pay for it.

H World International Posts Best Year Since 2019 Acquisition

by Luke Martin
April 24, 2026

H World's international arm has had its best year since its 2019 acquisition. Now it has to prove it can sustain the momentum.

The Ultimate Luxury in Hotels: A Room Full of Guests Worth Talking To

by Colin Nagy
April 28, 2026

The ultra-luxury market has spent a decade chasing the same guest. That's become a problem.

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SKIFT PODCAST NETWORK

Uber is no longer just chasing rides. It is chasing the trip.

In this video, we break down Uber’s new partnership with Expedia and why it matters far beyond hotel booking. Uber will let U.S. users book hotels in its app, with Vrbo rentals expected to come later, and the hotel inventory is expected to scale to more than 700,000 properties globally.

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SKIFT TRAVEL 200

How are public accommodations companies performing around the world? The Skift Travel 200 pulls the data you need to know to understand the market. Paid subscribers get full access here.

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