Who are the Hotel Industry’s ‘Big Six’?

With a projected value of $540 billion, the global hotel industry is thriving. Currently, there are a total of over 18 million rooms in 700,000 hotels worldwide. A further 460 hotels opened in 2023. With an estimated 2,707 hotels opening in 2024, and 3 million keys in the construction pipeline, the hotel industry growth is not predicted to slow down anytime soon. The players leading this development are known as the industry’s ‘big six’: Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, Accor, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, and Hyatt Hotel Corporation. These major players each boast a global reach through their large brand portfolios spanning many travel segments, from luxury to economy to the recently surging longer stay. Read on to explore each of these industry giants, their flagship brands, upcoming projects, revenues, and existing portfolios.

Marriott International

The largest hotel company in the world, Marriott International owns 40 brands ranging from luxury to longer stay. The company’s impressive portfolio includes household names Ritz Carlton, JW Marriott, Aloft, Residence Inn and more. With many luxury brands under its belt, Marriott is renowned for its premium destinations. The company has also recently increased its categories with an expansion into the extended stay market. Its longer stay brands include Residence Inn, Element Hotels and more.

With 1.5 million keys spanning 139 countries, Marriott boasts both the largest number of keys and presence in the highest number of countries of the six. Marriott International continues to expand its portfolio with over 500,000 keys currently in development, the highest among its competitors. This builds on the 64,000 rooms added in 2023, a net room increase of 4.7%. Marriott International also reported strong growth in the Caribbean and LATAM region last year. Some of the company’s latest launches include Santo Domingo Marriott Hotel Piantini in the Dominican Republic, Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa, and its first at-sea destination, Ritz Carlton Yachts!

Hilton Worldwide

Founded in 1919, a century later Hilton is still one of the industry’s biggest players. Second to Marriott, Hilton has over 1 million keys in 7,000 properties spread across 122 countries. Its 22 brands appeal to a wide range of traveller segments, with Waldorf Astoria luxury residences, DoubleTree by Hilton upscale hotels, and budget-friendly accommodations Hampton by Hilton under its belt.

In 2023 the company saw significant development, welcoming 395 new hotels. Nineteen of these were in Latin America and the Caribbean alone! And Hilton Worldwide shows no signs of slowing. The company currently has over 400,000 rooms in development. Among these developments is the highly anticipated Zemi Miches All-Inclusive Resort, opening in the Dominican Republic in 2024. This resort is one of Hilton’s 110 upcoming properties in the flourishing Latin America and Caribbean region.

Accor

Paris-based Accor is Europe’s largest hospitality group, bringing European flair to its vast spectrum of luxury and lifestyle brands. With over 40 brands under its name, Accor has the largest brand portfolio of its competitors. Its 5,500+ properties represent over 820,000 rooms spanning 110 countries. Its vast brand portfolio allows Accor to offer one of the most diverse ranges of destinations and vacations for guests to choose from. These range from the luxury Banyan Tree and premium Grand Mercure brands to midscale Novotel and economy Ibis brands. Accor has also tapped into the growing work from anywhere travel style with brands like Wojo and Onefinestay offering workspaces, entertainment and experiences.

Whilst the hospitality giant is renowned for its land-based destinations, in 2026 Accor will set sail with Orient Express Silenseas, the company’s first cruise product. Accor has also made plans to grow its presence in the thriving Latin America region, opening Novotel Punta Sal Beach Resort later this year. This new wellness-focused resort accounts for just 182 of Accor’s impressive 300,000 rooms in development. Accor generated record-high results in 2023, with earnings breaking the €1 billion mark for the first time. Throughout 2023, Accor opened a staggering 291 hotels, representing 41,000 rooms.

IHG Hotels & Resorts

Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) has over 6,300 properties representing 940,000+ rooms spread across 100+ countries. Its 19 brands cater to a variety of traveller needs, ranging from luxury flagships like InterContinental Hotels & Resorts to midscale brand Holiday Inn Express, to small, individually owned boutique hotel brand Hotel Indigo. With six acclaimed brands that represent 22 percent of its global pipeline, IHG is one of the leaders in the luxury and lifestyle market.

IHG reported strong growth in 2023 with a total revenue of $4.62 billion. This growth will continue over the next few years, with over 290,000 rooms in the pipeline for this industry giant. Upcoming destinations include Hotel Indigo La Paz Puerta Cortés, Voco Sarasota, EVEN Hotel Austin Uptown Near The Domain, and more.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

With 24 brands in categories ranging from luxury to economy, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts caters to perhaps the widest range of travellers of the big six. Among the company’s flagship brands are Dolce Hotels & Resorts, Wyndham Grand, Howard Johnson, and more. Two of the subsidiaries, Esplendor Boutique Hotels and Dazzler Hotels, are exclusive to Latin America. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts recently grew into the longer stay market with the launch of ECHO Suites Extended Stay by Wyndham.

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts boasts an astounding 9,000+ properties, the highest among its competitors, which represent over 810,000 rooms and are spread across 95 countries worldwide. After opening a record 66,000 rooms in 2023, Wyndham has 228,000 rooms in the pipeline for 2024 and beyond. 7,500 of these will be part of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts’ new business venture in collaboration with SBE. This collaboration will launch a new conversion-focused “smart lifestyle” brand under the working name Project HQ Hotels & Residences.

Hyatt Hotel Corporation

Hyatt offers a large portfolio of more than 1,300 hotels and all-inclusive properties in 76 countries across six continents. The company’s portfolio includes 29 brands, ranging from the most budget properties like Hyatt Place and Hyatt House to ultra-luxurious choices like Park Hyatt, Thompson, Alila, and Andaz.

In 2023, Hyatt launched 101 new hotels (23,965 rooms), including 43 hotels (13,223 rooms) which converted to a Hyatt brand. Among these was Secrets Tulum Resort & Beach Club in Mexico. The company has 650 hotels (approximately 127,000 rooms) in the pipeline.

Like its competitors, Hyatt has also reported a strong growth in the Latin America and Caribbean regions. In 2024, Hyatt announced a restructure for its Americas division. With this new organizational structure, Hyatt’s Americas region is now comprised of two subregions: U.S. & Canada and Latin America & the Caribbean (LAC).