Grace L. Williams Sun, November 30, 2025 at 12:48 AM GMT+8 4 min read In this article: - ^GSPC +0.54% MAR +0.05% HST -0.62% CHH -0.16% ^DJI +0.61%
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If you’ve spent several decades in any industry, you’re certain to expect ups and downs as part of the business.
One way to combat those potential downs is by seeking ways to meet the customer where they are — especially when it comes to their price points.
In the case of Hilton Worldwide’s (HLT) extended stay properties, the company "found there was a product that people wanted, but they just couldn’t afford [it,”] Hilton Worldwide CEO Chris Nassetta explained during a conversation with Yahoo Finance executive editor Brian Sozzi for the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast (See the video above or listen below.)
“That means we needed to go to work and engineer a product.”
The example from this endeavor can now be seen throughout the country in the form of more affordable Home 2 Suites brand, which currently boasts a reported 600 locations. In addition to being the top brand that owners request to build worldwide, Home 2 Suites “opened up a broad swath of different kinds of customers that we weren’t serving,” he said. “It’s a little bit smaller room module, but it has all the functionality.”
Nassetta is no stranger to the hospitality industry’s ebbs and flows.
Prior to joining Hilton, he spent a decade as an executive with Host Hotels (HST) and also served as chairman for the World Travel & Tourism Council. He joined Hilton in 2007 and ushered the brand through a period of evolution and several intense speed bumps, including the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta (left) has led the hotel chain for more than a decade, and through a series of major crises in the COVID-19 pandemic and the Great Financial Crisis. He speaks with Yahoo Finance executive editor Brian Sozzi on the Opening Bid Unfiltered podcast. · Yahoo Finance Today, Hilton Worldwide is a 25-brand 9,300 properties giant that has opened three hotels per day over the past 12 months, according to Nassetta. He added that when he joined Hilton 18 years ago, it was a different kind of hotel.
“We had to reinject a new strategy, a lot of energy to rebuild culture and that’s great,” he said. “But you’ve got to keep doing it.”
A stay at a Hilton property can range from under $100 per night to several thousand dollars depending on the hotel brand and the timing of the booking. Consumers appear to be reaching for both this year.
Hilton reported upbeat third-quarter results just a few short weeks ago. Both earnings-per-share and revenue beat expectations, and Hilton said it repurchased 2.8 million shares of common stock in the quarter.
Nassetta acknowledged that Hilton is seeing a tale of two consumers — the high-end doing well and the low-end under pressure. Nonetheless, he maintains a bullish outlook on the business for 2026.
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Evercore ISI’s Duane Pfenningwerth and team rated Hilton in line with a $280 price target.
“[The] company remains optimistic about the potential for macro improvement in 2026, highlighting falling inflation, lower interest rates, more stable tax policy, and the beginning of a large-scale investment cycle in the US,” Pfenningwerth stated. “RevPAR [Revenue Per Available Room] growth should also be supported by limited new hotel supply (<1% year-over-year annually), event-driven tailwinds, and easier comps.”
Hilton also has 60 hotels in development, according to Nassetta, who will continue to ensure Hilton finds ways to give customers what they want by serving both customer wants and needs.
“You can only serve customers if you’re where they want to be,” he said. “And you have to give them a good product that meets [those] needs.”
Year-to-date, Hilton shares are up 15% compared to a 16% gain for the S&P 500 (^GSPC). Rival Marriott (MAR) shares are up 9% on the year.
NYSE - Delayed Quote • USD (HLT) Follow View Quote Details 285.03 -0.74 (-0.26%) At close: November 28 at 1:00:02 PM EST HLT ^GSPC MAR Advanced ChartGrace Williams is a writer for Yahoo Finance.
Each week, Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi fields insight-filled conversations and chats with the biggest names in business and markets on Opening Bid Unfiltered. You can find more episodes on our video hub or watch on your preferred streaming service.
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