In this article, we will be taking a look at the 20 largest hotel chains in the world.
The hospitality industry is not just one of the largest industries in the world, it is also one of the most important in driving tourism which is crucial to the economy of many countries. However, no other industry felt the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic more than the hospitality industry. According to NPR, during 2020, the hotel occupancy rate in the U.S. was just 44% and revenue per room versus 2019 was down by nearly half. Many smaller, independent hotels had to close down while the major ones had to let go thousands of employees to ensure sustainability.
However, 2022 has been a year of recovery for the hospitality industry. The hotel industry recovery beat estimates which resulted in higher than expected average daily hotel rates and revenue per available room. While growth will continue in 2023, the expected economic headwinds could put a cap on this growth. Inflation and higher interest rates have reduced the disposable income of many people while the threat of a recession has seen industries slowing down. However, despite these issues, hotel occupancy rate for 2023 is still expected to be around 63.6%, much better than 2020.
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Another challenge being faced by hotels is Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) which was established in 2008. Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) saw significant growth over the next decade and a half, emerging as a real competitor for the hotel industry. However, there has been a significant impact on real estate because of Airbnb, Inc. (NASDAQ:ABNB) as more and more people look to rent out their properties through the platform to maximize earnings, driving up rental prices in areas as well as the price of real estate, which has priced out locals from being able to rent such properties. However, Airbnb, Inc. (ABNB) properties now include a lot of additional charges and tons of instructions. This has caused people, especially families, to turn to hotels.
To determine the largest hotel chains in the world, we considered both the number of properties owned by each company as well as the number of rooms. Now, it is a bit subjective on whether the size of a chain depends on number of properties or number of rooms. For us, number of rooms should take priority. For example, if a hotel chain has 5 properties and 20 rooms, and the other hotel has 2 properties with 150 rooms, the latter would be a bigger hotel chain. With this in mind, we assigned 70% weightage to the number of rooms each hotel chain has and 30% weightage to the number of properties.
20. Whitbread
Total number of properties of the hotel chain: 777
Total number of rooms of the hotel chain: 71,282
Whitbread is a British hotel chain with its largest division being Premier Inn with close to 800 hotels and over 72,000 employees.
19. Minor Hotels
Total number of properties of the hotel chain: 530
Total number of rooms of the hotel chain: 80,000
Minor Hotels is a Thai hotel chain with its portfolio including Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas, Avani Hotels & Resorts, Oaks Hotels & Resorts and Tivoli Hotels & Resorts. The company currently has more than 85,000 employees across all properties and offices.
18. Aimbridge Hospitality
Total number of properties of the hotel chain: 480
Total number of rooms of the hotel chain: 81,400
Aimbridge Hospitality merged with Interstate Hotels and Resorts, which is one of the biggest hotel chains in the world. The hotel chain has properties in 49 states and 20 countries.
17. Melia Hotels International
Total number of properties of the hotel chain: 370
Total number of rooms of the hotel chain: 95,000
Melia Hotels International is the largest hotel chain in Spain and operates 40 properties in four continents.
16. Ascott Limited
Total number of properties of the hotel chain: 800
Total number of rooms of the hotel chain: 135,000
Owned by Capital Land, Ascott Limited is a Singaporean hotel chain with a presence in 40 countries and 200 cities across the world.
15. Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX)
Total number of properties of the hotel chain: 1,450
Total number of rooms of the hotel chain: 125,017
Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX) is one of the biggest alternative investment management companies in the world, with assets under management being worth $950 billion in Q3 2022.
14. GreenTree Inns
Total number of properties of the hotel chain: 2,100
Total number of rooms of the hotel chain: 173,053
The Chinese budget hotel chain is present in 290 cities across all 27 provinces.
13. Radisson Hotel Group
Total number of properties of the hotel chain: 1,450
Total number of rooms of the hotel chain: 226,473
One of the oldest companies in our list, Radisson Hotel Group has everything to fulfil anyone’s needs, from luxury to economy.
12. Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H)
Total number of properties of the hotel chain: 1,162
Total number of rooms of the hotel chain: 284,944
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) generally operates luxury and business hotels and is owned by the Pritzker family, one of the richest families in the world. Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) has been operating internationally since 1969 and currently is present in 69 countries in six continents.
11. JinJiang International
Total number of properties of the hotel chain: 1,566
Total number of rooms of the hotel chain: 235,500
The U.S. and China have the most number of entries in our list of the biggest hotel chains in the world, with Jin Jiang International being a state-owned Chinese company and has properties in North America, Europe and Asia.
10. Best Western Hotels
Total number of properties of the hotel chain: 4,700
Total number of rooms of the hotel chain: 369,836
Headquartered in Arizona, Best Western Hotels has over 2,000 hotels in North America alone.
9. BTG Homeinn Hotel Group
Total number of properties of the hotel chain: 4,450
Total number of rooms of the hotel chain: 414,952
BTG Homeinn Hotel Group is a hotel chain in China and was the first hotel budget chain in the country.
8. H World Group Limited (NASDAQ:HTHT)
Total number of properties of the hotel chain: 6,187
Total number of rooms of the hotel chain: 599,236
H World Group Limited (NASDAQ:HTHT), formerly known as Huazhu Group Limited, is a Chinese company which is the biggest hotel chain in the country. While you might not be familiar with the name H World Group Limited (NASDAQ:HTHT), you might know some of its biggest brands such as Porsche Design Hotels, Grand Madison, Mercure Hotel and Steinberger.
7. Accor
Total number of properties of the hotel chain: 5,300
Total number of rooms of the hotel chain: 777,945
Accor is the largest hotel chain in France and one of the largest in Europe with hotels in 110 countries.
6. Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH)
Total number of properties of the hotel chain: 7,100
Total number of rooms of the hotel chain: 600,000
Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) is one of several American companies in our list of the biggest hotel chains in the world. Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) provides a range of services based on the hotel you choose, from upscale to economy. Currently, Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) has more than 1,000 hotels under construction with over 85,000 rooms.
5. InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (NYSE:IHG)
Total number of properties of the hotel chain: 6,061
Total number of rooms of the hotel chain: 888,147
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (NYSE:IHG) is the largest hotel chain in the UK. Founded just 19 years ago, InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (NYSE:IHG) has expanded quite quickly, with more than 350,000 employees across the world. In 2021, InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (NYSE:IHG) recorded nearly $3 billion in revenue in 2021.
4. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE:WH)
Total number of properties of the hotel chain: 9,100
Total number of rooms of the hotel chain: 836,000
Headquartered in New Jersey, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE:WH) calls itself the biggest hotel franchisor in the world with 9,100 properties. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE:WH) owns more than 20 brands including Ramada, Days Inn, La Quinta and Baymont. Currently, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE:WH) has more than 22,000 employees.
3. OYO
Total number of properties of the hotel chain: 23,000
Total number of rooms of the hotel chain: 850,000
Considered by most to be the fastest growing hotel chain the world, OYO is the brainchild of Ritesh Agarwal and is one of the most recently established hotel chains in the world, having been founded in 2012. While it has been considered controversial because of the rapid pace at which it aims to capture market share and the sustainability of its strategy, there is no denying that OYO is easily among the largest hotel chains in the world. In addition to the 23,000 hotel properties, OYO also boasts more than 46,000 vacation homes.
2. Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT)
Total number of properties of the hotel chain: 7,000
Total number of rooms of the hotel chain: 1,100,000
Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT) manages thousands of hotels and resorts across the world, with a presence in at least 118 countries and territories. Before it had its IPO in 2013, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT) was considered to be among the 40 biggest private companies in the world by Forbes. Some of the famous brands owned by Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HLT) include Conrad Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels and Hampton by Hilton, among many others.
1. Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR)
Total number of properties of the hotel chain: 7,887
Total number of rooms of the hotel chain: 1,469,301
Easily topping the list of the biggest hotel chains in the world is Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR). Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) has properties all over the world with China being its biggest market after the United States, with 57 properties in the most populated country in the world. Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) owns many famous hotel brands including its namesake, Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Renaissance Hotels and Gaylord Hotels, among others.
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Disclosure: None. 20 Largest Hotel Chains In The World is originally published at Insider Monkey.
