The Walker Webcast Chris Nassetta, President & CEO of Hilton
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Nov 26, 2025 Chris Nassetta, President and CEO of Hilton, brings a wealth of experience from one of the largest hospitality companies worldwide. He shares insights on leading through crises like COVID-19, highlighting the importance of financial resilience and company culture. Nassetta argues that Airbnb enhances the travel market rather than detracting from it, and discusses Hilton’s innovative embrace of AI for personalized guest experiences. He also reflects on relocating Hilton's headquarters and the societal impact of job creation in the hospitality sector.
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Hospitality Needs Both IQ And EQ
- Chris Nassetta says hospitality blends technical complexity with emotional service and requires both IQ and EQ to succeed.
- He credits his passion and discipline for sustaining a career with heavy travel and responsibility.
Prepare Financially And Culturally
- Build financial resilience before a downturn by avoiding concentrated maturities and ensuring ample access to liquidity.
- Invest in cultural resilience so teams can absorb shocks and drive recovery and improvement after crises.
Relocating HQ To Reset Culture
- In the Great Recession, Nassetta decided to move Hilton's HQ from Beverly Hills to DC to rebuild culture quickly.
- He called the move the hardest decision of his career but says it transformed Hilton's growth and employee engagement.