Quick Facts: Hyatt Hotels Corporation
| Controlling Family | Pritzker Family |
| Executive Chairman | Thomas Pritzker |
| President & CEO | Mark Hoplamazian |
| Ownership Type | Public — NYSE: H (Pritzker family holds controlling stake via Class B shares) |
| Founded | 1957 (by Jay Pritzker) |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Brands | Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Andaz, Alila, Thompson Hotels & more |
| Publicly Traded | Yes — NYSE: H |
Who Owns Hyatt?
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) is a publicly traded global hospitality company, but its effective controlling interest is held by the Pritzker family — one of America’s most prominent billionaire dynasties. The Pritzker family controls Hyatt through a dual-class share structure in which their Class B shares carry superior voting rights, giving the family disproportionate voting power relative to their economic ownership. Thomas J. Pritzker serves as Executive Chairman of Hyatt’s board. Mark Hoplamazian serves as President and CEO. Hyatt was founded in 1957 by Jay Pritzker, Thomas’s father, when he purchased the Hyatt House motel near Los Angeles International Airport.
About the Pritzker Family
The Pritzker family is a Chicago-based billionaire dynasty that built its fortune through Hyatt Hotels, the Marmon industrial conglomerate, and numerous other investments. Jay Pritzker (1922–1999) was the family patriarch who founded Hyatt and grew it into a global hotel empire. His son Thomas Pritzker has served as Executive Chairman and has guided Hyatt’s strategic direction for decades, including the company’s expansion into lifestyle and luxury hotel brands through acquisitions like Andaz, Alila, Thompson Hotels, and Mr & Mrs Smith. The Pritzker family also endows the Pritzker Architecture Prize, considered the Nobel Prize of architecture.
Key Ownership Highlights
- Hyatt Hotels Corporation is publicly traded on the NYSE (ticker: H), but the Pritzker family retains voting control through Class B shares.
- Thomas Pritzker serves as Executive Chairman; Mark Hoplamazian is President and CEO.
- Hyatt was founded by Jay Pritzker in 1957 with the purchase of a single motel near LAX — it has grown to over 1,000 hotels in 70+ countries.
- Hyatt’s brand portfolio includes Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Andaz, Alila, Thompson Hotels, Hyatt Place, and Hyatt House.
- The Pritzker family’s dual-class share structure means they control the majority of voting power at Hyatt despite public shareholders holding a significant economic stake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Hyatt Hotels?
Hyatt Hotels Corporation is publicly traded (NYSE: H) but effectively controlled by the Pritzker family through a dual-class share structure. Thomas Pritzker serves as Executive Chairman and Mark Hoplamazian is President and CEO.
Is Hyatt publicly traded?
Yes. Hyatt Hotels Corporation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol H.
Who founded Hyatt Hotels?
Jay Pritzker founded Hyatt in 1957 when he purchased the Hyatt House motel near Los Angeles International Airport. He grew it into a global hospitality empire that now spans over 1,000 properties worldwide.
What brands does Hyatt own?
Hyatt’s portfolio includes Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Andaz, Alila, Thompson Hotels, Caption by Hyatt, Hyatt Place, and Hyatt House, among others.
