Latest news with #PritzkerFamily
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
JB Pritzker: From political neophyte to 43rd governor of Illinois — and potential US presidential candidate
Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker this week set out to make history, launching his bid to become the first Illinois governor since the 1980s to be elected to more than two terms in office. A win next year also would make Pritzker, 60, the first Democrat ever in Illinois to win three terms. Republican James R. Thompson was Illinois' longest-serving governor, winning election four times straight and holding the office from 1977 to 1991. A century earlier, when the Grand Old Party was a new force in politics, Republican Richard Oglesby won three nonconsecutive elections, in 1864, '72 and '84, although he resigned 10 days after being sworn in for his second term to join the U.S. Senate. Two other Republicans, Dwight Green in 1948 and William Stratton in 1960, made unsuccessful third-term attempts, losing to Democrats Adlai Stevenson II and Otto Kerner, respectively. Pritzker is not expected to have significant competition for the Democratic primary in March and it remains to be seen whether any high-profile Republicans will mount a campaign to challenge him in November 2026. He's also publicly flirted with the idea of running for president in 2028. So as Pritzker embarks on another campaign, here's a look back at how the Hyatt Hotels heir went from political neophyte to 43rd governor of Illinois and potential Democratic presidential contender. Pritzker's story begins when his great-grandfather Nicholas J. Pritzker came to Chicago from Kyiv in 1881 to escape the anti-Jewish Russian pogroms in present-day Ukraine. Nicholas Pritzker eventually founded a law firm, but the family's business empire got going in the next generation, when one of Nicholas' sons and JB's grandfather, A.N. Pritzker, and great-uncle began investing in real estate and other ventures. The family is best known for Hyatt, but other high-profile investments have included Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ticketmaster and credit bureau TransUnion. Today, the extended Pritzker clan is the sixth-richest family in America, with an estimated fortune of $41.6 billion, according to Forbes. (JB's share is estimated at $3.7 billion.) Born into affluence in California in 1965, Jay Robert Pritzker — named after his two uncles and called JB for short — didn't have an idyllic childhood. Both of his parents died before he turned 18. His father, Donald, died of a heart attack in 1972 at age 39, and his mother, Sue, struggled with alcoholism. She died a decade later, almost to the day, when she leaped out of a tow truck that was pulling her car, and she was run over. Despite her struggles, Sue Pritzker's philanthropy and involvement in the Democratic Party inspired JB's interest in politics and activism, particularly in the area of reproductive rights. While he was only first elected to public office in 2018, Pritzker has long nursed political ambitions. After graduating from Duke University in the 1980s, he worked on Capitol Hill as an aide to Democratic U.S. Sens. Terry Sanford of North Carolina and Alan Dixon of Illinois. Returning to the Chicago area to attend law school at Northwestern University in the early 1990s, he formed Democratic Leadership for the 21st Century. The group sought to bring more young voices into the party and helped spur the careers of several prominent Illinois officials and Democratic operatives, including Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, an Oak Park Democrat. In 1998, Pritzker made his first run for public office, finishing in a disappointing third place in a Democratic primary to replace 24-term U.S. Rep. Sidney Yates. The winner was Jan Schakowsky. She went on to win the general election and has held the seat since, although Schakowsky recently announced she isn't running for another term. 'Could I live a happy life without ever running for public office again?' Pritzker said in a Tribune profile after losing the race. 'I suppose that I can imagine not running, but I feel I have something important that I can do. And my skin is far thicker now.' It would be two decades before he'd put his name on the ballot again. But ambitions lingered. In a 2008 phone call secretly recorded by federal investigators, Pritzker spoke with then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich, whose campaigns he'd contributed to, as the Chicago Democratic governor schemed over who to appoint to the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by then-President-elect Barack Obama. On the call, first revealed by the Tribune during the 2018 governor's race, Pritzker expressed disinterest in the Senate appointment but suggested Blagojevich might make him state treasurer if the position became vacant. Blagojevich and Pritzker also were recorded discussing various Black officials who were potential Senate appointees in language that caused a stir during the 2018 campaign. Aside from his own aspirations, Pritzker was a major backer of Hillary Clinton in both her presidential bids, even as his older sister Penny served as finance chair for Illinois' favorite son, Obama, in 2008. Ahead of the 2016 election, JB Pritzker and his wife, MK, gave $15.6 million to pro-Clinton political action committee Priorities USA Action. Out of the political spotlight, Pritzker built up his resume as an investor and philanthropist. While his name and fortune are closely associated with Hyatt, Pritzker only worked for the family hotel business as a teenager. He made his mark in the business realm through New World Ventures, a tech-focused investment fund founded with his older brother, Anthony, and later renamed Pritzker Group Venture Capital. The brothers also started Pritzker Group, which, in addition to the venture fund, includes private equity and asset management components. In 2012, Pritzker founded the nonprofit tech incubator 1871 to help spur Chicago's tech sector, later collaborating closely with then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel. In a 2014 profile highlighting the project, Chicago magazine dubbed Pritzker 'The Other Mayor of Chicago.' In the philanthropic world, Pritzker helped found and fund the Illinois Holocaust Museum in Skokie, and he, along with MK, launched the Pritzker Family Foundation in 2001, which funds initiatives in early childhood education and other areas. Spurred by Clinton's loss to Republican Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election and the bruising budget battles in Springfield between then-Gov. and GOP multimillionaire Bruce Rauner and the Democratic-controlled legislature, Pritzker entered the 2018 campaign for Illinois governor. Defeating political scion Chris Kennedy and then-state Sen. Daniel Biss of Evanston in the Democratic primary, Pritzker ultimately poured more than $170 million of his own money into the campaign. Combined with $79 million for Rauner, including $50 million from the incumbent himself and $22.5 million from billionaire Citadel CEO Ken Griffin, it resulted in what's believed to be the most expensive governor's race in U.S. history, which Pritzker won by nearly 16 points. Four years later, Pritzker spent another $167 million to beat back a challenge from conservative southern Illinois state Sen. Darren Bailey, who got backing from billionaire ultraconservative Richard Uihlein, founder of the Uline packaging supplies firm. Pritzker's 2022 spending total included $27 million he gave to the Democratic Governors Association, which aired ads during the GOP primary labeling Bailey as too conservative. The move was a thinly veiled attempt to set up what Pritzker's team saw as an easier general election matchup, boosting Bailey among Republican primary voters over then-Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, backed by $50 million from Pritzker nemesis Griffin. Pritzker beat Bailey by 13 points that fall. Through the end of 2022, Pritzker spent nearly $350 million on the two campaigns. Over the past two years, he's deposited another $25 million in his campaign account and had $3.4 million remaining at the end of April, state records show. A hallmark of Pritzker's two terms in office has been his handling of the state's chronically shaky finances. While he failed to convince voters in 2020 to amend the state constitution to create a graduated-rate income tax, an effort into which he sunk $58 million, Pritzker has received high marks from ratings agencies and other observers for his handling of the budget. After years of downgrades, the state has seen its credit rating raised by all the major agencies, though it still ranks near the bottom compared to the other 49 states. Spending has increased by nearly a third during his time in office, without adjusting for inflation. But the state largely has avoided using gimmicks to balance the budget on Pritzker's watch and received its first credit upgrades in decades. Tighter financial times have returned, however, with the state budget that takes effect July 1 cutting funding for health insurance for noncitizen immigrants younger than 65 and pausing Pritzker's proposed expansion of state-funded preschool programs, among other trims. Rather than trying again to fix a state tax system he once described as 'unfair' and 'inadequate,' Pritzker has instead blamed Trump and his economic policies for the state's latest budget woes. Aided by overwhelming Democratic majorities in the state legislature, which he helped secure through his political largesse, Pritzker has built a resume almost any governor in the party would be happy to claim. His accomplishments in the legislature include raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour, enshrining abortion rights in state law, legalizing recreational marijuana while expunging prior convictions, and enacting a $45 billion infrastructure program, the largest in state history. And that was just his first year. He has also enacted an ambitious energy policy that aims to make Illinois' energy generation carbon-free by 2050, as well as an overhaul of the criminal justice system that has eliminated cash bail. In one of the first acts of his second term, Pritzker in early 2023 signed a sweeping gun ban that prohibits the sale or possession of a long list of high-powered semiautomatic firearms and high-capacity ammunition magazines, a response to the mass shooting at Highland Park's Fourth of July parade months earlier. While facing ongoing legal challenges, the law has remained in force. More recently, he's taken on what he describes as the predatory practices of health insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers. He's also made moves, with mixed results, to position Illinois as a leader in emerging industries such as electric vehicles and quantum technology. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 tested Pritzker's leadership and, in some ways, ended a brief honeymoon period he had with some members of the legislature's Republican minority. Decisions to shut schools and issue a stay-at-home order brought the state government into people's lives in unprecedented ways. Aside from conservative criticism over Pritzker's use of executive power, the pandemic exposed problems at state agencies under his control, including an outbreak at a state-run veterans home in LaSalle that led to 36 deaths and an overwhelmed unemployment system that elicited some bipartisan criticism. His administration also has come under fire for continued problems at the beleaguered Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and the handling of resident mistreatment at homes for the developmentally disabled. And a state inspector general has found rampant fraud among state employees who abused the federal government's Paycheck Protection Program, a pandemic-era lifeline for businesses. Pritzker's administration also was forced to respond when Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas in 2022 began sending busloads of migrants from the southern border to Chicago, creating a crisis for the city and state and inflaming tensions with Mayors Lori Lightfoot and Brandon Johnson. The governor has also faced criticism for working with legislative Democrats to exclude Republicans from the process of allocating funds for local infrastructure projects and for not taking significant enough steps to strengthen government ethics laws, despite a sprawling federal corruption probe involving state lawmakers and local officials and a series of high-profile convictions during his tenure. A vociferous Trump critic, Pritzker has long been believed to harbor presidential ambitions, speculation he's done little to quell even as he has professed his dedication to Illinois. The governor lobbied hard to bring last year's Democratic National Convention to Chicago, serving as de facto host for an event widely seen as a success, at least until Trump emerged victorious in November. Pritzker, at least publicly, stood behind President Joe Biden until he dropped out, declining to mount a primary challenge to a sitting president or to enter the fray when Vice President Kamala Harris became the consensus pick of party leaders. He was vetted to join Harris on the ticket but was passed over in favor of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. In 2023, he launched Think Big America, a dark money group that has backed abortion rights ballot measures and pro-abortion rights candidates across the country. He's also poured money into two recent Wisconsin Supreme Court races, backing candidates that reclaimed and then maintained a liberal majority in the pivotal swing state. In addition to running his campaign for reelection next year, Pritzker is putting his force behind Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, his two-time running mate, in her Democratic primary bid for U.S. Senate. Heading into 2026, a big question is whether and how quickly Pritzker will pivot to a 2028 presidential bid if he wins a third term as governor.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump critic JB Pritzker expected to launch Democratic re-election bid for third term as Illinois governor
Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to announce on Thursday that he'll seek a third four-year term steering the blue Midwestern state, a source with knowledge confirmed to Fox News. The billionaire governor, a member of the Pritzker family that owns the Hyatt hotel chain and who has started several of his own venture capital and investment startups, is expected to make his announcement in Chicago before traveling to Springfield, Illinois' capital city. Illinois, which is the nation's sixth most populous state, does not have term limits for statewide officials. However, there has not been a three-term governor in the state in over three decades, since GOP Gov. Jim Thompson won four terms as governor in the 1970s and 1980s. Head Here For The Latest Fox News Reporting And Opinion On Jb Pritzker Pritzker has become one of his Democratic Party's most vocal critics of the sweeping and controversial moves by President Donald Trump during the opening months of his second tour in the White House. "We've got to be ready for the fight," Pritzker said in an interview with Fox News Digital in April. Read On The Fox News App Pritzker On Hot Seat As Illinois Governor Faces Off With Congressional Republicans On Capitol Hill The 60-year-old governor argued that the nation is "in a constitutional crisis" and that "we have too many people who are ill-affected by the policies of the Trump administration." Pritzker, who has taken steps to "Trump-proof" his solidly blue state, told reporters earlier this year, "You come for my people, you come through me." 21 Democrats Who May Try To Succeed Trump In The 2028 Presidential Election Pritzker is seen as a potential contender for the Democrats' 2028 presidential nomination – and the launch of his 2026 gubernatorial re-election campaign is not expected to derail him from potentially running for the White House. He was a high-profile campaign surrogate in the 2024 cycle on behalf of former President Joe Biden, as well as former Vice President Kamala Harris after she replaced Biden as the Democratic Party's nominee last summer. Click To Get The Fox News App Those efforts brought Pritzker to Nevada, a general election battleground state and an early-voting Democratic presidential primary state, and New Hampshire, which for a century has held the first-in-the-nation presidential primary. Additionally, Pritzker's return to New Hampshire this spring, to headline a major state Democratic Party fundraising dinner, sparked more speculation about a possible 2028 presidential article source: Trump critic JB Pritzker expected to launch Democratic re-election bid for third term as Illinois governor
Skift
5 days ago
- Business
- Skift
Every One of Hyatt's Brands, Explained
Hyatt Hotels Corporation is a leading operator of hotels and all-inclusive resorts. The business was founded in 1957 by the Pritzker family and is led by president and CEO Mark Hoplamazian. As of March 2025, Hyatt's portfolio included more than 1,450 hotels and all-inclusive properties in 79 countries across six continents. At the end of 2024, the company had a record pipeline of around 138,000 rooms. That momentum carried into 2025. In January, Hyatt reorganized its brands into five collections — Luxury, Lifestyle, Inclusive, Classics, and Essentials — to clarify the company's pitch to both travelers and owners. That reorganization set the stage for a busy first half of the year. In February, Hyatt launched Hyatt Select, a new upper-midscale brand focused on short-stay, transient guests. In May, it introduced Unscripted by Hyatt, a soft brand designed to convert independent upscale hotels into the system, with about 40 hotels globally in talks to join the new brand. In June, Hyatt also closed its $2.6 billion acquisition of Playa Hotels & Resorts, an owner, operator, and developer of all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica. This included the acquisition of 15 all-inclusive resorts previously managed and owned by Playa. Of these, eight were already represented within Hyatt's system as Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara properties. These moves highlight Hyatt's strategy for 2025 and beyond, clarify its brand architecture, and accelerate growth. Here's how each of Hyatt's brands fits into that plan. Note: Global footprint numbers reflect room numbers as of March 31, 2025. Luxury Park Hyatt Global footprint: 48 hotels; 8,932 rooms Hyatt Take: "Located in several of the world's premier destinations, each Park Hyatt hotel is custom-designed to combine sophistication with understated luxury. Each property features well-appointed guestrooms, world-renowned artwork and design, and unique and immersive culinary experiences led by award-winning chefs, creating deeply enriching dining occasions for guests.' Skift Take: Park Hyatt is a luxury brand in the world's most important cities. While it was only founded in 1980, it's gaining in prestige on older rivals like Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, and Four Seasons. Its most famous star turn was when its Tokyo property was showcased in the 2003 movie Lost in Translation. Alila Global footprint: 17 hotels; 1,970 rooms Hyatt Take: 'The Alila brand redefines luxury with its experience-driven philosophy that blends transformative moments, innovative design, and personalized service. [...] Recognized for award-winning practices, Alila hotels protect and celebrate the natural, cultural, and architectural heritage of their destinations, which leads to unmatched guest experiences.' Skift Take: Alila's eco-luxury appeal is intimate, design-led, and credibly sustainable. With new properties in the pipeline across Asia and the Pacific, the brand intends to show that Hyatt can do boutique-style sustainability. Miraval Global footprint: 3 hotels; 383 rooms Hyatt Take: "The Miraval brand is a global leader in wellness resorts and spas. [...] The Miraval brand's commitment to inspire guests to create a life in balance, foster positivity, and cultivate mindfulness is the cornerstone of a distinct wellness offering within our portfolio of brands. This commitment reflects our focus on serving the high-end traveler by finding new ways to understand and care for them beyond the traditional hotel stay.' Skift Take: Still coasting on early acclaim, Miraval hasn't expanded like a wellness heavyweight should. Three properties in nearly a decade suggest Hyatt loves the brand more than it knows what to do with it. Impression by Secrets Global footprint: 2 hotels; 323 rooms Hyatt Take: 'The Impression by Secrets brand is a boutique, adult-only, luxury all-inclusive brand where guests can experience personalized restoration and luxury, offering escapes designed to exceed expectations of guests. [...] Guests will enjoy a high-touch, preference-focused experience complete with the utmost level of personalized service and amenities. Skift Take: With a tagline like 'Endless Privileges', Hyatt is leaving little to the imagination with this one. As most of the major players push into all-inclusive waters, Hyatt's ultra-luxe spin-off from Secrets plays to the champagne-on-arrival crowd. Think personal butlers and maid service three times a day. So far, there are only two properties, but expect more announcements soon. The Unbound Collection by Hyatt Global footprint: 50 hotels; 8,493 rooms Hyatt Take: 'More than a compilation of independent, one-of-a-kind luxury hotels, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt brand is a thoughtful curation of stories worth collecting. Whether it is a modern marvel, a historic gem, or a revitalizing retreat, each property provides thought-provoking environments and experiences that inspire unforgettable moments for guests seeking a sophisticated yet unscripted service when they travel.' Skift Take: Hyatt's version of Autograph by Marriott or Curio by Hilton, the Unbound Collection, is a luxury and upper upscale full-service soft brand. Hotels have a measure of independence with full access to the Hyatt distribution network and resources. It's become a smart home for standout independents that need global distribution. Lifestyle Andaz Global footprint: 30 hotels; 7,438 rooms Hyatt Take: "Andaz, translated from Hindi, means 'personal style.' Designed for those with a global sensibility, Andaz hotels are grounded in their local surroundings and infused with local culture. The brand's personalized, attentive service leaves guests feeling empowered and energized to explore themselves and the world around them, leaving enriched and energized.' Skift Take: Andaz, Hyatt's luxury lifestyle brand, aspires to sophisticated style and vibrant social areas that immerse guests in local culture. After early stumbles, the brand appears to be finding its footing under the eye of brand leader Crystal Vinisse Thomas and the tag line "Be Like No One's Watching." Think one-off events like DJ masterclasses and trips to local pottery-making classes. Thompson Hotels Global footprint: 19 hotels; 3,991 rooms Hyatt Take: 'Thompson Hotels provide a sophisticated home base when traveling. The brand is focused on the classics done with a refined sensibility and a distinctive sense of style. All housed where culture thrives. Thompson Hotels cater to discerning visitors traveling for business, leisure, and special events, along with socially connected locals in each market.' Skift Take: Thompson Hotels is a luxury collection acquired by Hyatt in 2018. The brand made its European debut in Madrid in 2022. Thompson is one of Hyatt's sharpest lifestyle assets — urban, stylish, and expanding abroad. It walks a fine line between boutique personality and chain hotel polish, and largely gets the balance right. The Standard Global footprint: 9 hotels; 1,522 rooms Hyatt Take: 'The Standard hotels create culturally-inspired, socially-driven entertainment destinations in some of the world's most inspiring destinations. From its carefully curated food and beverage offerings to vibrant events that engage both locals and travelers, over the past 25 years, The Standard brand has become one of the most celebrated brands in the industry.' Skift Take: Once the poster child for downtown cool, The Standard joins Hyatt with cultural cachet but real operational questions as it tries to scale globally at a quick pace. If it can retain its rebellious DNA, it could bring new energy to Hyatt's lifestyle ambitions. But it can't be too rebellious. It'd better avoid news headlines about drug-fuelled parties, please, now that Hyatt's in charge. Dream Hotels Global footprint: 5 hotels; 986 rooms Hyatt Take: 'Dream Hotels bring the party to its guests with eye-catching aesthetics and vibrant social spaces where guests and locals mingle in search of a good time. Dream Hotels are located in urban destinations and emerging neighborhoods surrounding city centers. Each location's distinct influence creates a lively and amplified hospitality experience.' Skift Take: Dream Hotels is a lifestyle brand known for its eye-catching design and vibrant nightlife, targeting travelers seeking energetic social scenes and immersive experiences. The acquisition of Dream Hotels has strengthened Hyatt's presence in the lifestyle segment and boosted its footprint in key markets like Hollywood, Nashville, and South Beach in Miami. The StandardX Global footprint: 2 hotels; 187 rooms Hyatt Take: 'The StandardX brand brings The Standard brand's signature 'cool factor' to smaller hotels, and up-and-coming neighborhoods, with properties that pack style, culture, and attitude into a smaller footprint. Each The StandardX hotel embodies a stripped-back, potent sense of style, often located in areas on the cusp of transformation, where X marks the spot for the next big thing.' Skift Take: The StandardX, under Hyatt's umbrella via Standard International, is a lifestyle hotel brand inspired by the edgy, experimental spirit of the original Standard Hollywood. A lower-cost remix of The Standard concept, StandardX banks on attitude over amenities. It's vibey and youth-focused, and has just enough differentiation to avoid lifestyle sameness. Breathless Global footprint: 6 hotels; 2,311 rooms Hyatt Take: 'Breathless Resorts & Spas are adult-only, all-inclusive properties for guests seeking an activated beachfront experience in a social setting. These resorts offer modern accommodations, spas, meetings and event spaces, and compelling dining and drink options.' Skift Take: All-inclusive, adults-only, and proudly built for poolside DJs, Breathless aims to be unapologetically bold. It's not trying to do wellness or quiet luxury, it knows its audience and leans all the way in. Loud, lively, and effective with the millennial and bachelor/bachelorette crowd. It may face some marketing pressure from Sandals, though. JdV by Hyatt Global footprint: 54 hotels; 7,886 rooms Hyatt Take: 'The JdV by Hyatt brand offers a collection of vibrant, independent hotels that are true reflections of the urban neighborhoods they call home. Each hotel provides an experience that is inclusive in spirit and space, that brings people together with joy-driven service. Embracing its namesake of 'joie de vivre,' each property invites guests and locals to connect and celebrate the joys of life and travel.' Skift Take: JdV is a boutique-minded soft brand that Hyatt acquired when it bought Joie de Vivre (via parent company Two Roads Hospitality) in 2018. Founded by hotel impresario Chip Conley, JdV is mostly an American brand. It's rarely headline-making, but it's quietly grown into one of the group's more flexible tools. Bunkhouse Hotels Global footprint: 11 hotels; 598 rooms Hyatt Take: 'With a passion for distinctive design and a focus on building relationships with locals, Bunkhouse properties offer soulful travel experiences that connect deeply with guests. The brand's commitment to community-centered food and beverage experiences and engaging events creates spaces where locals and visitors alike come together to share stories and make memories.' Skift Take: Bunkhouse brings genuine indie credibility. With Hyatt's backing and a light-touch approach, it might just prove that big brands can support, not swallow, small ones. But can Hyatt do premium economy lodging at scale? Does this fit with its loyalty program? Me and All Hotels Global footprint: 7 hotels; 1,137 rooms Hyatt Take: 'Me and All hotels are centrally located and inextricably linked with their city's local social dynamics. Urban design meets fun cultural programming to create an engaging environment for travelers and locals.' Skift Take: A Eurocentric lifestyle brand, Hyatt scooped up for its design and location play in a 2024 deal. The hotels blend contemporary design with neighbourhood roots, appealing to urban travelers. It's niche for now, but with the right positioning, it could punch above its weight in urban Europe. Inclusive Resorts Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts Global footprint: 7 hotels; 542 rooms Hyatt Take: 'Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts cater to those seeking luxury, privacy, and pampering in an all-inclusive, beachfront boutique setting. These resorts offer lavish accommodations, 24-hour concierge, gourmet cuisine, top-shelf spirits, and enrichment experiences.' Skift Take: Zoetry is a high-end all-inclusive wellness collection, which adds calm to Hyatt's all-inclusive lineup. Small but serene, it holds appeal for travelers looking to disconnect without sacrificing service. Hyatt Ziva Global footprint: 6 hotels; 2,672 rooms Hyatt Take: 'Hyatt Ziva all-inclusive resorts are designed for guests of all ages in premier leisure locations. [...] In addition to leisure travelers, these resorts cater to special events and business groups with varied and well-appointed indoor and outdoor meeting and event facilities.' Skift Take: At destinations across Mexico and the Caribbean, Ziva does family-friendly all-inclusives well, and that's its whole pitch. It's not revolutionary, but that's what keeps the bookings coming. Hyatt Zilara Global footprint: 4 hotels; 1,210 rooms Hyatt Take: 'Hyatt Zilara adult-only, all-inclusive resorts are located in sought-after resort destinations. These resorts offer a wide array of food and beverage services focusing on authentic local and global cuisines. The resorts offer premier spas, social activities, and live entertainment, as well as a variety of meeting and event spaces. The resorts are designed so couples or small groups can enjoy intimate, sophisticated surroundings.' Skift Take: The grown-up twin to Ziva, Zilara offers a quieter, couple-centric version of all-inclusive. With wellness programming and premium dining, it remains one of Hyatt's safest bets in the resort space. Hyatt Buys Playa for $2.6 Billion in Bet on All-Inclusive Resorts The acquisition positions Hyatt to capitalize on the growing demand for luxury all-inclusive experiences, while adding significant scale to its resort portfolio in key leisure destinations where development opportunities are limited. Read More Secrets Resorts & Spas Global footprint: 26 hotels; 9,719 rooms Hyatt Take: 'Secrets Resorts & Spas offer adult-only, all-inclusive luxury focusing on romance in beachfront settings. Properties feature elegantly appointed rooms and suites, 24-hour concierge and room services, gourmet restaurants and lounges, and various day and evening activities. In addition to couples and honeymooners, the resorts also cater to business groups and large leisure events with expansive and flexible settings and customized services.' Skift Take: An all-inclusive luxury brand aimed at couples, Secrets Resorts & Spas are located in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Aruba, and Spain. Its formula of adults-only romance in postcard settings still clicks, and the brand's global reach continues to grow steadily. Dreams Resorts & Spas Global footprint: 32 hotels; 13,729 rooms Hyatt Take: 'Dreams Resorts & Spas are family-friendly, all-inclusive resorts located in a selection of beautiful beach destinations. [...] Meeting venues cater to business travelers, while private event spaces are perfect for social gatherings and wedding celebrations.' Skift Take: Dreams offers family-focused all-inclusives with just enough luxury to justify the rate. It's broad, consistent, and still one of Hyatt's best volume plays in the leisure segment. Properties are primarily located in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America, with some locations in Europe. Hyatt Vivid Hotels & Resorts Global footprint: 1 hotel; 400 rooms Hyatt Take: 'Hyatt Vivid Hotels & Resorts are designed for the next generation traveler seeking engaging, adult-only, all-inclusive vacation experiences in a unique and down-to-earth atmosphere. The brand will offer crafted culinary experiences, wellness, and nutrition classes, as well as engaging activities and entertainment in a relaxed, casual setting.' Skift Take: Vivid is Hyatt's try at Gen Z all-inclusives: casual, wellness-tinged, and full of buzzwords. One resort in, it's too early to judge, but Hyatt clearly sees white space in the new-age leisure traveler. Sunscape Resorts & Spas Global footprint: 8 hotels; 3,689 rooms Hyatt Take: 'Sunscape Resorts & Spas offer budget-conscious vacations focused on family fun. These all-inclusive, family-friendly beachfront resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean provide a fun and energetic, yet relaxing setting. Each location offers a supervised kids club and teen zone for younger guests, along with an array of activities for the entire family.' Skift Take: An all-inclusive luxury collection aimed at families. The brand was acquired as part of the ALG deal in 2021. It delivers dependable value, and for guests who care more about access to the beach than fine dining, it works. Alua Global footprint: 34 hotels; 8,935 rooms Hyatt Take: 'Alua Hotels & Resorts are designed for all types of travelers seeking an affordable, seaside getaway across Europe's top island destinations, including Spain's Mediterranean coast, the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, and more. Guests can enjoy modern amenities, minimalistic-chic rooms, natural spaces, and worldly cuisine surrounded by local culture and enriching activities.' Skift Take: Alua was built for Eurobeach efficiency. Think stylish sun holidays on a mid-scale budget. It's quiet, but it works and provides Hyatt a solid foothold in Europe's resort game. Classics Grand Hyatt Global footprint: 67 hotels; 34,733 rooms Hyatt Take: 'Grand Hyatt hotels are distinctive hotels in major gateway cities and resort destinations. With a presence around the world and critical mass in Asia, Grand Hyatt hotels provide sophisticated leisure and business travelers with elegant accommodations, extraordinary restaurants and bars, luxury spas and fitness centers, and comprehensive business and meeting facilities. Signature elements of Grand Hyatt hotels include iconic architecture and design, state-of-the-art technology, and facilities for an array of business or social gatherings of all sizes.' Skift Take: Hyatt's answer to InterContinental, Fairmont, JW Marriott, and Conrad's luxury offerings, Grand Hyatt is a brand with a global presence. The brand for big lobbies and even bigger conferences, Grand Hyatt isn't trying to be cool. It's trying to be everywhere with scale and gold-flaked imposingness, and mostly succeeds. Hyatt Regency Global footprint: 240 hotels; 97,787 rooms Hyatt Take: 'Hyatt Regency hotels offer a full range of services, amenities, and facilities tailored to serve the needs of meeting and event planners, business travelers, and leisure guests. Hyatt Regency hotels in key urban markets around the world feature flexible meeting facilities of all sizes designed to provide a productive, connected environment. Hyatt Regency hotels in resort locations cater to couples seeking a getaway, families enjoying a vacation together, and corporate groups hosting meetings and events.' Skift Take: See you there at the next company holiday party. Hyatt Regency is one of Hyatt's most far-reaching brands. Still, Hyatt's most functional brand and the meetings and conventions stalwart. Dependable and widespread, but arguably the least emotionally resonant brand in the portfolio. Destination by Hyatt Global footprint: 20 hotels; 6,444 rooms Hyatt Take: 'The Destination by Hyatt brand is a portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts that are individual, yet connected by a commitment to draw on the spirit of each location. [...] The portfolio features renowned golf courses, indigenous spas, and exceptional food and beverage options including bars, restaurants, cafés, and rooftop venues.' Skift Take: Destination by Hyatt was created in 2018 as a response to the growing demand for lifestyle and boutique hotels. It's Hyatt's indie resort collection. Soft-branded but characterful. It doesn't scream luxury, but its authenticity and range make it an under-the-radar favorite for resort developers. Hyatt Centric Global footprint: 70 hotels; 14,186 rooms Hyatt Take: 'Hyatt Centric is a brand of full-service lifestyle hotels located in prime destinations. [...] With streamlined, modern rooms, each hotel serves as a launch pad for exploring all the hidden gems and hot spots each destination has to offer. Hyatt Centric hotels offer social spaces to connect with others in the lobby, while the bar and restaurant are local hot spots where great conversations, locally-inspired food, and signature cocktails can be enjoyed.' Skift Take: Another brand focusing on the lifestyle trend, Hyatt Centric takes a 'live like a local' approach. Centric wants to be local and lively, and when done right, it delivers solid lifestyle-lite appeal. A good choice for business travelers who want a hotel with just a bit more flavor. Hyatt Vacation Club Global footprint: About 22 properties. Hyatt Take: 'Hyatt Vacation Club is Hyatt's vacation ownership brand, providing members opportunities in regionally inspired and designed residential-style properties. Hyatt vacation owners pre-purchase at Hyatt Vacation Club properties and have the flexibility of usage, exchange, and rental. Members can choose to occupy their vacation home, exchange time among other Hyatt vacation ownership locations, trade their time for World of Hyatt loyalty program bonus points, or travel within the Hyatt portfolio.' Skift Take: Hyatt's timeshare works like any other timeshare, but with an exchange option added in. The vacation owners pre-purchase a place they'd like to stay at a given time of year. Hyatt members can exchange their times with other locations. They can also trade time for points in the World of Hyatt loyalty program, giving the timeshare yet more flexibility. The Hyatt Vacation Club programs are independently owned and operated by HV Global Group. and WHV Resort Group, and there's always a risk of brand damage if the third parties don't meet standards.. Hyatt Global footprint: 14 hotels; 3,536 rooms Hyatt Take: 'Hyatt hotels are smaller-sized properties conveniently located in diverse business and leisure areas.' Skift Take: Hyatt's namesake brand is, as you'd expect, in competition with similar namesake brands, such as Marriott and Hilton. It is probably the least defined, mostly mid-market business hotels in India and a few U.S. markets. They're modern, with great business and meeting facilities, although you wouldn't just find business types staying here. Essentials Caption by Hyatt Global footprint: 4 hotels; 767 rooms Hyatt Take: 'The Caption by Hyatt brand is designed to be part of the community, not just in it, Caption by Hyatt hotels hire local, buy local, and vibe local. Be it an open-mic night or a pop-up art installation, each space within Caption by Hyatt hotels is programmed to reflect each destination and its community. At the heart of each Caption by Hyatt hotel is Talk Shop, an all-day spot where guests can eat, drink, get some work done, hang with friends, or just relax. Caption by Hyatt combines the design and comfort of an upscale, lifestyle-forward hotel with the flexibility and efficiency of a select service property.' Skift Take: Caption is Hyatt's budget lifestyle experiment: part hostel, part coworking café, part brand moodboard. It's rough around the edges, but it shows real promise for younger, urban travelers. It's still early days for Caption, but given the growing market for this kind of brand, it's one to watch. Hyatt Hotels' Bold Bet on the Midmarket Hyatt's growth strategy seems to boil down to this: build more roadside hotels, not just urban luxury complexes, in places where travelers need to be for practical reasons, without trying too hard to be hip. Read More Hyatt Place Global footprint: 437 hotels; 64,435 rooms Hyatt Take: 'Hyatt Place hotels offer a modern, comfortable, and seamless experience, combining style and innovation to create a casual hotel environment for today's multi-tasking traveler. Spacious, thoughtfully designed guestrooms feature distinct areas for sleep, work, and relaxation. Hyatt Place hotels also offer freshly prepared food, efficient service, and an easy-to-navigate experience.' Skift Take: Hyatt's take on Hilton Garden Inn or Courtyard by Marriott. Hyatt Place is the Swiss Army knife of select-service. It's everywhere and predictable. The properties tend to average 140 rooms. Unlike its rivals, its design is remarkably effective at conveying a sense of delivering a lot for your money. Yet staffing and service scores have suffered, on average, at select service properties post-pandemic, and Hyatt needs to outcompete in boosting service, and thus net promoter scores, if it wants to gain market share. Hyatt House Global footprint: 140 hotels; 19,741 rooms Hyatt Take: 'Hyatt House hotels are designed to welcome short-term guests and extended-stay residents. Apartment-style suites with fully-equipped kitchens and separate living areas provide guests with living accommodations and the conveniences of home. Hyatt House hotels seek to keep guests comfortable with complimentary hot breakfast, H Bar food and beverage offerings, and indoor and outdoor communal spaces.' Skift Take: As Hyatt's upscale extended stay offering, Hyatt House rebranded from Hyatt Summerfield Suites in 2012. It's functional, not exciting, but in the post-pandemic world of long stays and relocations, that's enough to keep Hyatt bullish. Hyatt Studios Global footprint: 1 hotel; 122 rooms Hyatt Take: 'Hyatt Studios is an upper-midscale, extended-stay brand conceived in direct collaboration with hotel developers and operators and by listening closely to the needs of guests. The Hyatt Studios brand distinguishes itself through efficient design and a lean operating model. Each hotel will deliver spacious studio guest rooms with all the necessities for a convenient and comfortable extended-stay experience, including complimentary grab-and-go breakfast, a state-of-the-art self-service marketplace, laundry and fitness areas, and outdoor patio spaces.' Skift Take: Launched in 2023, Hyatt Studios is the group's first upper-midscale extended-stay brand in the Americas. It's built for developers for underserved U.S. markets, with a lean operating model and flexible design. It is Hyatt's most aggressive play for budget-conscious, faster growth. UrCove by Hyatt Global footprint: 61 hotels; 8,748 rooms Hyatt Take: 'The UrCove brand is designed specifically to meet aspiring travelers' preferences and growing expectations for a seamless, comfortable, and premium travel experience in the upper-midscale market in Mainland China. Hotels in the UrCove brand, which is short for "your cove," blend comfort and convenience for the modern traveler through thoughtful service, spacious rooms, delicious food, and a relaxed, yet refined ambiance.' Skift Take: UrCove was built to serve the growing cohort of China's business travelers. Designed as an upper-midscale option for China's 'road warriors,' it offers efficiency and comfort at scale. It may not headline World of Hyatt benefits, but it's a quiet powerhouse anchoring Hyatt in one of the world's most consequential travel markets. Hyatt Select Global footprint: (Not available as of June 2025) Hyatt Take: 'Hyatt Select hotels will focus on offering an efficient, streamlined guest experience without compromising the essentials. The brand expands Hyatt's ability to care for travelers seeking shorter stays for business or leisure in secondary and tertiary markets where Hyatt has limited hotels to date. The brand also provides a conversion-friendly option for owners looking to leverage Hyatt's powerful distribution network, commercial engine, and the award-winning World of Hyatt loyalty program.' Skift Take: Launched in 2025, Hyatt Select is a new upper-midscale brand aimed at short-stay travelers in underserved U.S. and Latin American markets. It's Hyatt's most direct entry yet into efficient, value-driven hotels — stripped-down but well-designed and built for fast conversion growth. Unscripted by Hyatt Global footprint: (Not available as of June 2025) Hyatt Take: 'Designed for travelers who value the essentials and prefer spontaneity over structure, Unscripted by Hyatt hotels will bring to life a flexible, collection-style approach where each property reflects its own identity and local flavor yet remains unmistakably Hyatt in quality and care.' Skift Take: Hyatt's latest soft brand aims to scoop up cool independents before Marriott or Hilton can. The pitch is flexibility (and a whole lot of backend help), and early signs suggest it's gaining traction. Hyatt CEO at Skift Global Forum Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian speaking in September 2023 at Skift Global Forum in New York City. What am I looking at? The performance of hotels and short-term rental sector stocks within the ST200. The index includes companies publicly traded across global markets, including international and regional hotel brands, hotel REITs, hotel management companies, alternative accommodations, and timeshares. The Skift Travel 200 (ST200) combines the financial performance of nearly 200 travel companies worth more than a trillion dollars into a single number. See more hotels and short-term rental financial sector performance. Read the full methodology behind the Skift Travel 200. Originally Published August 31,2023 | Last updated on June 23, 2025 Joey Tyson contributed to earlier versions of this story.
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10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (H): Among Nicholas J. Pritzker's Stock Picks with Huge Upside Potential
We recently published an article titled . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) stands against Nicholas J. Pritzker's other stock picks with huge upside potential. Nicholas J. Pritzker is the chairman and co-founder of Tao Capital Partners, a San Francisco-based venture capital firm established in 2013. A prominent American entrepreneur and member of the influential Pritzker family, Nicholas Pritzker is widely recognized for his business acumen and leadership within both the family's ventures and his own independent endeavors. He previously served as Chairman and CEO of the Hyatt Development Corporation and is associated with the Pritzker family's substantial business interests, including ownership stakes in Hyatt Hotels and Conwood, a leading chewing tobacco company. His academic journey includes studies at Reed College, Lake Forest College, and the London School of Economics, followed by earning a J.D. from the University of Chicago. At Tao Capital Partners, Pritzker oversees a firm that strategically focuses on investments in technology, transportation, healthcare, education, sustainable food, alternative energy, agriculture, consumer products, real estate, and hospitality. Although he holds the role of chairman, Nicholas Pritzker is not the portfolio manager of the firm. Instead, that position is held by Matthias Brachtel, who is responsible for managing the firm's investment portfolio and making critical financial decisions. Under their leadership, Tao Capital has established a reputation for backing innovative and sustainable ventures, emphasizing long-term positive impacts alongside financial returns. Tao Capital Partners follows a disciplined investment philosophy, targeting sectors poised for growth and transformation. The firm's investments include companies within the technology and transportation industries, as well as those focused on healthcare, education, sustainable food, and clean energy solutions. This diversified approach reflects the firm's commitment to not only achieving financial gains but also fostering advancements in critical global sectors. As of Q4 2024, Tao Capital Partners reported managing $143.28 million in 13F securities across ten core holdings. The firm's commitment to sustainable and impactful investment aligns with Nicholas Pritzker's broader vision of leveraging capital to drive positive change. Pritzker's guidance continues to shape the firm's strategic direction, while Matthias Brachtel's portfolio management expertise ensures the optimization of returns within the chosen sectors. Through a combination of innovative vision and practical financial management, Tao Capital Partners continues to build a diverse portfolio aimed at fostering sustainable growth. For this article, we searched through Tao Capital's Q4 2024 13F filings to identify billionaire Nicholas J. Pritzker's stock picks with the highest upside potential. We compiled the equities with upside potential higher than 2% at the time of writing this article and analyzed why they stood out as sound potential investments. Finally, we ranked the stocks based on the ascending order of their upside potential. To assist readers with more context, we mentioned the hedge fund sentiment around each stock using data from 1,009 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey in the fourth quarter of 2024. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 363.5% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 208 percentage points (). A luxurious hotel suite overlooking a bustling city Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H), headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, is a global hospitality company known for managing and franchising luxury hotels, resorts, and vacation properties. As of the first quarter of 2025, Hyatt has continued to strengthen its market position with notable financial achievements and strategic moves. For Q1 2025, Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) reported net income attributable to the corporation of $20 million, while adjusted net income stood at $46 million. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) came in at $0.19, with adjusted diluted EPS of $0.46, reflecting the company's ability to generate positive earnings despite fluctuating economic conditions. Demonstrating shareholder commitment, Hyatt repurchased approximately 1.1 million shares of Class A common stock, amounting to $149 million. Operationally, Hyatt witnessed a comparable system-wide hotels revenue per available room (RevPAR) increase of 5.7% compared to Q1 2024, signaling a steady recovery in guest demand and stronger pricing power. Additionally, Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) achieved net rooms growth of 10.5%, underlining its ongoing expansion in both domestic and international markets. These metrics reflect the successful implementation of Hyatt's strategic growth initiatives, bolstering its position as a leader in the luxury hospitality segment. The company's increasing appeal among institutional investors is evident, as hedge fund interest rose significantly by the end of Q4 2024. A total of 35 hedge funds held stakes in Hyatt, compared to 22 in the previous quarter, with combined holdings valued at $577 million, according to Insider Monkey's database. Notably, Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) forms 7.66% of Pritzker's highly concentrated portfolio, highlighting its perceived long-term value and growth potential. With a price target of $144.92 and an upside potential of 17.01%, Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) is among billionaire Nicholas J. Pritzker's stock picks with huge upside potential, supported by its consistent earnings growth, shareholder-friendly strategies, and expanding global presence. Nightview Capital stated the following regarding Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) in its Q4 2024 investor letter: 'Travel and entertainment are transforming as consumers prioritize experiences over material goods. This isn't a return to pre pandemic norms—it's a reinvention of how we connect, explore, and enjoy life. Travelers seek uniqueness and personalization, while entertainment blends digital and physical realms to create new experiences. The companies leading this evolution are redefining tradition through innovation, delivering unforgettable moments to a new generation. These businesses are not just adapting—they're shaping the future of the experience economy. Overall H ranks 6th among billionaire Nicholas J. Pritzker's stock picks with huge upside potential. While we acknowledge the potential of H as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than H but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stock To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at .
