Hilton (NYSE:HLT) reported growth of 3.6% and adjusted EBITDA rising 13% year-over-year to $901 million in its first quarter of 2026. Growth came through demand across business, leisure, and group travel, along with net unit growth of 6.3%.
The company is expecting full-year RevPAR growth of 2% to 3% and plans to return about $3.5 billion to shareholders.
Hilton’s leadership discussed AI and guest planning tools, saying the company is working with Google, ChatGPT, and Anthropic while keeping focus on direct customer relationships and loyalty.
Why It Matters: Hilton’s approach is about refinement as they layer AI to improve operations and customer service with CEO Chris Nassetta noting, “We’re just getting started on how technology can customize the customer experience.” In doing so, Hilton is looking to extend the value of its infrastructure by improving decision-making and creating more purposeful customer interactions.
- Hilton AI Planner: The company introduced an AI-powered planning tool designed to help customers “dream and shop” within Hilton’s own digital environment. Nassetta said the tool combines Hilton’s property content with information about local venues and activities so travelers can tailor experiences to their interests. He added that this innovation should help guests “book with us more often and more quickly,” indicating the company’s focus on generating loyalty through efficiency.
- AI Partnerships: Nassetta said Hilton is working with “everybody” because he expects more than one winner in AI-enabled search and travel discovery. In particular, the company announced partnerships with Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic and emphasized that Hilton’s scale and inventory control give it leverage as new AI channels emerge.
- Modern Technology Stack: Hilton’s modernized technology stack was presented as the main foundation for its AI ambitions. Nassetta said Hilton made a pre-COVID decision to rebuild legacy architecture around cloud-based, open-source, microservices-driven systems, which has made it easier to roll out new tools and evolve alongside changing customer expectations. In particular, the company noted that this increased flexibility is becoming more important as AI continues to shape how travelers plan and book their experiences.
- Operational Efficiency: The company is also using AI to improve internal systems and day-to-day processes across its network. The company sees opportunities to onboard new hotels faster, reduce friction during ramp-up periods, and provide better support to property owners. These improvements target consistency to ensure that service standards are maintained as the network grows. Over time, these efforts may lower system costs for owners while also improving how services are delivered to guests, creating benefits on the operational and customer sides.
- Direct Digital Engagement: While Hilton said more than 80% of its business is already direct, leadership is anticipating that AI will increase booking conversions over time. Although the company wants to maintain relationships with online travel agencies, Nassetta said he believes the company’s control of inventory gives it an advantage as digital search changes..
Go Deeper -> Hilton’s Earnings Report – Marketbeat
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