Latest news with #Hilton
CBC
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Museum of Toronto launches campaign to explore city's lost history
Social Sharing The Museum of Toronto has launched a new campaign that it hopes will help residents explore the city's forgotten history. The T.O. You Don't Know project aims to help people discover "hidden layers of the city," said Rachel Hilton, speaking on CBC Radio's Metro Morning Thursday. Hilton is the director of marketing and operations at the Museum of Toronto. "There are lots of things that make the city much more interesting, renew our interest, connect us as Torontonians, and we thought it would be a great way for people to either explore all these sites or just renew interest in the place that they live," Hilton said. Multiple plaques and posters have been installed at bike share stations and bus shelters around the city to raise awareness about this initiative. Hilton said the posters were strategically placed, as they want the project to focus on "exploring the city on foot or by bike." The museum website says that this project focuses on over 25 historic sites and stories to pay tribute to Toronto's past, such as: Scene of the circus riots where American circus clowns got into a brawl with firefighters at a Toronto brothel. A 13,000-year-old Indigenous road, the stretch of Davenport follows an ancient Ojibwe train over 10,000 years old. Candy bar strike at Christie Pits where kids rallied about a hike in price of candy bars and were labelled "communist pawns." Bathhouse raids under "Operation Soap" which was marked as a turning point for queer activism in Toronto. For the complete list of project sites, visit the Museum of Toronto website. The initiative is thrilling and might astonish people with the information they discover, said Maggie Hutcheson, an assistant professor for museum studies at the University of Toronto. "People tend to get really, really excited about peeling back layers of history in place. It moves people and surprises people," Hutcheson told CBC Toronto Thursday. WATCH | Toronto history celebrated through postcards: How Toronto's history is being celebrated through vintage postcards 3 months ago She said it inspires people when they learn about the history of an intersection they are familiar with or a story of something important in the past that connects to their present experience. The majority of the places in the project are centred around downtown Toronto. Hutcheson says expanding to more neighbourhoods in Toronto and including multilingual approaches to the project might attract more people.
Skift
15 hours ago
- Automotive
- Skift
Hilton Says EV Chargers Are Top Booking Driver, Beating Pools and Free Breakfast
EV chargers at hotels may also be attracting more eco-conscious travelers - a sign that what's inside the accommodation, and its climate impact, could increasingly influence booking decisions too. Electric vehicle charging stations have become the highest-converting feature on according to Hilton's global head of sustainability, Jean Garris Hand. That means travelers who search for EV charging on Hilton's booking platform are more likely to complete a reservation than those searching for traditional filters like pools, on-site dining, or free breakfast. 'We have EV charging stations in over 1,800 of our hotels across the globe, and it's the number one highest conversion amenity on Garris Hand said in an interview with Skift. 'What that means is that when guests search and find an EV charging station, they're likely to boo
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
HLT Q2 Deep Dive: Mixed U.S. Demand Offsets Global Growth, Development Pipeline Expands
Hotel company Hilton (NYSE:HLT) announced better-than-expected revenue in Q2 CY2025, with sales up 6.3% year on year to $3.14 billion. Its non-GAAP profit of $2.20 per share was 7.8% above analysts' consensus estimates. Is now the time to buy HLT? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Hilton (HLT) Q2 CY2025 Highlights: Revenue: $3.14 billion vs analyst estimates of $3.09 billion (6.3% year-on-year growth, 1.4% beat) Adjusted EPS: $2.20 vs analyst estimates of $2.04 (7.8% beat) Adjusted EBITDA: $1.01 billion vs analyst estimates of $960.5 million (32.1% margin, 4.9% beat) Management slightly raised its full-year Adjusted EPS guidance to $7.92 at the midpoint EBITDA guidance for the full year is $3.68 billion at the midpoint, in line with analyst expectations Operating Margin: 24.8%, in line with the same quarter last year RevPAR: $121.79 at quarter end, down 1.2% year on year Market Capitalization: $62.76 billion StockStory's Take Hilton's second quarter results came in above Wall Street's revenue and profit expectations, yet the market response was negative as investors weighed softer demand trends in key segments. CEO Christopher Nassetta attributed the quarter's performance to continued strength in Hilton's international markets, particularly the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific (excluding China), while domestic U.S. and Chinese markets faced headwinds. Nassetta explained, 'Performance was driven by continued strength in the Middle East, Africa region and Asia Pacific ex China but offset by softer trends in the U.S. and China.' Business travel and group bookings remained under pressure, but leisure demand held up, helped by an elongated spring break window. Looking forward, Hilton's updated outlook is shaped by expectations of a gradual recovery in business travel and group segments, as well as a robust hotel development pipeline. Management slightly increased its full-year profit outlook, citing strong conversion activity and new brand launches as contributors to net unit growth. Nassetta highlighted early signs of improvement in corporate and group bookings but cautioned that, 'the great thaw happening, but it's early.' CFO Kevin Jacobs added that ongoing expansion in luxury and lifestyle categories, along with conversions, should help offset regional demand softness. Key Insights from Management's Remarks Management pointed to a combination of global market strength and successful brand expansion as central to Hilton's recent performance, while acknowledging U.S. demand challenges and timing-related revenue factors. International market strength: Hilton saw continued growth in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific (excluding China), with high travel activity around key holidays and strong group trends in Japan and Korea supporting these regions. U.S. and China softness: The U.S. market, which makes up about 75% of Hilton's business, faced weaker business travel and group demand, as well as reduced government spending and softer international inbound travel. China continued to experience modest revenue per available room (RevPAR) declines due to an austerity campaign and weak corporate travel demand. Brand and conversion momentum: Hilton's conversion-friendly brands accounted for over one-third of new hotel openings, and management expects conversions to make up roughly 40% of new openings for the year. The Spark and DoubleTree brands were highlighted as major contributors to unit growth. Development pipeline expansion: The company opened 221 hotels and signed 36,000 new rooms, pushing its development pipeline to over 510,000 rooms globally. Luxury and lifestyle brands, such as Waldorf Astoria, saw major openings and contributed to Hilton's presence in new markets. Timing of non-RevPAR items: CFO Kevin Jacobs noted that a portion of the quarter's profit outperformance was driven by the timing of non-RevPAR fees, such as termination fees from resort management contracts, rather than underlying demand improvement. Drivers of Future Performance Hilton's outlook is driven by expectations for modest growth in leisure and group demand, stable international trends, and accelerated hotel openings, offset by continued caution in the U.S. and China. Gradual U.S. recovery: Management expects the U.S. business travel and group segments to recover gradually, driven by improving booking activity and easier year-over-year comparisons in the fourth quarter, though they remain cautious about short-term demand volatility. Expansion in international markets: Hilton is banking on sustained growth in regions like the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, where group and leisure demand is strong, and its development pipeline is robust. The company is also expanding in emerging economies, aiming to significantly increase its presence in India and Africa. Conversion and new brand contributions: Continued emphasis on conversion-friendly brands and the launch of new concepts in the lifestyle and extended stay segments are expected to drive net unit growth within the 6% to 7% range. Management also cited strong owner feedback and increased construction starts as supportive factors for future expansion. Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters In the coming quarters, the StockStory team will be watching (1) whether U.S. business and group travel bookings continue their early recovery, (2) how Hilton's growing pipeline of conversion and lifestyle brands contributes to net unit growth, and (3) the pace of expansion in international markets, especially in regions like India and Africa. Execution on new brand launches and conversion strategies will be key indicators of Hilton's ability to offset regional demand softness. Hilton currently trades at $266.88, down from $274.01 just before the earnings. At this price, is it a buy or sell? The answer lies in our full research report (it's free). High Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions Donald Trump's April 2024 "Liberation Day" tariffs sent markets into a tailspin, but stocks have since rebounded strongly, proving that knee-jerk reactions often create the best buying opportunities. The smart money is already positioning for the next leg up. Don't miss out on the recovery - check out our Top 6 Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hilton CEO: Flat Quarter, ‘Green Shoots,' More Brands to Come
Hilton delivered mixed signals on Wednesday about the health of U.S. hotel demand, with executives noting that the second quarter was soft. But the hotel giant maintained confidence in its expansion plans. During the quarter, Hilton's revenue per available room (RevPAR) decreased by 0.5%, primarily due to declines in occupancy. Yet for the full year, Hilton maintained its RevPAR growth forecast of between 0% and 2%. Hilton president and CEO Chris Nassetta painted a picture of a sluggish period, but quickly pivoted to discussing encouraging signs for the near future. 'We said relatively flat, which means it could be a little up, a little down. It was a little down,' he said. But he also said he saw several 'green shoots' that he believed would drive stronger demand over the 'next 2 or 3 years.' Policy uncertainty in Washington this spring, related to trade deals, taxes, and regulations, led to lower-than-expected hotel bookings in the quarter, especially by leisure travelers and large corporations. 'We believe the economy in our largest market [the U.S.] is set up for better growth over the intermediate term, which should accelerate travel demand and, when paired with low industry supply growth, unlock stronger revenue per available room growth,' Nassetta said. 'Supply growth in the industry is at the lowest levels that we've really ever seen.' 'A more favorable regulatory environment, certainty in tax reform, expected settling down on global trade policy, continuation of very healthy corporate profits, and significant investments across a multitude of industries, including AI and AI-related core infrastructure investment, should accelerate economic growth and unlock meaningful increases in travel demand,' he said.' Mixed Demand in 2Q The quarter revealed uneven travel patterns across customer segments. Leisure travel grew 1% as an extended spring break period and favorable year-over-year comparisons supported demand. However, business travel declined by 2%, pressured by reduced government spending, weaker international visitor numbers, and what Nassetta described as 'broader economic uncertainty.' Group bookings remained roughly flat, with corporate meetings offsetting weakness in convention business and social events. Visits to the U.S. from Canada and Mexico were down. However, the countries combined drive only about 1.5% of Hilton's total revenue. The company benefited from increased visitation from abroad as the U.S. dollar weakened. Optimism Longer Term Looking ahead, the hotel operator forecasted that its RevPAR would remain flat to slightly negative in the third quarter, partly due to holiday calendar shifts. That range is below the analyst consensus that Hilton's RevPAR would rise 1.2% year-over-year. Hilton anticipates improvement in the fourth quarter, partly driven by easier year-over-year comparisons with last year's dampened demand from the U.S. presidential election. Hilton reported 'positive momentum' in corporate lead volumes and said group bookings for 2026 and 2027 were up in the high single digits. A Softening in Hotel Openings? While Hilton's hotel development pipeline hit a record high (510,000 rooms), the pace of openings has slackened. Excluding hotels acquired through recent deals, Hilton's net room growth was up only 5.4% year-over-year. '[Hilton] will need a record second half to even hit the bottom end of the 6% to 7% guidance for the year,' noted Richard Clarke in a flash report for Bernstein Research. Executives said Monday they 'remain confident' in the company's 'ability to deliver net unit growth between 6-7% for the next several years.' 'However, we expect questions on how this organic growth rate can be achieved in 2026,' wrote Truist Securities analyst C. Patrick Scholes in a flash report. 'The pipeline only grew 4% year-over-year, versus the 7.2% growth rate in the first quarter, fourth quarter 2024's +8%, and the +15% in the same quarter a year ago. Nassetta insisted the company will hit its target range for hotel development. 'I've been saying we will be in the 6% to 7% range, and I'm a little bit more emphatic,' Nassetta CEO noted that the company's starts on hotel projects 'are going to be up 16% to 17% this year, and once they start, almost 100% of the time, they finish.' More Brands to Come The CEO teased that the group would add more brands to its current 24. 'We're going to have 2 or 3 more brands,' Nassetta said, noting they'll likely be in the 'upscale or upscale plus areas of lifestyle.' One of these may be a soft brand. 'We're putting the finishing touches on another collection brand in lifestyle that is sort of in the Tapestry zone, but just for more unique assets.' Strong Second Quarter Despite the weakness in RevPAR, Hilton generated a net income of $442 million on $1.3 billion in revenue (after reimbursing money to hotel owners) in the quarter. Adjusted EBITDA grew 10% to $1 billion. 'Hilton Honors continues to perform extraordinarily well with more than 226 million members, up 16% year-over-year, with membership now evenly split between the U.S. and international travelers,' Nassetta said. Accommodations Sector Stock Index Performance Year-to-Date 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. Get breaking travel news and exclusive hotel, airline, and tourism research and insights at Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Reuters
a day ago
- Business
- Reuters
Hilton lifts 2025 profit forecast on US demand recovery expectations
July 23 (Reuters) - Hilton Worldwide (HLT.N), opens new tab lifted its 2025 profit forecast on expectations of a complete recovery in domestic travel demand in the U.S. after a sharp pullback earlier this year. But the company's projection for third-quarter profit came in below analysts' expectations, sending the hotel operator's shares down 1.5% on Wednesday. Some travel companies, including Delta Airlines and United Airlines, recently said US travel demand has steadied after a setback in March driven by President Donald Trump's trade war. We are starting to see early signs that demand is thawing, Hilton CEO Christopher Nassetta said on a post-earnings call, adding that he expects conditions to begin normalizing by the fourth quarter. The Waldorf Astoria-parent, which last week reopened its flagship hotel in New York after eight years of restoration, posted an adjusted profit of $2.20 per share in the second quarter, beating Wall Street estimates of $2.04, according to data compiled by LSEG. Total revenue for the quarter ended June 30 was $3.14 billion, up 6.3% from a year earlier. However, quarterly room revenue in the U.S., Hilton's largest market, fell 1.5% from a year earlier. With the U.S. market still recovering, Hilton forecast third-quarter adjusted profit in the range of $1.98 to $2.04 per share, below analyst estimates of $2.13. Nassetta said Hilton plans to add at least two new brands through deals where existing hotels would be rebranded by the end of the year. Bernstein analyst Richard Clarke emphasized the company would need a record number of room additions in the second half of the year to meet even the low end of its 2025 net unit growth forecast of 6% to 7%. Hilton forecast its full-year adjusted profit in the range of $7.83 to $8 per share, compared with its earlier forecast of $7.76 to $7.94.
