Hyatt CEO Wins Cornell Icon Award, Launches 5,000-Job Youth Employment Initiative

RiseHY program to continue bringing untapped talent into the hospitality industry, with an emphasis on retention and progressive skills training

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) President and CEO Mark Hoplamazian was recognized with the Cornell Hospitality Icon of the Industry Award at the 16th Annual Cornell Hospitality Icon and Innovator Awards Celebration, honoring Mark's visionary leadership and contributions to both Hyatt and the hospitality industry at large. Throughout his eighteen-year CEO tenure at Hyatt, Mark’s dedication has created a lasting impact on the hospitality industry and people around the world.

Hyatt President and CEO Mark Hoplamazian receives the 2025 Cornell Hospitality Icon of the Industry Award

During the June 3 award ceremony in New York, Mark shared that Hyatt is proudly renewing its RiseHY commitment beyond 2025 with an expanded goal of Hyatt and Hyatt hotels hiring 5,000 more Opportunity Youth by the end of 2028. Through its continued investment in this global program, Hyatt looks forward to opening doors for untapped talent and helping people disconnected from the economy grow, thrive, and build meaningful careers.

“We are committed to bringing people who are disconnected from the economy into the workforce. Talent is evenly distributed, but opportunity is not,” said Hoplamazian. “We view RiseHY as the ultimate expression of our purpose of care, and believe supporting untapped talent will have a lasting, transformative impact on our industry and the communities in which we operate. This is where hospitality meets humanity.”

Through RiseHY, Hyatt is focused on creating a sustainable and dedicated talent pipeline for untapped talent, including Opportunity Youth, defined as individuals aged 16 to 24 who come from under-resourced communities and are not currently working or going to school. By connecting untapped talent with available jobs across more than 1,450 Hyatt hotels worldwide, Hyatt is helping provide individuals steppingstones for a better future.

This renewed goal builds on Hyatt’s prior commitment to have Hyatt and Hyatt hotels hire 10,000 Opportunity Youth by the end of 2025, a milestone Hyatt is steadily advancing toward. Hyatt is proud of the progress and recognizes that the program can also help address industry hiring challenges by building a sustainable, dedicated talent pipeline.

The hospitality industry is unique for being a field where individuals can enter with minimal experience and have lifelong, fulfilling careers filled with opportunity and mobility. Individuals from Hyatt hotels across the world continue to advance, with many going on to lead their teams and staying within the Hyatt system.

"My mentors and my colleagues always believed in my potential and encouraged me,” said Yemsijongla, Housekeeping Team Leader at Hyatt Hyderabad Gachibowli and RiseHY participant. “I was promoted to team leader in housekeeping, and my role now is to inspire and empower my team. My Hyatt journey is far from over, and to anyone who starts in hospitality, my advice is simple – believe in yourself, work hard and never stop learning. Opportunities are endless if you are willing to take them.”

With more than 1,450 hotels and all-inclusive properties in 79 countries and a pipeline of approximately 138,000 rooms, Hyatt continues to open doors for lifelong careers. To learn more, visit www.hyatt.com/careers.

The term “Hyatt” is used in this release to refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation and/or one or more of its affiliates.

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company guided by its purpose – to care for people so they can be their best. As of March 31, 2025, the Company's portfolio included more than 1,450 hotels and all-inclusive properties in 79 countries across six continents. The Company's offering includes brands in the Luxury Portfolio, including Park Hyatt®, Alila®, Miraval®, Impression by Secrets, and The Unbound Collection by Hyatt®; the Lifestyle Portfolio, including Andaz®, Thompson Hotels®, The Standard®, Dream® Hotels, The StandardX, Breathless Resorts & Spas®, JdV by Hyatt®, Bunkhouse® Hotels, and Me and All Hotels; the Inclusive Collection, including Zoëtry® Wellness & Spa Resorts, Hyatt Ziva®, Hyatt Zilara®, Secrets® Resorts & Spas, Dreams® Resorts & Spas, Hyatt Vivid Hotels & Resorts, Sunscape® Resorts & Spas, Alua Hotels & Resorts®, and Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts; the Classics Portfolio, including Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Destination by Hyatt®, Hyatt Centric®, Hyatt Vacation Club®, and Hyatt®; and the Essentials Portfolio, including Caption by Hyatt®, Hyatt Place®, Hyatt House®, Hyatt Studios, Hyatt Select, and UrCove. Subsidiaries of the Company operate the World of Hyatt® loyalty program, ALG Vacations®, Mr & Mrs Smith, Unlimited Vacation Club®, Amstar® DMC destination management services, and Trisept Solutions® technology services. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.

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