In 2023, Hilton CEO Christopher Nassetta received the highest total compensation among hotel executives, at $56.8 million, followed closely by Hyatt’s Mark Hoplamazian at $56.4 million and Marriott’s Anthony Capuano at $55.5 million. Most of the CEOs saw an increase in their pay packages compared to the previous year, attributed to significant gains in the stock market. Nassetta’s compensation was primarily driven by Hilton’s 42% stock price increase, resulting in $16.3 million in stock awards tied to performance. This marked a significant increase from his compensation of around $8.3 million the year prior.
Mark Hoplamazian, CEO of Hyatt, earned nearly $56.4 million in 2023, with a base salary of $1.3 million. Similarly, Anthony Capuano of Marriott saw a substantial increase in compensation to around $55.5 million, largely due to stock awards tied to the company’s share price growth. Geoffrey Ballotti of Wyndham received around $16 million in 2023, a significant increase from the previous year’s compensation of $1.6 million. Choice Hotels’ Patrick Pacious earned $6.2 million, a decrease from his previous years’ compensation of around $27 million and $24 million.
Accor CEO Sébastian Bazin received approximately $1 million in base salary in 2023, with additional variable compensation totaling more than $2 million. The performance targets for Bazin included financial and strategic objectives, such as talent development and reducing carbon emissions. IHG CEO Elie Maalouf received $4.9 million in compensation for 2023, slightly less than the potential total if all performance benchmarks had been fully met. Outgoing IHG CEO Keith Barr received around $4.4 million for his final half-year in the top job, below the potential maximum of $6.6 million.
The hotel industry’s stock performance has been a key factor in determining the compensation of CEOs, with stock market gains resulting in significant increases in total compensation packages. The Skift Travel 200 index tracks the financial performance of nearly 200 travel companies worth over a trillion dollars, including international and regional hotel brands, hotel REITs, hotel management companies, alternative accommodations, and timeshares. Hilton CEO Christopher Nassetta’s compensation of $56.8 million in 2023 reflects the company’s strong performance and increased stock price, leading to significant stock awards.
