e ’ s one of the most powerful people in travel and hospitality . He is also one of the most accommodating and approachable .

Chris Nassetta is president and CEO of Hilton , a position he has held since 2007 , handpicked by Blackstone to lead the company when it was acquired . ( Blackstone has since divested .) He sat next to

then President Donald Trump during a roundtable of travel executives at the White House discussing the devastation caused by COVID-19 , is a regular at Davos and the World Economic Forum and frequently makes the rounds on CNBC .

It ’ s fair to say Nassetta lives a very busy life , each minute craftily calculated and crammed . He ’ s a hard man

to pin down , especially by a throng of travel media , which had recently descended upon Nashville to hear about and see firsthand “ The Art of the Hilton Brand .”

Imagine , then , the surprise — whether through providence or coordination — when Nassetta held court during an impromptu press session at the Tempo by Hilton Nashville , extemporaneously answering

any and all questions . Broadly speaking , Nassetta touched on a current economy that has presented a sort of dichotomy for the hotel industry , particularly for owners and developers . On one hand , higher inflation has caused prices to spike , which “ continues to drive very strong economics for owners ,” he said , alluding to the ability to keep average daily rates at lofty levels . On the flip

34 hotelsmag . com July / August 2024