World's Largest Hotel Companies

The hospitality industry has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic over the past year-plus, but the sector is beginning to see some bright spots as the vaccine rollout continues, restrictions loosen and demand starts to rebound ahead of what's sure to be a busy summer travel period. The world's largest hotel companies will undoubtedly play a key role in the industry's recovery in the months and years to come. Here's a look at those chains bringing the most to the table in 2021.

Following its monumental merger with Starwood in 2016, Marriott International became the world's largest hotel company. Marriott now boasts more than 1.4 million guestrooms spread across 30 different brands in over 130 countries and territories around the world. Those numbers are poised to grow, however, as the company recently revealed that its worldwide development pipeline totaled over 2,800 properties and approximately 491,000 rooms at the end of the first quarter of 2021.

Hilton is not only one of the world's most recognizable names but also one of the largest hotel companies with 18 brands and an impressive portfolio that includes nearly 1 million guestrooms across more than 6,200 properties worldwide. Founded by legendary businessman Conrad Hilton, the company was founded more than a century ago in 1919.

The U.K.-based InterContinental Hotels Group, better known as IHG, boasts roughly 6,000 hotel properties comprising more than 886,000 rooms globally. IHG operates more than a dozen different brands that travelers have come to know and love, including the iconic Holiday Inn chain.

With more than 9,000 hotels worldwide, the Wyndham Hotel Group is the world's leading hotel company in terms of total properties. The company's massive portfolio includes 20 different brands in more than 80 countries. Some of Wyndham's more notable hotel chains include Super 8, Howard Johnson, Days Inn and La Quinta.

Choice Hotels International franchises well over 7,000 hotels in more than three dozen countries and territories around the world. Ranging from economy to upscale, the company's brands include the well-known Comfort, Sleep Inn and Quality Inn midscale chains.

Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Best Western features a network of approximately 4,700 hotels in more than 100 countries and territories across the globe. Some might be surprised to learn that Best Western offers as many as 18 hotel brands, including the legacy brand Best Western, Best Western Plus and the upscale Best Western Premier.

Another marquee name travelers often recognize, Hyatt Hotels Corporation added to its burgeoning portfolio during the first quarter of 2021, opening 23 new properties with a total of 3,919 rooms over the first three months of the year. What's more, Hyatt has management or franchise contracts to open approximately 490 hotels or approximately 100,000 rooms as of this spring.