But the situation only darkened. Private-equity investors Blackstone Group (BX) needed an ace to turn around the ailing Hilton Hotels chain it just bought. Country of residence : Unknown. By Part of the problem, it was determined, was the location of the headquarters. Most hotels especially at the higher end charge for it. While some hotel companies, like Marriott International, are launching new brands targeting younger travelers Nassetta isn't convinced that is the best approach. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. And we were right. ", How Thomas Rowe Price Picked Stocks And Success, Give People Honest Feedback By Hitting Positives And Negatives, Inspirational Quotes: Gail Devers, John D. Rockefeller, Ali Krieger And Others, Get Full Access To IBD Stock Lists And Ratings. The job? He gets animated about the gifts he's received from world leaders who welcomed Hilton into their country, like a zebra skin rug, swords and watches. This was no cushy assignment. and other data for a number of reasons, such as keeping FT Sites reliable and secure, But by the time he returned, Paige had had a change of heart. "Their job is harder than your job," Nassetta says. The culture was apathetic and management was divided. Hilton was once an innovator. Arlington native Chris Nassetta checked his phone as he got off his boat after a 2007 Fourth of July outing with his daughters on the Chesapeake Bay. Nassetta's team contemplated selling off pieces of the company. Mr Nassetta spent his first 100 days in the job flying around Hiltons properties worldwide. It didnt look good as Nassetta left for a weeklong business trip as the news hit the papers and the airwaves that Hilton was moving to Tysons. While some hotel companies, like Marriott International, are launching new brands targeting younger travelers Nassetta isn't convinced that is the best approach. The thing I will be most proud of is this, Nassetta says of the No. October 26, 2020, 10:30 AM. Find Christopher Nassetta in Arlington, VA and get their phone number, relatives, public records, and past addresses including Colorado and Maryland. Nassetta and his familysix daughters and his wifewould find themselves moving from Northern Virginia to the fabled luxury confines of Bel Air, home of Beyonc, Jay Z, Elon Musk, Jennifer Aniston and other celebrities. View Similar Profiles. Chris Nassetta is a LinkedIn Influencer None. Nassetta 55 2019. In 2009, 18 months into his tenure as chief executive, Hilton was on the brink of collapse, making the $26bn investment of owners Blackstone look like. As he rang the opening bell that day on the New York Stock Exchange floor, Mr Nassetta, dressed in a white Hilton bathrobe, cried. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. And the stock has doubled from its first-day closing price of $45.34 a share. It ended up being the most spectacular experience for our family you can imagine. 1 on the Fortune Best Companies to Work For list for 2019, from 33rd a year ago. ", The Daily Digest for Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders. Hilton had more than $20bn of debt on its balance sheet and faced steep revenue declines as corporates tightened their travel budgets. My call, which was really difficult, was if we didnt do this, we couldnt accelerate change. He gets animated about the gifts he's received from world leaders who welcomed Hilton into their country, like a zebra skin rug, swords and watches. | January 17, 2022 P.O. "I truly believe that the best way to succeed in this industry and really, any industry is to raise your hand for new opportunities and understand how the business works from the front lines of customer service to the top levels of leadership," Nassetta told travel research site PhocusWire.com. During the 41st annual NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment. She said, I dont know how to tell you this, but we cant do this. Im thinking, Im the hero, were going home to friends and family, and my wife says we have to stay. But by 2007, many of Hilton's rooms were tired looking. Brian left behind Sarah as a widow and his daughter Danielle. Hills that is (It was Paige who joked about them being the Beverly Hillbillies.) And it was Bailey, then 14 and the oldest daughter, who eventually rallied the reluctant others. "Under Chris Nassetta's leadership Hilton has been recognized as a place where all our team members do what they love, providing exceptional service with sincerity and authenticity," said Chris Inman, general manager of the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort in California. Copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); . Mr Nassetta, 57, has learnt the hard way. He joined Host in 1995 as Executive Vice President and was elected Chief Operating Officer in 1997. These aren't small meals.. He is proud that Hilton, which has made it to a centenary, is a rare phenomenon among S&P 500 companies. Of its planned hotels, 60 percent are now outside the U.S. Its initial public offering last December raised $2.35 billion, surpassing Twitter's IPO the month prior. "Hilton has pioneered the hospitality industry as we know it today, and we continue to grow our . The. Hiltons chief executive cites key leadership lessons from groups founder in 1919, Chris Nassetta: old values for a modern resilient company, Ukrainian interior minister among 14 killed in Kyiv helicopter crash, Bank of Japan defies market pressure and holds firm on yield curve control, IMF signals upgrade to forecasts as optimism spreads at Davos, Belarus opposition leader warns of massive disobedience if Alexander Lukashenko mobilises for Ukraine war, Messina Denaros arrest saps strength of the Sicilian mafia, Morgan Stanley retains edge over Goldman Sachs due to booming wealth unit, Peltz fixates on $71bn Fox deal in fight against Disney and Iger, Western banks struggle to exit Russia after Putin intervention, Jim Ratcliffe enters race to buy Manchester United, Live news: Zelenskyy urges Ukraines allies to speed up weapons deliveries, Norway fund chief warns at Davos of very, very low returns for stocks, Global oil demand set to reach record high as China reopens, IEA says, Russias energy weapon fails to fire as required, We must tackle the looming global debt crisis before its too late, There is no path to lasting Russian victory, What the NHS and royal crises in the UK have in common, Wanted: older workers for flexible and desirable jobs, Tyler Cowen: Economists cant predict the effects of new technologies. All of our brands need to be relevant to a broad array of customers.". Nassetta became CEO in December. He joined Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. in 1995 as Executive Vice President and was elected Chief Operating . Christopher J. Nassetta has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Hilton Worldwide (fka Hilton Hotels corporation), a global hospitality company, since December 2007. And highlighting its cultural importance, in 1975 the Muppet characters Statler and Waldorf were introduced, named after two Hilton properties in New York. And they had been king of the hill. (Very) frequent traveler dedicated to leading the world's most hospitable company. Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership, Celebrating 50 Reasons We Are Hospitality, Specs Beverage & Food Appreciation Laboratory, Opportunities to Connect With Our Students, Conrad N. Hilton College P & T Guidelines, Electronic & Information Resources Accessibility, Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct Reporting and Awareness. They have also lived in Oakton, VA and Colorado Springs, CO. As for Blackstone, which exited Hilton after 11 years, the investment is regarded as the most profitable private equity deal ever, according to Bloomberg, with a cumulative profit of $14 billion. One of Nassettas sisters provides the clinic with photography services, according to White. How Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta Has Led the Company To Be a Top Employer for Diversity Written by Danielle Hess on May 17, 2022 More in News: The Cost of Getting Sick: Black Americans and Medical Debt December 15, 2022 5 Things to Never Say to Muslim Coworkers December 13, 2022 Prior to joining Hilton Worldwide, Mr. Nassetta served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Host Hotels & Resorts (fka Host Marriott Corporation), a lodging . The two discussed the theme "How We Live and Work Has Changed for Good, Will Travel?". Realtime quote and/or trade prices are not sourced from all markets. Moving back was harder than moving out, he says. Nassetta Paige Nassetta. So Hilton and other hotels are testing a "grab-and-go" food outlets, particularly for breakfast. I was born and raised here, my parents still live in the house I grew up in a mile away, my two sisters are neighbors. What was the first leadership lesson you learnt? World Travel & Tourism Council Flickr images: Date: 25 April 2014, 12:22: Source: Christopher J Nassetta, President & CEO, Hilton Worldwide: Author: World Travel & Tourism Council . It was not my intention to move the company, but to rebuild it., To his horror, Nassetta discovered Hilton operating like eight or nine companies all over the world running themselves. (Jeffrey MacMillan/For Capital Business) As July 4, 2007, dawned on the Chesapeake Bay, Christopher. Nearly every weekend, Chris Nassetta is cooking in his family's oversized kitchen, outfitted with two commercial-grade refrigerators, three sinks and a deep fryer. Christopher J. Nassetta is President and Chief Executive Officer for Hilton. Hilton President and CEO Christopher Nassetta spoke with Skift CEO Rafat Ali at Skift Global Forum 2021. All of our brands need to be relevant to a broad array of customers.". And the neighbors--on both sides--are his sisters and their families. It was a tear-jerker for everybody including me.. "People really didn't know where we were going," he says. Collectively, our Executive Committee brings in over 200 years of experience to the company. I don't like you corporate types,'" Nassetta said. Months after joining, though, the Great Recession tsunami hit the hospitality industry. And the neighbors on both sides are his sisters and their families. Four years later, Mr Nassetta returned the company to the public markets at a valuation of $2.4bn. "You get in there, and you pay them the respect.". An interview lasts three hours, long enough to require a bathroom break--but not a pause in the conversation. He is a board member of 7 organizations Christopher has served under various positions in different industries such as real estate and finance which exposed him to an array of skills. His grandfather arrived in America from Italy before the Great Depression with a few dollars in his pocket and just as many words of English in his vocabulary. Chris and his wife Linda initially had 5 children. The last ones standing were Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta and Northern Virginia. He also moved the headquarters to Arlington, Virginia, where he had grown up. -0.75% You have to understand the sensitivity, he says. , McIntire School of Commerce. It was he who turned the Bethesda-based real estate investment trust into a Fortune 500 and Standard & Poors 500 property, which did not go unnoticed by Blackstone. People Like Chris Nassetta . When he broke the news to Paige before the Los Angeles press announced the relocation of a flagship corporation, Nassetta was taken aback. "There was no culture of innovation," he said. (Recommended: Marriott CEO Email & Net Worth - Anthony Capuano) Category: Travel & Hospitality Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. 11 January 2023: Hotelivate is pleased to announce Chris Nassetta President and CEO, Hilton as a keynote speaker for the 18th Edition of the Hotel Investment Conference South Asia (HICSA) in Bangalore from 11th 13th April 2023. Copyright 2022 HospiMedia | Developed by, Chris Nassetta President & CEO, Hilton to Participate in HICSA 2023 as Keynote Speaker, India Vision @2047 Mr. Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, Vice President, Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), A Word with Chef Sunit Sharma, Executive Chef at Cidade de Goa, Assimilate the art of mesmerizing food with Food Stylist & Photographer Nitin Tandon. "I'm not a gourmet chef," Nassetta says. But guests aren't happy either with often overpriced, mediocre food. Legal Statement. The hotel chain founded by Conrad Hilton in Cisco, Texas, in 1919, was in a dangerous financial spiral that had an unintended upside: The moribund spreadsheets made it a deliciously ripe target for a private equity takeover, in an industry that didnt ordinarily draw much attention from private equity investors. "I think all our hotels, in all brands, need to appeal to the millennial," he says. And Nassetta struggled to upgrade and expand Hilton while servicing $20.5 billion in debt. Chris Nassetta is President and Chief Executive Officer of Hilton, which has the best-performing portfolio of brands in the business, with 18 brands positioned across more than 6,800 properties. Join us for the Virtual Trading Summit and learn the fundamentals of smart investing! Through proceeds from his . But this time he'd have more than his six daughters in tow. Private equity firm Blackstone Group purchased the company; Nassetta was brought in to turn it around. We are talking in his office at the hotel companys headquarters in Arlington, just outside Washington DC. His grandfather arrived in America from Italy before the Great Depression with a few dollars in his pocket and just as many words of English in his vocabulary. Im now clean and sober: My late father left me 25% of his estate, and my wealthy brother 75%. . Yes, he is married to his wife Paige Nassetta. Now in its 100th year, Hilton has 420,000 employees across 114 countries and delivered $8.9bn in revenues last year, but Mr Nassetta says that hotel companies should have a higher purpose. Primarily, he unclogged toilets. He's on the latests episode of "The David Rubenstein Show: Peer-to-Peer Conversations." This interview was recorded December 1. But Hilton couldnt do a headline-generating search for a new home the way Amazon tantalized municipalities in its search for HQ2, half of which ended up in Arlington. Nassetta and Hilton have been longtime . This years edition will be unique and special in many ways. Chris Nassetta, Hilton. The. He also had a lawn mowing and snow plowing business. You have an expectation you are going to pop right back into the ecosystemthe cocoonbut you find out the whole system is different. When Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta took over in 2007, the company was lagging--and now it's the largest hotelier in the world. "You get in there, and you pay them the respect.". The company is also rapidly expanding in Asia Pacific and is currently the fastest growing hotel company in the region, with one in four hotel rooms under construction carrying a Hilton flag. On the other hand, everyone thought the company had enormous potential, given time. "Bottled water has a cost, has an environmental impact," Nassetta says. Chris Nassetta, President and CEO, Hilton: With Chris Nassetta, Christine Tan. On July 3, 2007, Blackstone cut what was then the biggest private equity check ever$6.5 billiontoward the $26 billion purchase of the Hilton holdings3,700 hotels, 600,000 rooms and debt, lots and lots of debt. Lesson: You can recover from even seemingly hopeless business situations with perseverance and creativity. Of its planned hotels, 60 percent are now outside the U.S. Its initial public offering last December raised $2.35 billion, surpassing Twitter's IPO the month prior. Elsewhere, the value of options awards rose to $4.57 million from $4.31 million, non-equity incentive plan compensation declined to $1.07 million from $2.40 million and all other compensation decreased to $361,161 from $435,343. "If you want to change a culture, you change 80 percent of the people," he says. . None View. Its representative of what I stand for.. and the S&P 500's "Their job is harder than your job," Nassetta says. Nassetta also works with Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, among other organizations. . Nassetta had a newspaper delivery route then expanded it, getting other kids to do deliveries under his supervision. If you get fired from your tech job, what should be your next move? "I think all our hotels, in all brands, need to appeal to the millennial," he says. He mentions changing some leadership, focusing on emerging markets and staying nimble to tackle the challenge posed by Airbnb, which even the Hilton CEO says he has occasionally used. Ive doubted myself a lot. Nassetta, a trim and tanned 56-year-old, grew up with two brothers sharing a bedroom in a North Arlington center-hall colonial; hes a graduate of Yorktown High School and University of Virginia, and in 2007, at the time of the Hilton sale, was the chief executive officer of Host Hotels & Resorts. Nassetta focused on lucrative international markets at the time, only 19 percent of Hilton's new hotels were planned for overseas. Christopher J. Nassetta President and CEO Hilton Worldwide, McLean. I wasnt looking to do anything different professionally., With the deal on the table, it was his wife Paige, Nassetta says, who made the final decision. I think its good to doubt yourself. "Over the years, we've introduced industry-leading benefits, invested in programs and initiatives based on team members' feedback, and created an environment where they can bring their authentic selves to work," said Nassetta. , 12 . ( Trader Vic's Capital Hilton .) The labor costs involved with delivering food to rooms makes it a money-loser for the hotel. "I ended up doing lots of different things getting behind the walls and giving me a pretty in-depth understanding of the hotel ecosystem," he told Glassdoor.com. Previously, Mr. Nassetta was President and Chief Executive. "Bottled water has a cost, has an environmental impact," Nassetta says. Turned out, he was right. His six daughters go to the same elementary school, junior high and high school he attended. "Do you get turndown service at home? This financial breathing room gave Nassetta's plan to take hold. 10 Hilton . We use Copyright 2023 Northern Virginia Magazine, How NoVA native Chris Nassetta successfully revamped the Hilton brand, The Longest Snow Tubing Slope on the East Coast Is Set to Open in Harpers Ferry This Winter, Where to Find Over 50 Mouthwatering Cheap Eats Around Northern Virginia, 2 Teens Dead, 1 Seriously Injured in Crash Near Fairfax Station, Here Are the 6 Best Restaurants in Vienna, Legendary NBC4 Anchor Doreen Gentzler on Growing Up in Arlington, Retirement, and More, Meet the Vienna Teen Whos Changing the Figure Skating World, New From NoVA: A Debut Coming-of-Age Novel, the Sequel to a Beloved Sci-Fi Show, and More. "We're continuing that tradition with industry-leading advancements.". Hilton CEO Christopher J. Nassetta is among the few but besides that; there are other facts you do not know about him. And, he adds, the company will reinvent again. "People were living in ivory towers. Nassetta is the fourth of six kids. Hilton is adding to its large portfolio of brands by launching Spark by Hilton to compete in the premium economy category. Whats the bid for this rarest of Bugattis? Previously, Mr. Nassetta was President and CEO of Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc., a position he held since 2000. When Nassetta took over in 2007, Hilton lagged behind other hoteliers. In addition, Hotelivate hosts some of Asia Pacifics most successful conferences, namely Hotel Investment Conference South Asia (HICSA), Hotel Operations Summit India (HOSI), and Tourism Hotel Investment & Networking Conference (THINC) Indonesia & Sri Lanka. Christopher J. Nassetta, CEO, Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc.; Age: 52 Residence: Arlington Family: Wife Paige; six daughters, ages 11 to 21 Education: Bachelor's in finance, University . Is Chris Nassetta married? -1.22% -1.56% Hilton is No. So Nassetta and his senior executives started spending one week each year working at hotels--in housekeeping, engineering and the front desk. SPX, President & CEO of Hilton. Were outperforming everybody in the industry, he says. And then, just two years later, back again. Should I ask his son for his share? "The customer gets a better price, better service and ultimately, in their minds, a better product," Nassetta says. He joined Host in 1995 as executive vice president and was appointed chief operating officer in 1997. 8 Meme Stocks Are Soaring Again (AMC And GameStop Aren't On Top), Oil Giant Exxon Fuels Buy Point With 159% EPS Growth On Tap, CrowdStrike CEO Says Cybersecurity Is Equivalent To Shelter. Between his wife, six daughters, friends, neighbors and relatives, there are often 40 people dining. And highlighting its cultural importance, in 1975 the Muppet characters Statler and Waldorf were introduced, named after two Hilton properties in New York. Despite spending 80 per cent of his time abroad, Mr Nassetta travels home every weekend, even if its hard on the body. . Before taking the helm at Hilton, Nassetta spent 12 years with Host Hotels & Resorts, first as an executive vice president, then COO and eventually as president and CEO. There was a massive bloodletting: of the 600 headquarters employees, only 130 moved east. And Blackstone sold its stake five years later for a $14 billion profit. He's fresh off the plane at Jomo Kenyatta airport, dancing his way into the Hilton in downtown Nairobi, wearing traditional red Masai robes over his navy suit and carrying a rungu club, a symbol of a Masai king. Mail us related to PR enquiry, interviews, content suggestions, Authored articles, collaborations, event partnerships and advertisements. Chris Nassetta, Hilton President and CEO, talks about the future of travel, getting people back to work and reopening the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York. Taking time away to be with my wife and daughters is one of the most important things to me, so I'm thrilled to join Project: Time Off in celebrating National #PlanForVacation Day. one of the most important qualities in humans and in leaders is humility., Every Monday morning, Mr Nassetta hosts meetings with his executives where he expects to be challenged. Fresh out of UVAs McIntire School of Commerce in 1984, the computer-literate 20-something made a pitch to [real estate developer] Oliver Carr that I was on the cutting-edge of financial analysis and can do it faster and better because of these new tools called computers and you should hire me and I can organize [the business] for you. Not only did he get the job, but I accelerated very rapidly, he says. A dedicated family man and father of six daughters, Nassettas leadership strategy is focused primarily on creating and maintaining a strong company culturesomething thats served him well throughout his entire career. Christopher J. Nassetta, president and chief executive officer of Hilton Before joining Hilton in 2007, Nassetta served as president and chief executive officer of Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc., a position he had held since 2000. Overcame: Enormous debt to service while the Great Recession was reducing profits. "I realized I was ready for the next challenge," he told the Washington Post. Nassetta believes in three to five years a basic level of Internet access will be free across the industry, with hotels only charging for faster service. Specifically, Hotelivate assists clients right from inception to divestment of their hospitality ventures, by offering an entire spectrum of services that are practical and tangible value-adds for clients. In 2013, Hilton relaunched as a public company. He replaced two thirds of the corporate managers with people with hands-on experience. "Do you get turndown service at home? For his six kids--three boys, three girls--there was no allowance. , , . Search. Hilton . FAQ - New Privacy Policy. These aren't small meals. "It can't get any worse,'" he told the Post. Mr Nassetta says that despite the household name, Hilton was at the lower end of the pack and that the two companies actively disliked each other. It was the second largest IPO of the year and the biggest ever for a hotel. Fix a legendary brand that lost its luster. It was the second largest IPO of the year and the biggest ever for a hotel. But in 2007, the picture was not so rosy. Prior to joining Host, Mr. Nassetta co-founded Bailey Capital Corporation in 1991, where he was responsible for the operations of the real estate investment and advisory firm. Of the 100 S&P 500 with the lowest median wages, IPS found that Hilton CEO Christopher Nassetta received the largest compensation in 2020. We are delighted to have the best industry minds in attendance and are extremely happy to welcome Chris back at HICSA once again. How Hilton's CEO Led the Company's Massive Turnaround. More than 25,000 global tech workers laid off in the first weeks of 2023, says layoff tracking site, Microsoft plans to slash thousands of jobs: reports, CDC to investigate safety signal for Pfizers updated COVID booster, Dow drops over 600 points, posts worst day of year after weak economic data, hawkish Fed remarks erase inflation cheer. 2000, Nassetta Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. Hilton 2007. "If you want to change a culture, you change 80 percent of the people," he says. In 2017, the company divested its real estate arm most hotels are now operated under franchised or managed models and spun out its timeshare business. Theres no way of extricating one from the other, and that your basic value system as a person is the value system you should have in business. Blackstone bought Hilton Hotels in early July 2007 for $26 billion. Previously, Mr. Nassetta was President and Chief Executive Officer of Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc., a position he held since 2000. She had this solemn look, he recalls. Learn how you can make more money with IBD's investing tools, top-performing stock lists, and educational content. Nassetta, 51, is as likely to greet you with a high five as a handshake. As one of the worlds leading hospitality company with a legacy of over 103 years, Hilton has a portfolio of 18 world class brands comprising more than 7,000 properties and more than a million rooms, in 122 countries and territories. Hilton returned $1.1 billion to shareholders in 2017. Nassetta believes in three to five years a basic level of Internet access will be free across the industry, with hotels only charging for faster service. Mr Nassetta listened but also took drastic action. To read more about NoVA notables making a difference in the community,subscribeto our weekly newsletter. I had a lot of pride in what we accomplished, Nassetta says. In the end, it was Paige who said to load up the truck and move to Beverly. Christopher Nassetta. Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta sits down for an exclusive interview with Morgan Stanley's Thomas Allen to discuss the future of travel post-COVID. Chris Norman Net Worth. People pay for bottled water at their house, so I'm not sure why they can't pay for it at our hotels. But guests aren't happy either with often overpriced, mediocre food. In two years, he was COO and CEO in 2000. For his six kids three boys, three girls there was no allowance. But the situation only darkened. Christopher J. Nassetta President & Chief Executive Officer View Profile Kristin Campbell Her husband is not so keen. His parents still live in the same house; he lives just a mile down the road. The conference is valued for its content-rich sessions and excellent networking opportunities attracting the hospitality industrys top brands, hotel owners, bankers, developers, and professional advisors from around the globe. More Content by Scott Miller . The company hit a low point in April 2009 when it seemed assets would have to be sold to survive. 345 in the Fortune 500 list. Today, Hilton Worldwide is the largest hotelier in the world, by rooms, with 679,000. An unanticipated problem was encountered, check back soon and try again Error Code: MEDIA_ERR_UNKNOWN Session ID: 2023-01-09:a60858749ad8af325c1bf14 Player Element ID: vjs_video_3 She still comes each week and gives us the gift of her time His family has always been here for us.. The total comp included a decrease in base salary to $350,000 from $1.29 million, as executive salaries were cut a result of the pandemic, but a increase in the value of stock awards to $49.52 million from $12.94 million. The long shadow of Iraq and its lessons today, Butts the changing shape of beauty standards, Non-fiction for kids: big books for little people are great news for publishers, Travelling right: hotels bed in a new generation. He would be bringing Hilton with him. The learning experience I had at Carr, I couldnt replace. The entire ecosystem, gone., For the first time, the Nassetta clan had to depend solely on each other for support. Hilton comprises 14 brands with more than 5,400 properties in 106 countries and territories. . Chris Nassetta, age 58, and his wife Paige Nassetta have six daughters. Below is the transcript of an interview with Hilton President and CEO Chris Nassetta. And he loves to chat. And how he pulled it off contains lessons for any leader looking to fix a tough situation.