Hilton Hotels are owned and operated under Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc., an American multinational hospitality company founded by Conrad Hilton in 1919. Hilton Worldwide owns the Hilton brand names and associated intellectual property but does not typically own or operate most of the physical hotel properties. Instead, the majority of Hilton hotels are franchised or managed by independent owners and companies. As of late 2023, Hilton Worldwide's portfolio includes over 7,500 properties globally, but it owns or leases only about 51 properties directly, while the rest are managed or franchised
. Hilton Worldwide is publicly traded and has major institutional shareholders such as Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Co., BlackRock Advisors LLC, and Fidelity Management & Research Co. LLC. The company is headquartered in Tysons, Virginia, and led by CEO Christopher J. Nassetta
. In summary, Hilton Hotels & Resorts is a flagship brand under Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc., which owns the brand and intellectual property, while the actual hotels are mostly owned and operated by independent franchisees or management companies
