It will come as no surprise to anyone thatin the world of hospitality, chain dominate as they have done for quite some time. And here I take a look at the world´s top brands and sub-brands, ranked in order of size and influence - and while most are familiar, there are a couple which might not be (thanks, China!).
Marriott International
Consistently a size and influence leader across the world hospitality industry, this Maryland-based global chain founded in 1957 by prominent Mormon J. Willard Marriott is number one in terms of number of rooms and also has the world´s most dominant loyalty program; wide-ranging portfolio of some 9,400 properties, from luxury (Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, W) to more budget-oriented (Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield Inn).
Jin Jiang International
A 23-year-old Shanghai-based powerhouse is China´s largest hotel group and has around 10,000 hotels and resorts in 120 countries and regions, with 40 brands which besides Jin Jiang itself include Campanile, Golden Tulip, Metropolo, Plateno, Radisson Blu, and Vienna. The company also boasts a huge pipeline with a large number of hotel projects that are already planned, approved, or under construction but not yet open.
HHilton Worldwide
In 2026 celebrating the 100th anniversary of Conrad Hilton opening his first Hilton hotel in Texas, today it has strong global presence across luxury, upscale, and midscale, with 9,000 properties and 25 brands besides Hilton itself, including luxury options like Conrad and Waldorf Astoria, and budget-friendly Hampton by Hilton and Home2 Suites. Its growth has been steady, and Hilton Honors remains one of the world’s most influential loyalty programs.
H World Group
Founded in Shanghai in 2005, the former Huazhu Hotels Group is also dominant in the Chinese domestic market and has a huge footprint in Asia, especially in the midrange and budget markets, but it´s also one of the fastest growing hotel groups worldwide. H boast a staggering more than 12,000 properties spread across eight brands: Intercity Hotels, House of Beats, Jaz in the City, Ji Hotels, MAXX by Steigenberger, Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts, Steigenberger Icons, and Zleep Hotels.
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG Hotels & Resorts)
This British multinational traces its roots back to an 18th-century brewery, and has been in the hotels business since the 1960s. Today it´s a well-established international presence in more than 100 countries with a balanced global footprint and strong midscale/upscale presence across continents, with more than 6,800 properties under brands besides flagship InterContinental itself including Kimpton, Regent, and Six Senses in the luxury space and midrange Candlewood Suites, Holiday Inn, and Staybridge Suites.
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
The world´s largest hotel franchisor, founded in Texas in 1981, it now operates some 9,100 properties in 95 countries, boasts broad economy-to-midscale dominance, especially in the U.S., with brands besides Wyndham itself including upscale Dolce Hotels and Resorts and Registry Collection Hotels as well as far more numerous midscale/economy Days Inn, Howard Johnsons, La Quinta, Microtel, Ramada, Super 8, and Travelodge.
Accor Group
Europe’s largest hotel group and market leader as well as the largest outside the U.S., this 59-year-old French company has possibly the world´s largest diversity of brands, numbering 45, from budget (HotelF1, ibis) to midrange (Novotel, Mercure) to luxury and upper luxury (Banyan Tree, Fairmont, Pullman, Raffles, SLS, Swissôtel), as well as the luxury rail operator Orient Express. It runs some 5,700 hotels in 110 countries, with strong African and Asia-Pacific expansion.
Choice Hotels
A major global brand found in 46 countries and territories and especially strong in North America, this U.S. company founded in 1939 franchises an ever/expanding midscale and upscale portfolio of 7,600 properties across 20 brands, including budget Econo Lodge, Quality Inn, and Rodeway Inn; midrange Clarion, Comfort Inn, and Sleep Inn; and upmarket Cambria, Park Plaza, and Radisson.
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