Fortune Magazine has just released the results of its 100 Best Companies to Work For list for 2025 and travel companies, especially hotels, are well represented.
Before we dive into the results, here is a summarized version of the criteria used to determine the rankings. You can find the full criteria here.
Great Place To Work uses its proprietary Trust Index survey to assess employee experiences across key areas like trust in leadership, respect, fairness, pride, and camaraderie. Employees provide confidential feedback via 60 scaled statements and two open-ended questions, with results analyzed to gauge the consistency and quality of workplace culture across demographics and roles. Rankings, including the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For, are primarily based on this employee feedback, supplemented by company-submitted essays detailing programs and strategies. Only companies with at least 1,000 U.S. employees are eligible, and survey participation must meet rigorous standards to ensure representative results.
2025 100 Best Companies to Work For Rankings
#1: Hilton
Hilton Hotels earned the top, overall spot on this year’s list and is one of five hotel brands featured. This is Hilton’s fourth time taking the top spot in the rankings, the second year in a row, and 10th appearance overall on the list.
In a statement posted on its website, Hilton said: “This achievement reflects the overwhelmingly positive experiences shared by Hilton team members and demonstrates years of investment in Hilton’s award-winning workplace culture designed to support inclusion, wellness, growth and purpose for its team members around the world.”
Chris Nassetta, President and CEO of Hilton, had this to say about the company’s top spot:
“At Hilton, our business is fundamentally about people serving people, and our team members are the heart and soul of our hospitality, making Hilton a truly exceptional place to stay and to work. Today, I’m honored and thrilled that we’ve been named the No. 1 Best Company to Work For in the U.S. for the fourth time by Great Place to Work and Fortune. This achievement is a testament to our decades-long dedication to building an award-winning culture.”
The company is using its ranking as a recruiting tool, directing prospective employees to its jobs page to fill more than 1,300 open U.S. based roles.
#8: Marriott
Marriott International, headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, is the only other travel oriented company to break the top 10. At the time of this writing, the company had not put out a statement regarding its place on the list. The company boasts a portfolio of roughly 8,900 properties across more than 30 brands in 141 countries and territories.
#15: Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines appears on the list for the sixth time and has the distinction of being the only airline on the list for 2025. The company attributed its position on the list to its “culture of care and people-first approach” though I’m sure that the $1.4 billion in profit sharing last year certainly helped bolster the carrier’s placement on the list, even with the massive operational meltdown that it suffered over the summer.
Delta Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, Allison Ausband, said this about the airline’s ranking:
“Honors like this show the importance of our pledge to everyone at Delta to invest in you from the day you’re hired until the day you retire. When our people feel valued and cared for, they can be fully present every day. They can truly put themselves on the other side of the counter and show our customers the care that makes Delta not just an airline, but a beloved brand.”
#17: IHG Hotels & Resorts
Just missing the top-15 is IHG Hotels & Resorts. The Atlanta, Georgia based hospitality company attributed its place on the list to its unique culture and offering a wide array of benefits in the U.S. that support the different needs of each of its employees and their families.
Rani Hammond, Senior Vice President of Global Human Resources, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said:
“In the hospitality industry, taking care of people is at the heart of what we do. At IHG, we prioritize our colleagues by fostering a people-first culture, recognizing that businesses flourish when individuals feel valued, respected and celebrated. This prestigious recognition is a tribute to our exceptional colleagues who make IHG a great place to work each day.”
To learn more about career opportunities at IHG, visit www.careers.ihg.com.
#63: The Breakers Palm Beach
For the third consecutive year, The Breakers Palm Beach earned a spot on the 100 Best Companies to Work For list. The family owned property has been around since 1896 and is the only independent hotel on this year’s list.
Denise Bober, Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer at The Breakers, had this to say about its ranking:
“Our greatest asset – and the driving force behind our success – is our dedicated team. Their professional and personal fulfillment are our highest priorities, which is why we are deeply committed to fostering a Culture of Care & Well-being.”
To learn more about career opportunities at The Breakers Palm Beach, visit Careers | The Breakers.
#66: Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Rounding out the travel companies on this year’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list is Chicago based Hyatt Hotels Corporation. This marks the company’s 12th consecutive year on the list, making it one of the longest-ranked hospitality brands.
According to the company, Hyatt has significantly invested in evolving its culture, systems, and technologies to create a more agile enterprise that enables and empowers colleagues to thrive and do their best work.
Pete Sears, Group President for the Americas at Hyatt, said this about the ranking:
“At Hyatt, our people are our unique differentiator, and this recognition is a testament to how our colleagues across the world bring our purpose of care to life. In a rapidly changing world, Hyatt is committed to cultivating an environment that empowers and equips our colleagues to test new ideas, learn and lead for the future. We are proud to be recognized as a great place to work for those seeking fulfilling, creative, dynamic careers and the opportunity to have an impact.”
To find your place at a Hyatt hotel or office around the world, please visit careers.hyatt.com.
Summary
Multiple travel related companies have made it onto Fortune Magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list. While every organization has it’s pros and cons, if you’re looking to move into a career in the travel space, give a look to the companies represented above, at least until ATXJetsetter starts hiring.
As someone who has worked at multiple firms outlined on the list, I can confidently say that the process to get on is a rigorous one and the leaders take the survey results seriously. Also, while I wouldn’t call them travel specifically, American Express placed 4th in this years rankings followed by CapitalOne at 36th.
