Hilton Names New CTO, Moves to Nasdaq, and Embraces AI
Hilton positions itself as a tech-powered platform by hiring Uber veteran Jeff Moore as CTO, moving its stock to Nasdaq, and integrating with AI travel agents.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Hilton hired Uber engineering leader Jeff Moore as its new chief technology officer.
- The hospitality giant announced a stock listing move to the Nasdaq exchange.
- The company reported its largest quarter ever for organic room openings at 27,000 rooms.
Hilton Worldwide is aggressively reshaping its market image, presenting itself not just as a traditional hotel operator, but as a cutting-edge technology platform. In a strategic shift over the past month, the global hospitality giant has overhauled its technological leadership, secured a major stock exchange transition, and deeply integrated its booking systems with emerging artificial intelligence platforms.
The company recently appointed Jeff Moore as its new chief technology officer. Moore previously managed a massive global engineering team of 2,500 people at ride-hailing giant Uber and reports directly to Chief Executive Officer Christopher Nassetta.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
In tandem with the leadership shuffle, Hilton announced it will transfer its stock listing to the Nasdaq. CEO Christopher Nassetta emphasized that this financial move aligns the hotelier with the world's most innovative companies, sharing a market venue with tech titans like Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia.
During the third-quarter earnings call, Nassetta addressed the rise of automated booking tools, stating that Hilton is actively plugged into every single AI travel agent currently emerging in the industry. By leveraging its rebuilt technology infrastructure, the company successfully integrated directly with corporate travel platform Navan in July, bypassing traditional global distribution systems entirely.
This aggressive pivot toward a tech-platform valuation reflects a broader trend in the hospitality sector where major brands attempt to reduce reliance on third-party online travel agencies and legacy distribution networks. By owning the direct digital connection to consumers and AI booking assistants, Hilton aims to capture distribution cost savings and pass them along to hotel owners.
Operationally, the company is also experiencing unprecedented physical growth alongside its digital transformation. Hilton achieved its largest quarter of organic openings on record during the third quarter, opening 27,000 rooms across more than 180 properties while maintaining a robust development pipeline of over 543,000 rooms.
Source: Skift
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