New Hyatt research finds hotel rooms have become one of the few places travelers can truly switch off - underscoring the role of Hyatt’s Essentials portfolio in delivering the comforts business travelers value most

( 2026) – Business travel doesn't end when the workday does. New research commissioned by Hyatt finds that 90% of business travelers say their hotel room is the only place they truly feel "off the clock" during a work trip.

Nearly half (47%) would rather spend free time relaxing alone in their room than attending optional networking events. And some travelers are going to creative lengths to protect that time – including blocking fake meetings on their calendars or inventing excuses to skip optional work events, from caring for a pet anaconda to video calls with family.

The findings underscore the increasingly important role hotels play in supporting business travelers beyond providing a place to sleep. The tactics may be humorous, but the motivation is relatable: for many travelers, the hotel room is where the workday finally ends. Hyatt's Essentials portfolio, including the Hyatt Place, Hyatt House and Hyatt Studios brands, is designed to deliver the everyday comforts and conveniences travelers value most, wherever their journeys take them.

"Business travel has evolved and so have travelers' expectations," says Jason Ballard, Senior Vice President, Global Brand Leader, Essentials, Hyatt. "I travel frequently myself, and I know firsthand how much the little things can make a trip. From a thoughtfully designed guestroom and comfortable bed to reliable Wi-Fi and breakfast before early meetings, every detail matters. We want guests to spend less time worrying about the basics and more time feeling refreshed and ready for whatever comes next."

The Essentials That Matter Most

Travelers expect comfortable, consistent accommodation that helps them recharge. Nearly half of respondents (46%) say consistency across stays is one of the biggest indicators of a high-quality hotel, with 79% believe staying at a high-quality hotel directly improves their work performance.

When asked, respondents prioritized amenities that help them stay productive and well rested, including:

Comfortable beds
Reliable in-room Wi-Fi
24-hour food options
Complimentary breakfast
Early check-in

The findings reinforce Hyatt's focus on delivering the everyday comforts business travelers value most through its growing Essentials Portfolio. Nearly three-quarters say they typically work in their hotel room after the workday ends. This underscores the need for guestrooms that support both productivity and rest. Hyatt's Essentials Portfolio guestrooms are thoughtfully designed to include dedicated workspaces in each guestroom that help guests transition between work and downtime. Guests can also enjoy complimentary breakfast at participating hotels and convenient 24-hour food and beverage options, helping them feel at home on the road.

Rewards for the Road

The majority (80%) of business travelers say hotel loyalty programs influence where they choose to stay when booking work travel, highlighting the importance of earning meaningful rewards when away.

World of Hyatt helps members get more out of every business trip and bring those rewards with them long after the work is done. Members earn points on qualifying stays across Hyatt’s global portfolio of hotels, turning business travel into future vacations, while progressing toward tier status that unlocks elevated benefits like early check-in and late checkout (where available), milestone rewards, free night awards and more.

To make travel even more rewarding, World of Hyatt members can enjoy two offers at participating Essentials hotels:

Earn up to 30,000 Bonus Points: With a limited time offer available through September 30, 2026, at participating Hyatt Place and Hyatt Select hotels. Members who register for the offer can earn Bonus Points on eligible stays of three or more consecutive nights, for up to 30,000 Bonus Points.
Earn up to 50,000 Bonus Points: With a limited time offer available through December 31, 2026, at participating Hyatt House and Hyatt Studios hotels. Members who register for the offer can earn 5,000 Bonus Points on each qualifying stay of five or more nights, for up to 50,000 Bonus Points.

Terms apply to each offer. Each offer’s full terms can be found here and here.

Meeting Travelers Where They Are

Hyatt continues to expand its Essential brands globally, bringing more stay options to guests in more places. Today, the Essentials Portfolio includes more than 700 hotels across seven brands worldwide, offering dependable accommodations designed to meet the needs of travelers wherever their journeys take them.

During the first half of 2026, the Essentials Portfolio grew by nearly 70 hotels, with continued expansion planned across key business and leisure destinations. Recent and anticipated openings include:

Hyatt Place JFK Airport (Expected December 2026)
Hyatt Select Wooster (Expected December 2026)
Hyatt Studios Tallahassee / I-10 (Expected December 2026)
Hyatt Place Asheville Airport (Expected September 2026)
Hyatt House Portland Airport (August 2026)
Hyatt Place Ontario Airport (July 2026)
Hyatt Studios Texarkana (July 2026)
Hyatt Studios Chesapeake (June 2026)
Hyatt Select Galveston – Beachfront (May 2026)
Hyatt Place Vancouver / Metrotown (May 2026)
Hyatt Studios Jacksonville / St. Johns Town Center (April 2026)

This continued growth reflects Hyatt's commitment to meeting evolving traveler demand by offering thoughtfully designed accommodations and the everyday amenities guests value most. Whether traveling for business or leisure, guests can count on a reliable, comfortable stay across Hyatt’s Essentials Portfolio.

Milestone reinforces Hyatt’s continued commitment to connecting untapped talent to careers in hospitality

CHICAGO (June, 2026) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today that Hyatt and Hyatt hotels have hired more than 12,000 Opportunity Youth worldwide between 2018 and 2025, exceeding Hyatt’s goal of hiring 10,000 individuals by the end of 2025. The milestone reflects Hyatt’s longstanding commitment to opening doors for untapped talent and creating pathways to long-term careers in hospitality through World of Care, Hyatt's global expression of what it means to advance care – for people, the planet and responsible business.

Introduced in 2018, RiseHY is Hyatt’s program designed to connect untapped talent to career opportunities in hospitality, including Opportunity Youth: individuals from under-resourced communities who are not currently working, in training or attending school. Through engagement with community-based organizations and public-private counterparts, RiseHY supports access to training, skills development and employment opportunities across Hyatt’s global portfolio.

“Hiring more than 12,000 Opportunity Youth at Hyatt hotels shows what is possible when opportunity meets potential,” said Mark Hoplamazian, Chairman, President and CEO, Hyatt. “We understand the challenges that individuals disconnected from the economy face and believe Hyatt hotels are uniquely positioned to provide a pathway to a career. Reaching our hiring goal ahead of schedule reinforces our belief in the power of hospitality to create lasting impact by opening doors to meaningful employment and long-term careers.”

In June 2025, Hyatt announced a renewed RiseHY commitment for Hyatt and Hyatt hotels to hire an additional 5,000 individuals from untapped talent pools, including Opportunity Youth, by the end of 2028, with an increased emphasis on retention, progressive skills training and long-term career mobility. This continued focus reflects Hyatt’s efforts to support sustainable pathways to long-term careers in hospitality.

RiseHY is embedded in Hyatt’s broader World of Care priorities, which includes its Community Grant Program supporting community-based organizations around the world alongside the Hyatt Hotels Foundation. Since 2008, Hyatt, Hyatt hotels and Hyatt Hotels Foundation have helped direct more than $7 million to over 300 nonprofits in 54 countries, equipping individuals with skills, confidence and pathways to meaningful employment. In 2025, community grants were prioritized across 10 strategic regions to deepen local impact where Hyatt hotels operate.

This week, Hyatt is also proud to take part in the closing ceremony of the “Compétences Plus” training program organized by Les Déterminés, a French nonprofit organization created to impact local economic development in underserved and remote communities through entrepreneurship and workforce readiness programs. The occasion marks an important milestone and reflects the enduring value of nonprofit alliances that advance RiseHY around the world. The celebration also highlights the longstanding relationship between Hyatt hotels in France and Les Déterminés, which has received annual Hyatt Community Grants since 2019. Through this collaboration, more than 300 young people have developed new skills, built confidence, and gained access to meaningful career opportunities.

Global Hyatt Hotels Connecting Opportunity Youth with Careers in Hospitality

Hotels across Hyatt's global portfolio are continuing to connect Opportunity Youth with careers in hospitality, including leading RiseHY hiring hotels like Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in the Bahamas, Grand Hyatt Mumbai in India, Hyatt Regency Chesapeake in the U.S., and Dreams Natura Resort & Spa in Mexico.

At Park Hyatt Marrakech in Morocco, RiseHY has become a core part of the hotel’s talent strategy. In 2025, approximately 10 percent of the hotel’s team was made up of RiseHY hires. With support from the Hyatt Community Grant Program, the hotel works alongside a local nonprofit to deliver structured training and government-recognized certification programs that prepare participants for long-term careers in hospitality.

“RiseHY continues to be a unique opportunity for Park Hyatt Marrakech to change lives while also building a strong and motivated talent pipeline,” said Franck Sibille, Area Vice President, Spain, Portugal and North Africa, Hyatt. “These new colleagues bring energy, commitment and new perspectives to our teams. The program has been a game changer as we continue to learn, adapt and grow alongside the next generation of hospitality professionals.”

At Grand Hyatt Amman, Doa'a Awwad progressed through RiseHY training, was hired into the hotel’s kitchen team as a commis and has since been promoted in her role. At Grand Hyatt Bali, Maria Dangu began her RiseHY journey as an intern, grew as a full-time colleague, and later joined Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi in a leadership role as Team Leader, demonstrating how RiseHY supports career growth, mobility, and retention across roles, hotels, and regions.

As the hospitality industry continues to evolve, Hyatt is encouraging industry peers to pursue similar pathways to talent development and career access. Hyatt’s RiseHY resources, collaborative relationships and learnings are available to help advance collective action across the industry. Learn more about available resources for community-based organizations and other companies to help untapped talent prepare for the workforce and build long-term hospitality careers here.

With more than 1,500 hotels and all-inclusive properties in 83 countries, Hyatt continues to open doors for lifelong careers around the world. To learn more, visit www.hyatt.com/careers.

The term “Hyatt” is used in this release to refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation and/or one or more of its affiliates