Name: Joe Berger
Title: President, Americas
Company, city: Hilton; McLean, Va.
Number of employees: 165,000 worldwide and 65,000 in the Americas
Recent project: We recently opened Conrad Chicago on the Magnificent Mile and will open the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills this June, the first new-build Waldorf Astoria on the West Coast.
First job: I began my hospitality career as a bellman at the Marriott Hotel at Dulles International Airport.
Little-known fact about you: You would never know it by my personality, but I am a highly introverted person.
Your Business
What innovations/initiatives do you foresee in the industry over the next years?
Mobile devices will continue to drive innovation across the travel industry, creating new opportunities for the Hilton app and similar platforms. Guests can already book stays, preview and select rooms, check in and use their phones as digital keys. We are expanding features such as restaurant recommendations, reservation capabilities and ride-hailing integrations, all connected through Hilton Honors. But technology’s true value is that it frees our people to focus on hospitality. No matter how advanced tools become, hotels remain a people business, and our ambition is to be the most hospitable company in the world.
Best career advice you’ve received:
Be curious about everything you do. Look under the hood and try to understand what makes things work.
What advice would you give someone starting out in the field?
Hospitality is fundamentally a people business. The most important asset you have is your team. Work to create a sense of family and community, help your colleagues understand the challenges travelers face, and support them so they can deliver exceptional service.
Joe Berger as a Traveler
Favorite travel memory or story:
A three-week family safari in Tanzania and Kenya stands out. We stayed in a variety of accommodations—from luxury hotels to tented camps—to experience a broad cross-section of lodging and the different ways travel can create lasting memories.
One travel tip you cannot live without:
I rely on the Flightboard app to track flights and connections; it helps me stay on top of schedules and manage travel more smoothly.
Best advice for business travelers:
Every business traveler should have the Hilton app. Hilton Honors operates like a membership club, and we’re continually developing new ways for members to use points, whether for bookings or purchases, making travel more flexible and rewarding.
About Hilton
What is Hilton Management Services?
Hilton Management Services is the company that operates Hilton-managed hotels. Our differentiator is deep operational experience across properties of all sizes—from a few dozen rooms to thousands—and a strong Hilton culture. That culture has been recognized broadly, including placement on Fortune’s Best Companies to Work For list. A positive workplace environment for team members translates directly to better experiences for guests and value for owners.
Tell our readers about openings in the coming year.
Upcoming Conrad hotels are planned for Cartagena, Colombia; San Luis Potosí, Mexico (the first Conrad in Mexico); Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and the Hilton Rio de Janeiro Copacabana in Brazil, which will be the brand’s 100th property in Latin America. We also launched the Tapestry Collection by Hilton, our 14th brand, which complements Curio by serving the upscale segment. Tapestry includes independent-feeling hotels that still deliver the benefits of Hilton affiliation.
What can travelers anticipate from the brand?
Hilton focuses on organic growth that follows guest demand. We provide a portfolio of trusted brands across price points and styles of stay—from family outings to once-in-a-lifetime trips to iconic hotels. A responsive loyalty program underpins that portfolio, offering immediate value and helping guests make the most of every stay.