Under the Radar: How does hotelier Hilton assess its operations in Southeast Asia amid greater global volatility?

Today we’re going to take you through a hotel brand that is directly linked to American personality, Paris Hilton. Yes, we’re indeed talking about global hospitality company Hilton, which boasts a portfolio of 27 world-class brands including Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Canopy by Hilton and Doubletree by Hilton. Fun fact, Paris Hilton’s great-grandfather, Conrad Hilton, or the founder of Hilton, entered into the hotel business in Cisco Texas back in 1919 when he was on the way to buy a bank but bought a local hotel called The Mobley instead.  The first hotel which formally bore the Hilton name though, was opened in Dallas Texas only a couple of years later in 1925. Fast forward to today, the hotel company comprises over 9,100 properties and over 1.3 million rooms in 143 countries and territories. It also welcomed over 4 billion guests across its century of history.  In April 2026, the firm reported Q1 adjusted EBITDA of US$901 million, up 13 per cent on the year. The firm also reported a 3.6 per cent growth in system-wide RevPAR or revenue per available room. But how far is this contributed by the Southeast Asia region? Looking ahead, the firm continues to face headwinds in the second half of the year amid trade volatility which could dampen global travel spend and weigh on US demand. The war in the Middle East could also result in reduced travel to the region. But to what extent will this make Asian or Southeast Asian markets more attractive for Hilton to double down on? On Under the Radar, finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Alexandra Murray, Vice-President and Regional Head of South East Asia, Hilton.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.