Mark Hoplamazian Honoured with Cornell Hospitality Icon Award
Mark Hoplamazian, the President and CEO of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, received the Cornell Hospitality Icon of the Industry Award at the 16th Annual Cornell Hospitality Icon and Innovator Awards Celebration. This award honours Mark’s visionary leadership and significant contributions to both Hyatt and the wider hospitality industry. Over his eighteen-year tenure as CEO, Mark’s dedication has made a lasting impact on the hospitality sector and has positively influenced people around the world.
During the award ceremony on June 3 in New York, Mark announced that Hyatt is extending its RiseHY commitment beyond 2025. The new goal is for Hyatt and its hotels to hire an additional 5,000 Opportunity Youth by the end of 2028. Through this ongoing investment in the global program, Hyatt aims to open doors for untapped talent and support individuals who are disconnected from the economy, helping them grow, thrive, and build meaningful careers.
“We are committed to bringing people who are disconnected from the economy into the workforce. Talent is evenly distributed, but opportunity is not,” said Hoplamazian.
“We view RiseHY as the ultimate expression of our purpose of care, and believe supporting untapped talent will have a lasting, transformative impact on our industry and the communities in which we operate. This is where hospitality meets humanity.”
Through RiseHY, Hyatt is focused on creating a sustainable and dedicated talent pipeline for untapped talent, including Opportunity Youth, defined as individuals aged 16 to 24 who come from under-resourced communities and are not currently working or going to school. By connecting untapped talent with available jobs across more than 1,450 Hyatt hotels worldwide, Hyatt is helping provide individuals with stepping stones for a better future.
Hyatt is committed to hiring 10,000 Opportunity Youth by the end of 2025 and is making steady progress toward this goal. This renewed commitment not only reflects Hyatt’s dedication to creating opportunities for young people but also addresses hiring challenges in the industry by establishing a sustainable and dedicated talent pipeline.
The hospitality industry is distinct in that it allows individuals to enter with minimal experience and pursue lifelong, fulfilling careers abundant with opportunities and mobility. Employees from Hyatt hotels around the globe continue to advance within the company, with many eventually taking on leadership roles and building long-term careers in the Hyatt system.
“My mentors and my colleagues always believed in my potential and encouraged me,” said Yemsijongla, Housekeeping Team Leader at Hyatt Hyderabad Gachibowli and RiseHY participant.
“I was promoted to team leader in housekeeping, and my role now is to inspire and empower my team. My Hyatt journey is far from over, and to anyone who starts in hospitality, my advice is simple – believe in yourself, work hard and never stop learning. Opportunities are endless if you are willing to take them.”
With more than 1,450 hotels and all-inclusive properties in 79 countries and a pipeline of approximately 138,000 rooms, Hyatt continues to open doors for lifelong careers.
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