The United States of America is home to several of the largest hotel chains in the world. These American hotel chains have properties across states and have expanded internationally with a presence in several countries. They have also been growing consistently by offering franchise opportunities under multiple brands.
Hospitality entrepreneurs leverage franchise opportunities to build and manage hotels successfully, by getting access to the hotel chain’s resources by paying a franchise fee and meeting their eligibility criteria. They can invest in hotels by setting up and operating hotels using the franchisor’s brand name, reservation system, operational support tools, and similar intellectual properties. At the same time, being part of a reputed hotel chain could make it easier to secure tailored hospitality loans provided by leading hotel construction lenders, to cover construction or repositioning costs.
In this blog post, we discuss 7 of the largest hotel chains with the maximum number of properties in the USA.
7 Largest Hotel Chains Based on Number of Properties in the USA
1. Choice Hotels
Number of Properties in the USA: 6,305
Headquarters: North Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.
Founded: 1929
This branded hotel chain was founded in Florida as a nonprofit marketing cooperative. Choice Hotels was one of the innovative American hotel chains that guaranteed reservations using toll-free numbers and 24-hour desk service. It currently operates over 7,500 properties across 46 countries.
Choice Hotels focuses on providing affordable and value-added lodging to guests in popular and convenient locations. Also, it has been driving expansion and growth by focusing on three important factors – diversity, belonging, and equity. It offers franchise opportunities to hospitality entrepreneurs across the world under 22 distinct brands, including Cambria, Radisson, Clarion, Comfort, Quality Inn, EconoLodge amongst others.
2. Hilton Worldwide
Number of Properties in the USA: 6,101
Headquarters: Tysons, Virginia, U.S.
Founded: 1919
This American hotel chain was founded in Texas through the acquisition of Mobley Hotel with 40 rooms. Currently, Hilton Worldwide operates over 7,530 owned and timeshare properties across 118 countries.
Hilton Worldwide drives expansion by offering franchises. At the same time, it impresses guests by offering authentic experiences with localized touches and amenities. It offers franchising opportunities under 24 hotel and resort brands, including Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, LXR Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels and Resorts, Signia, and NoMad. It further divides these brands internally into 6 categories – luxury, lifestyle, full service, focused service, all suites, and vacation ownership.
3. Wyndham Hotel Group
Number of Properties in the USA: 6013
Headquarters: Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey, United States
Founded: 1981
Wyndham Hotel Group was founded as a vehicle to acquire hotel franchises. As a division of Wyndham Worldwide, the hotel chain currently operates over 9200 hotels across 95 countries. The humongous property count makes Wyndham Hotel Group one of the largest hotel chains in the country as well as the largest franchising company in the world.
Wyndham dominates the lodging industry in the economy and midscale segment. Its portfolio includes 24 global hotel brands, including Wyndham, Wyndham Grand, Wyndham Garden, Dolce, Dazzler, TRYP, Wingate, AmericInn, Ramada, Days Inn, Baymont, Microtel, Super 8, and Travelodge.
4. Marriott International
Number of Properties in the USA: 5834
Headquarters: Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.
Founded: 1927
Marriott International was founded as Marriott Corporation by a group of missionaries in Washington D.C. This American hotel chain currently has a presence in 141 countries with over 8900 properties. These properties can be divided into 3 broad categories – owned and managed by Marriott, owned by Marriott but managed by franchises, and act as reservation centers.
In addition to creating new franchise opportunities regularly, Marriott International has been expanding customer experiences consistently by offering a unique brand of hospitality. The hotel chain operates hotels, resorts, and properties under more than 30 brands, including JW Marriott, Marriott, Sheraton, Ritz-Carlton, Stregis, Edition, Gaylord Hotels, Courtyard, Fairfield, City Express, and W Hotels.
5. IHG Hotels & Resorts
Number of Properties in the USA: 4,446
Headquarters: Windsor, Berkshire, England
Founded: 2003
Despite being a British multinational hotel company, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Also, the hotel group has a regional office in Atlanta. IHG has expanded its global presence with 6,505 hotels across America, Greater China, and EMEA. In addition to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion, IHG emphasizes delivering true hospitality to guests.
The hotel chain's portfolio includes open hotels, pipeline hotels as well as unbranded hotels. IHG Hotels and Resorts markets these hotels in 5 distinct categories – luxury and lifestyle, premium, essentials, suites, and exclusive partners. It further offers franchise opportunities to hospitality entrepreneurs under 19 brands, including Six Senses, Regent, InterContinental, Nignette, Kimpton, Voco, Crowne Plaza, Garner, and Holiday Inn.
6. BWH Hotel Group
Number of Properties in the USA: 2000+
Headquarters: Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Founded: 1946
This global hospitality network comprises of 3 distinct hotel companies - WorldHotels, Best Western Hotels & Resorts, and SureStay Hotels. WorldHotels allows travelers to choose from hotels and resorts in the upscale, upper-scale, and luxury segments. Best Western caters to business and leisure travelers in the midscale, upscale, and upper-scale segments.
SureStay offers value-oriental experiences to guests in the premium economy and midscale segments. BWH Hotel Group dominates the American hotel sector in the upscale and luxury segments. Its global network of over 4,300 hotels spread across over 100 countries.
This hotel chain believes in offering a full suite of options and trusted experiences to guests while protecting the unique identity of individual brands. Its portfolio includes hotels belonging to 6 categories – aspirational, collection, boutique, timeless, and value. At the same time, it offers franchise opportunities under 19 brands, including WorldHotels Luxury, WorldHotels Elite, WorldHotels Distinctive, Best Western, Best Western Plus, Best Western Premier, BW Signature Collection, SureStay, SureStay Plus, SureStay Collection, and SureStay Studio.
7. Aimbridge Hospitality
Number of Properties in the USA: 1330
Headquarters: Plano, Texas, U.S.
Founded: 2008
Aimbridge was initially founded as a third-party management company with 8 hotels. The American hotel company now operates over 1,500 hotels, resorts, and conventional centers in 23 countries and 50 states. Also, Aimbridge Hospitality’s portfolio includes different types of hotels – full service, select service, resorts, convention/conference centers, and extended stay.
The hotel chain runs these hotels efficiently through 4 operating divisions – full service, select service, EMEA, and LATAM. In addition to focusing on operating expertise, Aimbridge has been creating franchise opportunities while focusing on delivering more value to hotel owners in various segments. At the same time, it has been expanding its global presence consistently by acquiring hospitality companies across regions.
Conclusion
Branded hotel chains account for 70% of the hotel room share in the USA. Some of these hotel chains further feature in the Forbes Global 2000 list of the world’s largest companies in terms of market capital. The franchise opportunities offered by them have been driving the growth of the hospitality sector in the country and accelerating job creation across states. Seasoned CRE lenders like AVANA Capital help hospitality entrepreneurs leverage franchise opportunities by providing tailored hotel construction loans at competitive rates.
About AVANA Capital
AVANA Capital is a leading hotel construction financing company with over 20 years of experience in hospitality and commercial real estate financing. We meet the varying financial needs of Hospitality entrepreneurs by providing a variety of loan products—construction loans, commercial bridge loans, and SBA 404 loans. We have launched programs that help CRE entrepreneurs accomplish goals like brand acquisition, brand repositioning, and brand conversion.
Want to fulfill your hospitality dream by getting tailored loan products? Contact AVANA Capital.
