Who Owns What: Understanding the Major Hotel Chains and Their Brands

One of the biggest strengths of hotel loyalty programs lies in the breadth of their property network and diverse list of brands. After all, what good is earning points if you cannot redeem them for valuable stays at the types of hotels you want in the places you want to visit?

Whether you are looking for extended stay hotels for work or a luxury property for a vacation you might not otherwise be able to afford, loyalty points are your key to the redemption you prefer.

If you’re curious about who owns what and what brand belongs to which hotel chain, this primer offers everything you need for some of the most popular hotel loyalty programs.

What hotels are part of the Hilton family? Hilton Honors has a strong network of 18 brands from value-focused to high-end luxury. Hilton history buffs should be familiar with Conrad Hotels & Resorts, named for the company’s founder Conrad Hilton, and luxury seekers are sure to recognize the global collection of Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts.

Several new brands have recently joined Hilton. These include Motto by Hilton, which offers affordable and efficiently designed rooms, and Signia Hilton, which targets the meetings and conventions market.

Hilton hotel brands also include familiar names like DoubleTree by Hilton with its warm chocolate chip cookie welcome at check-in and Hampton by Hilton with its complimentary hot breakfast. Of course, there is also the flagship Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand. If you are wondering what hotel brands Hilton owns, here is a full list.

What hotels are part of the IHG group? IHG Hotels & Resorts has a wide range of 17 brands. While the hotel company is known for having many properties in the value category, it is working to change that. IHG Rewards is adding more luxury names to its portfolio including Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas and Regent. This makes accruing IHG Rewards points more valuable since you can exchange them at properties that are typically more expensive.

IHG Rewards has a lot of fans for its many brands. Kimpton is known for the care it shows pets with welcome amenities like snacks, bedding and water bowls. Of course, humans guests can enjoy the complimentary evening wine and beer hour. Six Senses opens up numerous wellness resorts to IHG Rewards members, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, while Hotel Indigo shows off boutique and hotel neighborhood design. The Holiday Inn hotel group brands are all part of the IHG portfolio, too.

Crowne Plaza is making a play for the meetings and conventions market to attract more business travelers while EVEN Hotels offers in-room workout equipment and a health mindset in its amenities.

Here is a full list of IHG Rewards brands.

What hotels does Marriott own? There is a lot to explore when it comes to Marriott. Marriott Bonvoy has 30 brands within its portfolio and offers options from extended-stay brands like Element by Westin to familiar luxury names like The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis Hotels & Resorts.

Marriott excels in the full-service hotel category with its flagship Marriott brand plus other popular options like Sheraton and Westin. The hotel company has been delving deeper into this segment, often popular with business travelers, by adding brands like Delta Hotels and Gaylord Hotels known for its massive convention-friendly properties.

Style fanatics aren’t left out with Marriott Bonvoy — there’s Moxy Hotels, which target the millennial traveler, the fashionably modern W Hotels and boutique properties within the Design Hotels portfolio.

These are the 30 hotel brands owned by Marriott where you can earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy points.

Bulgari Hotels & Resorts is part of the Marriott family, but its properties don’t participate in Marriott Bonvoy.

What World of Hyatt lacks in the number of hotel locations, it makes up for in its elite status recognition and balanced brand portfolio. With 20 brands across every price point and value proposition, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts offers members variety.

Hyatt Ziva and Zilara are the company’s all-inclusive brands designed for families and adults, respectively. The Hyatt Regency brand, competing with other flagship brands like Marriott and Hilton, caters to business and leisure travelers while Andaz offers a locally inspired boutique-hotel experience.

What other hotels does Hyatt own? Caption by Hyatt is one of the company’s newest brands and it combines design with value. On the luxury end of the scale, Park Hyatt impresses with its global collection of cosmopolitan properties.

If you’re looking for a full list of where to stay to earn or redeem World of Hyatt points, these brands belong to Hyatt:

World of Hyatt counts Exhale among its brands, but it isn’t one of Hyatt’s hotel brands. Instead, it is a fitness and wellness company where World of Hyatt members can earn or redeem points.

The 21 brands in the Wyndham Hotels & Resorts portfolio run the gamut from impressive luxury and boutique properties to economy-scale hotels that prioritize price and comfort simultaneously. These brands cater to a large market that suits all kinds of travelers.

If you’re on a budget, Wyndham Rewards has a place for you to stay as well as earn and redeem your points. This includes brands like Days Inn by Wyndham and Super 8 by Wyndham. On the other end of the scale, Wyndham Rewards has Dolce Hotels & Resorts by Wyndham with upscale properties around the world.

Wyndham Grand properties make a splash with their design and are often big enough to host large-scale meetings and conventions. In the middle of the pack, Wyndham Rewards fans have Wyndham Garden and Ramada by Wyndham.

If you’re wondering what hotels Wyndham owns, here is a full list:

This list should help clarify which brands belong to which hotel loyalty program. Remember, you can fast track your points balance and achieve higher elite status through hotel-affiliated credit cards to get you on a dream vacation faster than you might expect.

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2021, including those best for: