Host Hotels & Resorts

Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. stands as the preeminent lodging real estate investment trust (REIT), operating as a self-managed and self-administered S&P 500 and Fortune 500 company headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. With a portfolio of approximately 81 upscale hotels containing about 43,400 rooms as of December 31, 2024, Host represents the largest publicly traded pure-play lodging REIT focused exclusively on luxury and upper-upscale properties. The company trades on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol HST and maintains a market capitalization exceeding $12 billion, positioning it as a dominant force in the institutional ownership of premium hospitality real estate.

Host's strategic focus centers on owning the real estate of iconic hotels in gateway cities and premium leisure destinations across the United States, Brazil, and Canada. The portfolio includes legendary properties such as The Ritz-Carlton O'ahu Turtle Bay, 1 Hotel Central Park in New York City, The Phoenician in Scottsdale, New York Marriott Marquis, and Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. The company partners with the world's most prestigious hotel management brands including Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Westin, Sheraton, W Hotels, St. Regis, Hyatt, Fairmont, Four Seasons, and Hilton, leveraging these operators' expertise while maintaining ownership and control of the underlying real estate assets. This asset-light operating model allows Host to benefit from hotel operations without the day-to-day management responsibilities.

Under the leadership of CEO Jim Risoleo and Chairman Richard E. Marriott, Host delivered strong 2024 financial performance with total revenue of $5.684 billion (up 7% year-over-year), comparable hotel RevPAR growth of 2.1%, and $1.5 billion in strategic acquisitions including premium assets like The Ritz-Carlton O'ahu and 1 Hotel Central Park. The company maintains an investment-grade balance sheet with approximately $11.8 billion in total assets and $4 billion in debt, providing financial flexibility for continued portfolio optimization. Host's disciplined capital allocation strategy balances acquisitions of trophy assets, value-enhancing renovations and upgrades, strategic dispositions of non-core properties, and consistent dividend distributions to shareholders as required by REIT tax status.

Host Hotels & Resorts traces its origins to the 1993 spin-off from Marriott Corporation, when Marriott separated its real estate holdings (Host Marriott) from its hotel management and franchising operations (Marriott International). The company converted to REIT status in January 1999, enabling a tax-efficient structure that requires distributing at least 90% of taxable income to shareholders. Over the past three decades, Host has executed a sophisticated portfolio strategy focused on acquiring and owning luxury and upper-upscale hotels in markets with high barriers to entry, significant demand drivers, and strong growth potential. The company has demonstrated resilience through multiple economic cycles, including the 2008-2009 financial crisis, the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, and recent inflationary pressures, consistently emerging with a stronger, more concentrated portfolio of premium assets. Host's commitment to sustainability and ESG leadership earned recognition as a Global Sustainability Leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for six consecutive years, with ambitious 2030 targets supporting a 2050 vision to become a net positive company across all environmental and social impacts.