Motivation to Make it Happen

At?Hilton, we’ve created The Check-In – a series that shares perspectives on issues and insights that shape the human experience at work. As Hilton celebrates our recent recognition as the #1 World’s Best Workplace, I wanted to share a piece I previously wrote about how reaching the top is both a recognition to be celebrated and motivator to hold ourselves to even higher standards.

Last month, Hilton was named the #1 World’s Best Workplace by Great Place To Work US (GPTW) and Fortune . This incredible recognition represents the significance of our strong culture, the positive impact on our people, and how we bring the light and warmth of hospitality to our guests and to each other.

While this is a certainly a moment to be celebrated, it’s also a motivator to reach even higher standards as we continue to grow together. Recognition, both internal and external, helps teams feel ownership and pride for the value they provide to the business. Re-earning our place on this list year after year is neither given nor easy, and it requires real-time listening and longer-term planning to meet the needs of our workforce. To do so, we continue to embrace three key learnings that shape our approach:

Teamwork. When we come together to collaborate and innovate – whether it be developing new ways to deliver exceptional stays for our guests or launching programs that allow our Team Members to thrive in body, mind, and spirit – we drive the business forward. Listening, inviting, and encouraging teams to share ideas or simply discuss challenges during meetings or spontaneous interactions can lead to new concepts that help continue to enhance culture and the workplace. At Hilton, we don’t win alone, we win as a tribe.

Perseverance. As author Brad Stulberg writes in his book Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, and Thrive with the New Science of Success, “the real secret of world-class performers is not the daily routines that they develop, but that they stick to them. That they show up, even when they don’t feel like it. Call it drive, call it passion, or call it grit; whatever you call it, it must come from deep within.” Persistence means to keep going when things get tough and never give up on ambitions. When Team Members are motivated by their own “why,” they play an important role in bringing that determination to work every day. Together, we persist as we face setbacks and despite difficulty or delays in achieving success.

Ability. Diverse backgrounds and viewpoints help tackle new challenges and transform the business. Retaining best in class status also means recruiting and retaining the best teams in the world. Looking ahead, efforts remain focused on protecting and advancing the progress we have worked so hard to achieve together: to build new opportunities for all, safeguard our culture, and advance it into the next chapter.

A safe, inclusive space for learning, working and living is every human’s right, but tragically not always a reality. This work has never been more important and meaningful, and this is why we persevere, and press onwards. Becoming a great place to work is not easy.

Maintaining this environment and continuing to be the best is an ongoing journey: one that that needs cultivation, resolve, and the humility to keep learning. In the words of basketball legend Michael Jordan, “Some people want it to happen, some people wish it would happen, some people make it happen.” We are not ones to wish or want for things – thanks to our more than 460,000 Team Members, we make them happen. Because of their leadership and hospitality, we can continue to set new standards for excellence, inclusion, and greatness all around the world. Congratulations, Team Hilton! Onwards!

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