In connection with our ownership and management of hotels and development of other real properties, we are subject to various foreign, federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations relating to environmental protection. Under some of these laws, a current or former owner or operator of real property may be held liable for the costs of investigating or remediating hazardous or toxic substances or wastes on, under or in such real property, as well as third-party sites where the owner or operator sent wastes for disposal. Such laws may impose liability without regard to whether the owner or operator knew, or was at fault in connection with, the presence or release of such hazardous substances or wastes. Furthermore, a person who arranges for the disposal or treatment of a hazardous or toxic substance at a property owned by another, or who transports such substance to or from such property, may be liable for the costs of removal or remediation of such substance released into the environment at the disposal or treatment facility. Although we are not aware of any current material obligations for investigating or remediating hazardous substances or wastes at our owned properties, the future discovery of substances or wastes at any of our owned properties, or the failure to remediate such contaminated property properly, could adversely affect our ability to develop or sell such real estate, or to borrow using such real estate as collateral. In addition, the costs of investigating or remediating contamination, at our properties or at properties where we sent substances or wastes for disposal, may be substantial.

Our owned, managedProperties that the Company owns outright or through hospitality ventures, manages, franchises and franchised hotelslicenses are insured under different insurance programs depending on participationwhether the property participates in our insurance programs or participation in ourthe insurance programs of the owner (including hospitality ventures), franchisee or franchisee insurance programs.licensee. We maintain insurance coverage for hotels owned by the Company under our insurance programs for liability, property, workers compensation and other risks with respect to our business. Our liability insurance provides coverage for most claims, including terrorism, resulting from our operations, goods and services and automobiles. Our property insurance provides coverage for all risks to our properties including fire, windstorm, flood, earthquake and terrorism. Property insurance also includes business interruption coverage. Our workers compensation insurance provides coverage for employee injuries in the course and scope of employment. Hotels owned by hospitality ventures or hotels managed by the Company are permitted to participate in our insurance programs by mutual agreement with our hospitality venture partners or third-party hotel owners. The majority of ourhotels owned by hospitality ventures and managed hotels owned by third parties participate in our insurance programs. Our hospitality venture agreements and management agreements require hotels owned by hospitality ventures and managed hotels owned by third parties that do not participate in our insurance programs to be insured at coverage levels generally consistent with the coverage levels under our insurance programs, including liability, property, business interruption, workers compensation and other insurance. We are typically covered under these insurance policies to the extent necessary and reasonable. Our franchise and license agreements require our franchisees and licensees to maintain liability, property, business interruption, workers compensation and other insurance at our franchised hotels.or licensed properties. We are typically covered under these insurance policies to the extent necessary and reasonable. We believe ourthe Company's insurance policies, as well as those maintained by others related to our managed and franchised hotels that do not participate in our insurance programs,third-party owners, including hospitality ventures, are adequate for foreseeable losses and on terms and conditions that are reasonable and customary with solvent insurance carriers. We also self-insure some of our risks generally through the use of deductibles and retentions. We believe these deductibles and retentions are reasonable and customary for our industry and our size. We use a U.S. based and licensed captive insurance company that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyatt andto generally insuresinsure our deductibles and retentions.

The following is a summary of the provisions of the Amended and Restated Global Hyatt Agreement, the Amended and Restated Foreign Global Hyatt Agreement and the Global Hyatt Corporation 2007 Stockholders' Agreement (the "2007 Stockholders' Agreement"). The following descriptions of these agreements do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by, the Amended and Restated Global Hyatt Agreement, Amended and Restated Foreign Global Hyatt Agreement and 2007 Stockholders' Agreement, copies of which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”("SEC") and are incorporated by reference herein. For additional information regarding these agreements, please also refer to Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors - "Risk Factors—Risks Related to Share Ownership and Other Stockholder Matters.”"

The trustees of the U.S. situs trusts for the benefit of certain lineal descendants of Nicholas J. Pritzker, deceased, that own, directly or indirectly, shares of our common stock, and the adult beneficiaries of such trusts, including Mr. Thomas J. Pritzker, our executive chairman, and Mr. Jason Pritzker, one of our directors, have entered into the Amended and Restated Global Hyatt Agreement pursuant to which they have agreed to, among other things, certain voting agreements and limitations on the sale of shares of our common stock. As of January 31, 2015,2016, Pritzker family business interests own, directly or indirectly, 86,317,90784,541,406 shares, or 58.2%62.3%, of our total outstanding common stock and control approximately 75.0%75.3% of our total voting power. Specifically, such parties have agreed that until the later to occur of (i) January 1, 2015 and (ii) the date upon which more than 75% of the Company's fully diluted shares of common stock is owned by persons other than Pritzker family members and spouses (including any U.S. or non-U.S. situs trusts for the current or future, direct or indirect, vested or contingent, benefit of Pritzker family members and spouses), all Pritzkers (and their successors in interest, if applicable), but not the transferees by sale (other than Pritzkers who purchase directly from other Pritzkers), will vote all of their voting securities consistent with the recommendations of our board of directors with respect to all matters assuming agreement as to any such matter by a majority of a minimum of three independent directors (excluding for such purposes any Pritzker) or, in the case of transactions involving us and an affiliate, assuming agreement of all of such minimum of three independent directors (excluding for such purposes any Pritzker). All Pritzkers have agreed to cast and submit by proxy to us their votes in a manner consistent with the foregoing voting agreement at least five business days prior to the scheduled date of any annual or special meeting of stockholders.

directors (excluding for such purposes any Pritzker) of a board of directors having at least three independent directors (excluding for such purposes any Pritzker) do not vote in favor of the matter that is the subject of the litigation or (ii) in the case of affiliated transactions reviewed by our board of directors, unless at least one independent director (excluding for such purposes any Pritzker) did not approve the transaction.

The trustees of the non-U.S. situs trusts for the benefit of certain lineal descendants of Nicholas J. Pritzker, deceased, that own, directly or indirectly, shares of our common stock, and the adult beneficiaries of such trusts, including Mr. Thomas J. Pritzker and Mr. Jason Pritzker, have entered into the Amended and Restated Foreign Global Hyatt Agreement pursuant to which they have agreed to, among other things, certain voting agreements and limitations on the sale of shares of our common stock. As of January 31, 2015,2016, Pritzker family business interests own, directly or indirectly, 86,317,90784,541,406 shares, or 58.2%62.3%, of our total outstanding common stock and control approximately 75.0%75.3% of our total voting power. Specifically, such parties have agreed that until the later to occur of (i) January 1, 2015 and (ii) the date upon which more than 75% of the Company's fully diluted shares of common stock is owned by persons other than Pritzker family members and spouses (including any U.S. or non-U.S. situs trusts for the current or future, direct or indirect, vested or contingent, benefit of any Pritzker family members and spouses), all Pritzkers (and their successors in interest, if applicable), but not the transferees by sale (other than Pritzkers who purchase directly from other Pritzkers), will vote (or cause to be voted) all of the voting securities held directly or indirectly by them consistent with the recommendations of our board of directors with respect to all matters assuming agreement as to any such matter by a majority of a minimum of three independent directors (excluding for such purposes any Pritzker) or, in the case of transactions involving us and an affiliate, assuming agreement of all of such minimum of three independent directors (excluding for such purposes any Pritzker). All Pritzkers have agreed to cast and submit by proxy to us their votes in a manner consistent with the foregoing voting agreement at least five business days prior to the scheduled date of any annual or special meeting of stockholders.

In connection with the issuance and sale of 100,000 shares of our Series A Convertible Preferred Stock to GS Sunray Holdings, L.L.C. (“GSSH”("GSSH") and GS Sunray Holdings Parallel, L.L.C. (“GSSHP”("GSSHP" and collectively with GSSH, the “Goldman"Goldman Sachs Funds”Funds"), affiliates of Goldman, Sachs & Co., and the execution of a Subscription Agreement in August 2007, we entered into the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement with Madrone GHC, LLC and affiliates (collectively, "Madrone"), the Goldman Sachs Funds and an additional investor that provides for certain rights and obligations of these stockholders, including the following:

Other than with respect to the 6,118,275 shares of common stock received by such stockholders in the May 2009 private placement transaction (which, upon the filing of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation on November 4, 2009, were reclassified into an equal number of shares of Class B common stock), these stockholders arewere previously restricted from transferring any shares of our common stock held by them, except to us, or with the prior written consent of our board of directors, to their affiliates, in limited amounts over specified time periods as described below and as otherwise permitted pursuant to the terms of the agreement. Subject to the rights of first refusal and “drag along” rights described below and provided that such transfers are accomplished by way of a broad distribution sale, following the consummation of our initial public offering on November 10, 2009, each stockholder party to the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement may transfer up to one-third of its common stock acquired under the Subscription Agreement or upon conversion of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock to unaffiliated third parties during each 365-day period beginning on the three and one-half, four and one-half and five and one-half year anniversaries of November 10, 2009, the closing date of our initial public offering. In addition, subject to the rights of first refusal and “drag along” rights described below, each of such stockholders may transfer up to one-third of its common stock acquired under the Subscription Agreement or upon conversion of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock to unaffiliated third parties (1) at any time following the end of the first calendar year during which the “existing stockholders” (as described below) owned less than 25% of our common stock at any time during such year or (2) at any time following both (a) May 13, 2011, the second anniversary of the issuance of common stock to the relevant stockholders under the Subscription Agreement or the issuance of common stock upon conversion of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and (b) the first date on which the applicable market value exceeds 165% of the gross price per share at which the Class A common stock was first traded in connection with our initial public offering; provided that such transfers are accomplished by way of an underwritten public offering or in an otherwise broad distribution sale. The applicable market value of the common stock exceeded 165% on December 23, 2010 and, as a result, the shares held by each of such stockholders that would have been released on the five and one-half year anniversary of November 10, 2009 were “early released” under the terms of the transfer restrictions and became eligible to be sold after May 13, 2011 as described above. Beginning on May 11, 2014 and until May 10, 2015, 6,331,270 of the remaining shares subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the 2007 Stockholders'Stockholders’ Agreement, are eligible to be sold. Beginning on May 11, 2015, the remaining 6,331,271 shares subject to the transfer restrictionsother than those set forth in the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement will also be eligible to be sold. The term “existing stockholders” is defined in the agreement to mean (i) members of the Pritzker family who are lineal descendants of Nicholas J. Pritzker, deceased, and their spouses, (ii) trusts for the benefit of such persons, and/or (iii) affiliates of any such persons listed in clauses (i) and (ii). Subject to the rights of first refusal and “drag along” rights described below, the transfer restrictions set forth in the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement expireexpired at 11:59 p.m. (Central time) on May 11, 2015, which is the day after the date that is the five and one-half year anniversary of November 10, 2009 (the closing date of our initial public offering).

In the event that the number of shares of common stock proposed to be transferred by a stockholder party to the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement and its affiliates together with any shares of common stock then proposed to be transferred by the other stockholders party to the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement and their affiliates exceeds 2% of the then outstanding shares of common stock, then prior to consummating the sale of common stock to a third-party purchaser, such stockholder or stockholders shall offer to transfer the common stock to us at the applicable market value (as defined in the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement). If we do not accept the offer within a specified period of time, such stockholder or stockholders may transfer the shares of common stock to the third-party purchaser as long as such transfer occurs within the time periods specified in the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement and on terms and conditions no more favorable in the aggregate than those offered to us.

In connection with a “change"change of control”control" (as defined in the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement) transaction, we have the right to require each stockholder party to the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement to participate in such change of control transaction on the same terms, conditions and price per share of common stock as those applicable to the other holders of our common stock. In addition, upon our request, the stockholders party to the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement have agreed to vote in favor of such change of control transaction or similar transaction, and we have the right to require each stockholder party to the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement to vote for, consent to and raise no objection to any such transaction.

Subject to the fiduciary duties of our board of directors, we have agreed that we will not agree to consummate a change of control transaction with respect to which the stockholders party to the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement are not given the right to participate on the same terms, conditions and price per share of common stock as those applicable to the other holders of our common stock.

Each stockholder party to the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement has the right to purchase such stockholder's pro rata share of any new shares of common stock, or any other equity securities, that we may propose to sell and issue on comparable terms by making an election within the time periods specified in the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement, subject to certain excluded securities issuances described in the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement, including shares issued pursuant to equity compensation plans adopted by our board of directors and the issuance of shares of our common stock in a public offering. If not all stockholders elect to purchase their full preemptive allocation of new securities, then we will notify the fully-participating stockholders and offer them the right to purchase the unsubscribed new securities.

Until the date that Mr. Thomas J. Pritzker is no longer our chairman, each stockholder party to the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement has agreed to vote all of their shares of common stock consistent with the recommendations of a majority of our board of directors with respect to all matters. As of January 31, 2015,2016, the stockholders party to the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement own in the aggregate 25,112,086 shares of Class B common stock, or approximately 16.9%18.5% of the outstanding shares of our common stock and approximately 21.8%22.4% of the total voting power of our outstanding common stock.

For so long as GS Sunray Holdings Parallel, L.L.C.GSSHP owns any shares of common stock, we have agreed that GS Capital Partners VI Parallel, L.P. or its representatives may examine our books and records and visit and inspect our facilities and may reasonably request information at reasonable time and intervals concerning the general status of our financial condition and operations. Additionally, on reasonable prior notice, GS Capital Partners VI Parallel, L.P. or its representatives may discuss our business operations, properties and financial and other conditions with our management, independent accountants and investment bankers. In no event shall we be required to provide access to any information that we reasonably believe would constitute attorney/client privileged communications or would violate any securities laws.

Under the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement, each stockholder party to the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement agreed that, subject to certain limited exceptions, so long as such stockholder owns shares of common stock, neither such stockholder nor any of its related persons will in any manner, directly or indirectly:

indebtedness or securities of, or any business of, ours or any of our subsidiaries, such stockholder will promptly inform us of the nature of such transaction and the parties involved.

Termination

We make available on or through our website certain reports and amendments to those reports that we file with or furnish to the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. These include our annual reports on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and our current reports on Form 8-K. We make this information available on our website free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file the information with, or furnish it to, the SEC.

In addition to the other information set forth in this annual report, you should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties described below, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

We are subject to macroeconomic and other factors beyond our control as well as the business, financial, operating and other risks of the hospitality industry, all of which may adversely affect our financial results and growth.

Macroeconomic and other factors beyond our control as well as the business, financial, operating and other risks of the hospitality industry can adversely affect demand for hospitality products and services. This includes demand for rooms at properties that we develop, own, operate, manage, franchise, license, own and develop.license. These factors include:

These factors, and the reputational repercussions of these factors, can adversely affect, and from time to time have adversely affected, individual properties, particular regions or our business as a whole. How we manage any one or more of these factors, or any crisis, could limit or reduce demand, or the rates our properties are able to charge for rooms or services,

which could adversely affect our financial results and growth. These factors can also increase our costs or affect our ability to develop new properties or maintain and operate our existing properties.

The hospitality industry is cyclical and a worsening of global economic conditions or low levels of economic growth could adversely affect our revenues and profitability as well as cause a decline in or limitation of our future growth.

Consumer demand for our products and services is closely linked to the performance of the general economy and is sensitive to business and personal discretionary spending levels. Declines in consumer demand due to adverse general economic conditions, risks affecting or reducing travel patterns, lower consumer confidence and high unemployment or adverse political conditions can lower the revenues and profitability of our owned properties and the amount of management and franchisingfranchise fee revenues we are able to generate from our managed and franchised properties. In addition, expenses associated with managing, franchising, licensing, or owning hotels and residential and vacation ownership properties are relatively fixed. These costs include personnel costs, interest, rent, property taxes, insurance and utilities, all of which may increase at a greater rate than our revenues and/or may not be able to be reduced at the same rate as declining revenues. Where cost-cutting efforts are insufficient to offset declines in revenues, we could experience a material decline in margins and reduced or negative cash flows. If we are unable to decrease costs significantly or rapidly when demand for our hotels and other properties decreases, the decline in our revenues could have a particularly adverse impact on our net cash flows and profits. This effect can be especially pronounced during periods of economic contraction or slow economic growth. Economic downturns generally affect the results derived from owned properties more significantly than those derived from managed and franchised properties given the greater exposure that owners have to the properties' performance. Our proportion of owned and leased properties, compared to the number of properties that we manage or franchise for third-party owners, is larger than that of some of our competitors and, as a result, an economic downturn could have a greater adverse effect on our results of operations. The vacation ownership business is also linked to cycles in the general economy and consumer discretionary spending. As a result, changes in consumer demand and general business cycles can subject and have subjected our revenues, earnings and results of operations to significant volatility.

Because we derive a portion of our revenues from operations outside the United States, the risks of doing business internationally could lower our revenues, increase our costs, reduce our profits or disrupt our business.

a negative impact on our financial results. Our exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations or currency restructurings will continue to grow if the relative contribution of our operations outside the United States increases.

Risks Related to Our Business

Because we operate in a highly competitive industry, our revenues, profits or market share could be harmed if we are unable to compete effectively.effectively, and new distribution channels, alternatives to traditional hotels and industry consolidation among our competitors may negatively impact our business.

The segments of the hospitality industry in which we operate are subject to intense competition. Our principal competitors are other operators of full service and select service properties, including other major hospitality chains with well-established and recognized brands. Some of these major hospitality chains are larger than we are based on the number of properties or rooms they manage, franchise or own or based on the number of geographic locations in which they operate. Some of our competitors also have significantly more members participating in their guest loyalty programs which may enable them to attract more customers and more effectively retain such guests. Our competitors may also have greater financial and marketing resources than we do, which could allow them to improve their properties and expand and improve their marketing efforts in ways that could adversely affect our ability to compete for guests effectively. In addition to these larger competitors, we also compete against smaller hotel chains and independent and local hotel owners and operators.

Competition for Guests

We compete for guests at our hotels and our all inclusive propertiesresorts based primarily on brand name recognition and reputation, location, customer satisfaction, room rates, quality of service, amenities, quality of accommodations, security and the ability to earn and redeem loyalty program points. In addition to competing with other hotel and resort properties, Hyatt-branded vacation ownership properties compete with national and independent vacation ownership club operators as well as with owners reselling their interests in these properties.

Competition for Management and Franchise Agreements

We compete for management agreements based primarily on the value and quality of our management services, our brand name recognition and reputation, our ability and willingness to invest our capital in third-party owned or hospitality venture projects, the level of our management fees, the terms of our management agreements (including compared to the terms our competitors offer), and the economic advantages to the property owner of retaining our management services and using our brand name. We compete for franchise agreements based primarily on brand name recognition and reputation, the room rate that can be realized and royalty fees charged. Other competitive factors for management and franchise agreements are relationships with property owners and investors, availability and affordability of financing, marketing support, reservation and e-commerce system capacity and efficiency, limitations on the expansion of one or more of our brands in certain geographic areas due to restrictions previously agreed to in order to secure management and franchise opportunities, and the ability to make investments that may be necessary to obtain management and franchise agreements.

Competition for Sales of Hyatt-Branded Vacation Ownership Properties

Vacation ownership license agreement with ILG

Adverse incidents at or adverse publicity concerning our properties or our corporate responsibilities could harm our brands and reputation as well as reduce our revenues and lower our profits.

If we are unable to maintain good relationships with third-party property owners and franchisees and/or if we terminate agreements with defaulting third-party property owners and franchisees, our revenues could decrease and we may be unable to maintain or expand our presence.

We earn fees for managing and franchising hotels and other properties. The viability of our management and franchising business depends on our ability to establish and maintain good relationships with third-party property owners and franchisees. Third-party developers, property owners and franchisees are focused on maximizing the value of their investment and working with a management company or franchisor that can help them be successful. The effectiveness of our management, the value of our brands and the rapport that we maintain with our third-party property owners and franchisees impact renewals of existing agreements and are also important factors for existing or new third-party property owners or franchisees considering doing business with us. Our relationships with these third parties generate additional property development opportunities that support our growth. In addition, if third-party property owners or franchisees breach the terms of our agreements with them, we may elect to exercise our termination rights, which would eliminate our revenues from these properties and cause us to incur expenses related to terminating these relationships. These risks become more pronounced during economic downturns.

Contractual and other disagreements with third-party property owners or franchisees could make us liable to them or result in litigation costs or other expenses, which could lower our profits.

Our management and franchise agreements require us and third-party property owners or franchisees to comply with operational and performance conditions that are subject to interpretation and could result in disagreements. Additionally, some courts have applied principles of agency law and related fiduciary standards to managers of third-party hotel properties like us, which means, among other things, that property owners may assert the right to terminate management agreements even where the agreements do not expressly provide for termination. In the event of any such termination, we may need to negotiate or enforce our right to damages that may not equal expected profitability over the term of the agreement.

If our management or franchise agreements terminate prematurely or we elect to make cure payments due to failures to meet performance tests, at the request of third parties or upon the occurrence of other stated events, our revenues could decrease and our costs could increase.

Our management and franchise agreements may terminate prematurely in certain cases. Some of our management agreements provide early termination rights to owners of the hotels we manage upon the occurrence of a stated event, such as the sale of the hotel or our failure to meet a specified performance test.

Certain of our contractual arrangements with third-party owners require us to guarantee payments to the owners if specified levels of operating profit are not achieved by their hotels.

We are exposed to the risks resulting from significant investments in owned and leased real estate, which could increase our costs, reduce our profits, limit our ability to respond to market conditions or restrict our growth strategy.

Our proportion of owned and leased properties, compared to the number of properties that we manage or franchise for third-party owners, is larger than that of some of our competitors. Real estate ownership and leasing is subject to risks not applicable to managed or franchised properties which could adversely affect our results of operations, cash flow, business and overall financial condition, including:

Economic and other conditions may adversely impact the valuation of our assets resulting in impairment charges that could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and earnings.

We have a limited ability to manage third-party risks associated with our hospitality venture investments, which could reduce our revenues, increase our costs, lower our profits and increase our liabilities.

We participate in numerous hospitality ventures with third parties. In the future, we may also buy and develop properties in hospitality ventures with the sellers of the properties, affiliates of the sellers, developers or other third parties. Our hospitality venture partners may have shared or majority control over the operations of our hospitality ventures. As a result, our investments in hospitality ventures involve risks that are different from the risks involved in investing in real estate independently. These risks include the possibility that our hospitality ventures or our partners:

If our hospitality ventures fail to provide accurate and/or timely information that is required to be included in our financial statements, we may be unable to accurately report our financial results.

Preparing our financial statements requires us to have access to information regarding the results of operations, financial position and cash flows of our hospitality ventures. Any deficiencies in our hospitality ventures' internal controls over financial reporting may affect our ability to report our financial results accurately or prevent fraud. Such deficiencies could also result in restatements of, or other adjustments to, our previously reported or announced operating results, which could diminish investor confidence and reduce the market price for our shares. Additionally, if our hospitality ventures are unable to provide this information for any meaningful period or fail to meet expected deadlines, we may be unable to satisfy our financial reporting obligations or file our periodic reports in a timely manner.

Cash distributions from our hospitality ventures could be limited by factors outside our control that could reduce our return on investment and our ability to generate liquidity from these hospitality ventures.

Although our hospitality ventures may generate positive cash flow, in some cases these hospitality ventures may be unable to distribute that cash to the hospitality venture partners. Additionally, in some cases our hospitality venture partners control distributions, and may choose to leave capital in the hospitality venture rather than distribute it. Because our ability to generate liquidity from our hospitality ventures depends on the hospitality ventures' ability to distribute capital to us, tax considerations or decisions of our hospitality venture partners could reduce our return on these investments. We include our pro rata share of Adjusted EBITDA attributable to our unconsolidated hospitality ventures in our owned and leased hotels segment Adjusted EBITDA and our consolidated Adjusted EBITDA regardless of whether the cash flow of those ventures is, or can be, distributed to us.

We may seek to expand through acquisitions of and investments in other businesses and properties, or through alliances, and we may also seek to divest some of our properties and other assets; these acquisition and disposition activities may be unsuccessful or divert our management's attention.

We intend to consider strategic and complementary acquisitions of and investments in other businesses, properties, brands or other assets. For example, in 2014, we acquired the recently constructed Park Hyatt New York for approximately $392 million. In 2013 we purchased the hotel formerly known as The Peabody Orlando for approximately $716 million. We may pursue opportunities in alliance with existing or prospective owners of managed or franchised properties. In many cases, we will be competing for these opportunities with third parties that may have substantially greater financial resources than we do. Acquisitions or investments in hospitality companies, businesses, properties, brands or assets, as well as these alliances, are subject to risks that could affect our business, including risks related to:

commercially reasonable terms or at all, or that we will actually realize any anticipated benefits from such sales. Dispositions of real estate assets can be particularly difficult in a challenging economic environment, as financing alternatives are often limited for potential buyers. Our inability to sell assets, or to sell such assets at attractive prices, could have an adverse impact on our ability to realize proceeds for reinvestment and hinder our ability to expand our business. In addition, even if we are successful in consummating sales of selected properties, such dispositions may result in losses.

Timing, budgeting and other risks could result in delays or cancellations of our efforts to develop, redevelop or renovate the properties that we own, or make these activities more expensive, which could reduce our profits or impair our ability to compete effectively.

We must maintain and renovate the properties that we own in order to remain competitive, maintain the value and brand standards of our properties and comply with applicable laws and regulations. We also selectively undertake ground-up construction of properties. Often these projects include hospitality venture partners. These efforts are subject to a number of risks, including:

Additionally, developing new properties typically involves lengthy development periods during which significant amounts of capital must be funded before the properties begin to operate and generate revenue. If the cost of funding new development exceeds budgeted amounts, and/or the time period for development is longer than initially anticipated, our profits could be reduced. Further, due to the lengthy development cycle, intervening adverse economic conditions may alter or impede our development plans, thereby resulting in incremental costs to us or potential impairment charges. Moreover, during the early stages of operations, charges related to interest expense and depreciation may substantially detract from, or even outweigh, the profitability of certain new property investments.

Some of our existing development pipeline may not be developed into new hotels, which could materially adversely affect our growth prospects.

If our third-party property owners, including our hospitality venture partners, are unable to repay or refinance loans secured by the mortgaged properties, our revenues, profits and capital resources could be reduced and our business could be harmed.

If we or our third-party owners, franchisees or development partners are unable to access the capital necessary to fund current operations or implement our plans for growth, our profits could be reduced and our ability to compete effectively could be diminished.

The hospitality industry is a capital intensive business that requires significant capital expenditures to develop, operate, maintain and renovate properties. Access to the capital that we or our third-party owners, franchisees or development partners need to finance the construction of new properties or to maintain and renovate existing properties is critical to the continued growth of our business and our revenues.

If we become liable for losses related to loans we have provided or guaranteed to third parties, our profits could be reduced.

Our debt service obligations may adversely affect our cash flow and reduce our operational flexibility.

The terms of the indenture governing our senior notesSenior Notes (as defined in Part IV, Item 15, "Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedule—Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements") and those of our revolving credit facility subject us to the following:

Rating agency downgrades may increase our cost of capital.

If we or our third-party owners are not able to maintain our current brand standards or develop new initiatives, including new brands, successfully, our business and profitability could be harmed.

Labor shortages could restrict our ability to operate our properties or grow our business or result in increased labor costs that could reduce our profits.

Our success depends in large part on our ability to attract, retain, train, manage and engage our associates.colleagues. Our properties are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by thousands of associatescolleagues around the world. If we and our franchisees are unable to attract, retain, train and engage skilled associates,colleagues, our ability to manage and staff our properties adequately could be impaired, which could reduce customer satisfaction. Staffing shortages could also hinder our ability to grow and expand our business. Because payroll costs are a major component of the operating expenses at our properties, a shortage of skilled labor could also require higher wages that would increase our labor costs, which could reduce our profits and the profits of our third-party owners.

Negotiations of collective bargaining agreements, attempts by labor organizations to organize additional groups of our associatescolleagues or changes in labor laws could disrupt our operations, increase our labor costs or interfere with the ability of our management to focus on executing our business strategies.

Certain of our properties are subject to collective bargaining agreements, similar agreements or regulations enforced by governmental authorities. If relationships with our associates,colleagues, other field personnel or the unions that represent them become adverse, the properties we manage, franchise or own could experience labor disruptions such as strikes, lockouts and public demonstrations. Labor disruptions, which are generally more likely when collective bargaining agreements are being renegotiated, could harm our relationship with our associatescolleagues or cause us to lose guests. Further, adverse publicity in the marketplace related to union messaging could further harm our reputation and reduce customer demand for our services. Labor regulation, including minimum wage legislation, could lead to higher wage and benefit costs, changes in work rules that raise operating expenses, legal costs, and limitations on our ability or the ability of our third-party property owners and franchisees to take cost saving measures during economic downturns. We do not have the ability to control the negotiations of collective bargaining agreements covering unionized labor employed by third-party property owners and franchisees.

ability to cross-train and cross-promote our associatescolleagues due to prescribed work rules and job classifications, reduce our profitability or interfere with the ability of our management to focus on executing our business strategies.

The loss of our senior executives or key field personnel, such as our general managers, could significantly harm our business.

Our ability to maintain our competitive position is dependent to a large degree on the efforts and skills of our senior executives. We have entered into employment letter agreements with certain of our senior executives. However, we cannot guarantee that these individuals will remain with us. Finding suitable replacements for our senior executives could be difficult. We currently do not have a life insurance policy or key person insurance policy with respect to any of our senior executives. Losing the services of one or more of these senior executives could adversely affect our strategic relationships, including relationships with our third-party property owners, franchisees, hospitality venture partners and vendors, and limit our ability to execute our business strategies.

Our failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations may increase our costs, reduce our profits or limit our growth.

Our business, properties and associatescolleagues are subject to a variety of laws and regulations. Generally, these laws and regulations address our sales and marketing and advertising efforts, our handling of privacy issues and customer data, our anti-corruption efforts, our ability to obtain licenses for business operations such as sales of food and liquor, and matters relating to immigration, the environment, health and safety, health care, gaming, competition and trade, among other things.

Our franchising business is subject to various state laws, as well as to regulations enacted by the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC"). A number of states require franchisors to register with the state or to make extensive disclosures to potential franchisees in connection with offers and sales in those states. The FTC also regulates the manner and substance of our disclosures to prospective franchisees. In addition, several states have “franchise"franchise relationship laws”laws" or “business"business opportunity laws”laws" that limit the ability of franchisors to terminate franchise agreements or to withhold consent to the renewal or transfer of those agreements.

Our licensed vacation ownership properties are subject to extensive state regulation in both the state in which the property is located and the states in which the property is marketed and sold. ILG's marketingMarketing for these properties is also subject to federal regulation of certain marketing practices, including federal telemarketing regulations.

The Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 could result in investigations by the U.S. Government against our Company and could harm our reputation and brands.

Adverse judgments or settlements resulting from legal proceedings in which we may be involved in the normal course of our business could reduce our profits or limit our ability to operate our business.

In the normal course of our business, we are often involved in various legal proceedings. The outcome of these proceedings cannot be predicted. If any of these proceedings were to be determined adversely to us or a settlement involving a payment of a material sum of money were to occur, there could be a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, we could become the subject of future claims by third parties, including current or former third-party property owners, guests who use our properties, our employees, our investors or regulators. Any significant adverse judgments or settlements would reduce our profits and could limit our ability to operate our business. Further, we may incur costs related to claims for which we have appropriate third-party indemnity if such third parties fail to fulfill their contractual obligations.

The extensive environmental requirements to which we are subject could increase our environmental costs and liabilities, reduce our profits or limit our ability to run our business.

Our operations and the properties we manage,develop, own and developmanage are subject to extensive environmental laws and regulations of various federal, state, local and foreign governments, including requirements addressing:

extent or known scope of contamination or changes in cleanup requirements, or the adoption of new requirements governing our operations could have a material adverse effect on our results or operations, financial condition and business.

If the insurance that we, carry, our owners carry(including hospitality ventures) or our franchisees carry does not sufficiently cover damage or other potential losses or liabilities involving properties that we own, manage or franchise, our profits could be reduced.

We, our owners (including hospitality ventures) and our franchisees carry insurance from solvent insurance carriers that we believe is adequate for foreseeable losses and with terms and conditions that are reasonable and customary. Nevertheless, market forces beyond our control could limit the scope of the insurance coverage that we, our owners (including hospitality ventures) or our franchisees can obtain or restrict our ability, our owners' ability or our franchisees' ability to buy insurance coverage at reasonable rates. In the event of a substantial loss, the insurance coverage that we carry, our owners (including hospitality ventures) carry or our franchisees carry may not be sufficient to pay the full value of our financial obligations, our liabilities or the replacement cost of any lost investment or property loss. In addition, there are other risks that may fall outside of the general coverage limits of our policies, may be uninsurable, or with respect to which the cost of insurance is too expensive to justify. In some cases, these factors could result in certain losses being completely uninsured. As a result, we could lose some or all of the capital we have invested in a property, as well as the anticipated future revenues, profits, management fees or incentive income from the property, we could remain obligated for performance guarantees in favor of third-party property owners or for their debt or other financial obligations, suffer an uninsured or underinsured property loss or we may not have sufficient insurance to cover awards of damages resulting from our liabilities. If the insurance that we carry, our owners (including hospitality ventures) carry or our franchisees carry does not sufficiently cover damages or other losses or liabilities, our profits could be adversely affected.

Any failure to protect our trademarks and intellectual property could reduce the value of our brand names and harm our business.

The reputation and perception of our brands isare critical to our success in the hospitality industry. We regularly apply to register our trademarks in the United States and other countries. However, we cannot assure you that those trademark registrations will be granted or that the steps we take to protect our trademarks or intellectual property in the United States and other countries will be adequate to prevent others, including third parties or former associates,colleagues, from copying or using our trademarks or intellectual property without authorization. Our intellectual property is also vulnerable to unauthorized use in some countries outside the United States, where we may not be adequately protected by local law. If our trademarks or intellectual property are copied or used without authorization, the value of our brands, their reputation, our competitive advantages and our goodwill could be harmed.

Third-party claims that we infringe their intellectual property rights could subject us to damages and other costs and expenses.

Third parties may make claims against us for infringing their intellectual property rights. Any such claims, even those without merit, could:

Information technology system failures, delays in the operation of our information technology systems or system enhancement failures could reduce our revenues and profits and harm the reputation of our brands and our business.

Sophisticated information technology and other systems are instrumental for the hospitality industry, including systems used for our central reservations, revenue management, property management and Hyatt Gold Passport program, as well as technology systems that we make available to our guests. These information technology and other systems must be refined, updated or replaced with more advanced systems on a regular basis. Developing and maintaining these systems may require significant capital. If we are unable to replace or introduce information technology and other systems as quickly as our competitors or within budgeted costs or schedules when these systems become outdated or need replacing, or if we are unable to achieve the intended benefits of any new information technology or other systems, our operations could be harmed and our ability to compete effectively could be diminished.

Changes in federal, state, local or foreign tax law, interpretations of existing tax law or agreements or disputes with tax authorities could affect our profitability and financial condition by increasing our tax costs.

We are subject to taxation at the federal, state or provincial and local levels in the United States and various other countries and jurisdictions. Our future tax rates could be affected by changes in the composition of earnings in jurisdictions with differing tax rates, changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities, or changes in determinations regarding the jurisdictions in which we are subject to tax. From time to time the U.S. federal, state, local and foreign governments make substantive changes to tax rules and the application thereof, whichsuch as the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting project ("BEPS") currently being undertaken by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ("OECD"). Although we believe our transfer pricing policy implemented in 2015 is in alignment with BEPS and we intend to obtain, where possible, an Advanced Pricing Agreement between jurisdictions, legislative changes, and any interpretations thereof, could result in materially higher corporate taxes than would be incurred under existing tax law or interpretation and could adversely impact profitability. State and local tax authorities have also increased their efforts to increase revenues through changes in tax law and audits. Such changes and proposals, if enacted, could increase our future effective income tax rates. We are subject to on-going and periodic audits by the Internal Revenue Service and various state, local and foreign tax authorities and currently are engaged in disputes with certain of such tax authorities. We believe we have established adequate reserves for potential tax liabilities, but the final amount of taxes assessed and paid could exceed the amount of such reserves, which could reduce our profits.

We are exposed to counterparty and credit risk and fluctuations in the market values of our investment portfolio.

Our stock price has been and is likely to continue to be volatile, and you may not be able to resell shares of your Class A common stock at or above the price you paid.

The stock market in general, and hospitality companies in particular, including us, have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of the underlying businesses. This market volatility, as well as general economic, market or political conditions, could reduce the market price of shares of our Class A common stock in spite of our operating performance. In addition, companies that own or lease a greater proportion of properties have recently experienced disproportionate volatility and price and volume fluctuations and we expect this trend to continue. These broad market and industry factors may seriously harm the market price of our Class A common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance.

Reports published by securities or industry analysts, including projections in those reports that exceed our actual results, could adversely affect our stock price and trading volume.

Securities research analysts have established and publish their own quarterly projections for our business. These projections may vary widely from one another and may not accurately predict the results we actually achieve. Our stock price may decline if our actual results do not match securities research analysts' projections. Similarly, if one or more of the analysts who writes reports on us downgrades our stock or publishes inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, or the hospitality industry in general, our stock price could decline. If one or more of these analysts ceases coverage of our company or fails to publish reports on us regularly, our stock price or trading volume could decline.

Anti-takeover provisions in our organizational documents and Delaware law, as well as agreements with our major stockholders, may discourage or prevent a change of control, even if a sale of Hyatt would be beneficial to our stockholders, which could cause our stock price to decline and prevent attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current board of directors or management.

Pritzker family business interests have substantial control over us and have the ability to control the election of directors and other matters submitted to stockholders for approval, which will limit your ability to influence corporate matters or result in actions that you do not believe to be in our interests or your interests.

Our Class B common stock is entitled to ten votes per share and our Class A common stock is entitled to one vote per share. As of January 31, 2015,2016, Pritzker family business interests beneficially own, in the aggregate, 86,293,37784,541,406 shares, or approximately 77.5%77.1%, of our Class B common stock, representing approximately 58.2%62.3% of the outstanding shares of our common stock and approximately 75.0%75.3% of the total voting power of our outstanding common stock. As a result, consistent with the voting agreements contained in the Amended and Restated Global Hyatt Agreement and the Amended and Restated Foreign Global Hyatt Agreement, Pritzker family business interests will be able to exert a significant degree of influence or actual control over our management and affairs and over matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors, a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets and any other significant transaction. While the voting agreements are in effect, they may provide our board of directors with the effective control over matters requiring stockholder approval. Because of our dual class ownership structure, Pritzker family business interests will continue to exert a significant degree of influence or actual control over matters requiring stockholder approval, even if they own less than 50% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. This concentrated control will limit your ability to influence corporate matters, and the interests of Pritzker family business interests may not coincide with our interests or your interests. As a result, we may take actions that you do not believe to be in our interests or your interests and that could depress our stock price. See also “ -Voting"—Voting agreements entered into with or among our major stockholders, including Pritzker family business interests, will result in a substantial number of our shares being voted consistent with the recommendation of our board of directors, and may limit your ability to influence the election of directors and other matters submitted to stockholders for approval.”"

Disputes among Pritzker family members and among Pritzker family members and the trustees of the Pritzker family trusts may result in significant distractions to our management, disrupt our business, have a negative effect on the trading price of our Class A common stock and/or generate negative publicity about Hyatt and the Pritzker family.

In the past, disputes have arisen between and among certain Pritzker family members, and between and among beneficiaries of the Pritzker family trusts and the trustees of such trusts, with respect to, among other things, the ownership, operation, governance and management of certain Pritzker family business interests. In connection with certain of these disputes, claims were alleged, and in certain cases, proceedings were initiated, against certain Pritzker family members, including Thomas J. Pritzker, our executive chairman, and other Pritzker family members, some of whom have been or are our directors, and against the trustees, including Thomas J. Pritzker in his former capacity as a co-trustee of the Pritzker family U.S. situs trusts. Such past allegations related to, among others, trust management and administration and violations of certain trustee duties, including fiduciary duties. Some of these disputes led to significant negative publicity for the Pritzker family. These disputes have been resolved with no admissions or finding of any misconduct.

Voting agreements entered into with or among our major stockholders, including Pritzker family business interests, will result in a substantial number of our shares being voted consistent with the recommendation of our board of directors, and may limit your ability to influence the election of directors and other matters submitted to stockholders for approval.

Pritzker family business interests, which beneficially own as of January 31, 2015,2016, directly or indirectly, 86,317,90784,541,406 shares, or 58.2%62.3% of our total outstanding common stock and control approximately 75.0%75.3% of our total voting power, have entered into a voting agreement with respect to all shares of common stock beneficially owned by Pritzker family business interests. During the term of the voting agreement, which expires on the later to occur of January 1, 2015, and the date upon which more than 75% of the Company's fully diluted shares of common stock is owned by non-Pritzker family business interests, Pritzker family business interests have agreed to vote their shares of our common stock consistent with the recommendation of our board of directors with respect to all matters (assuming agreement as to any such matter by a majority of a minimum of three independent directors (excluding for such purposes any Pritzker)) or, in the case of transactions involving us and an affiliate, assuming agreement of all of such minimum of three independent directors (excluding for such purposes any Pritzker). In addition, as of January 31, 2015,2016, other existing stockholders, including entities affiliated with Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Madrone GHC, beneficially own, in the aggregate, approximately 22.5%22.9% of our outstanding Class B common stock, representing approximately 16.9%18.5% of the outstanding shares of our common stock and approximately 21.8%22.4% of the total voting power of our outstanding common stock. These entities have entered into a voting agreement with us, with respect to the shares of Class B common stock that they beneficially own, and have agreed to vote their shares of Class B common stock consistent with the recommendation of our board of directors, without any separate requirement that our independent directors agree with the recommendation. These voting agreements expire on the date that Thomas J. Pritzker is no longer chairman of our board of directors. See Part I, Item 1, “Business - "Business—Stockholder Agreements.”"

A significant number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of Class B common stock could be sold into the market, which could depress our stock price even if our business is doing well.

Future sales in the public market of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of Class B common stock, or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of shares of Class B common stock intend to sell shares, could reduce the market price of our Class A common stock. As of January 31, 2015,2016, we had 36,880,55026,023,355 shares of Class A common stock outstanding and 111,405,463109,628,962 shares of Class B common stock outstanding.

Assuming the lock-up restrictions contained in the Amended and Restated Global Hyatt Agreement and the Amended and Restated Foreign Global Hyatt Agreement, and the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement are not amended, waived or terminated and that there are no transfers of shares amongst Pritzker family stockholders, and further assuming the parties to these agreements, as well as the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement, sell the maximum amount permitted to be sold during the first time period that such shares are eligible to be sold as set forth below, and subject to any applicable restrictions contained in such agreements, as well as the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement, (such as rights of first refusal and requirements that any such sales be made by way of an underwritten public offering or in an otherwise broad distribution sale)refusal) and the provisions of Rule 144 and/or Rule 701 under the Securities Act, these restricted securities will be available for sale in the public market as follows:

*    The foregoing numbers are based on information as of January 31, 20152016 and assume that the maximum number of shares permitted to be sold during each period set forth above are, in fact, sold during each such period, and, further, (i) that the maximum number of shares permitted to be sold during the period from November 5, 2014 through November 4, 2015 by Pritzker family stockholders under the Amended and Restated Global Hyatt Agreement and Amended and Restated Foreign Global Hyatt Agreement are, in fact, sold between November 5, 2014 and May 10, 2015, and (ii) that the maximum number of shares permitted to be sold beginning on May 11, 2015 by the parties to the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement are, in fact, sold between May 11, 2015 and November 4, 2015.period. To the extent any shares are not sold during the first time period that such shares are eligible to be sold as described above, the number of shares that may be sold in subsequent time periods may change.

(1) Includes (a) 6,143,35614,203 shares that are eligible to be sold at any time, (b) 6,331,27025,112,086 shares that were “early released” on May 13, 2011 under the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement, provided that such shares are eligible to be sold in an underwritten public offering or in an otherwise broad distribution sale andat any time, subject to the rights of first refusal, “drag along” rights and other restrictions contained in the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement, (c) 6,331,270 shares that are eligible to be sold between the four and one-half and five and one-half year anniversaries of November 10, 2009 (the closing date of our initial public offering), provided that such shares are sold in an underwritten public offering or in an otherwise broad distribution sale and subject to the rights of first refusal, “drag along”"drag along" rights and other restrictions contained in the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement and (d) 26,870,142(c) 26,859,325 shares that are eligible to be sold by Pritzker family stockholders under the Amended and Restated Global Hyatt Agreement and Amended and Restated Foreign Global Hyatt Agreement.

(2) Represents shares eligible to be sold under the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement beginning on the five and one-half year anniversary of November 10, 2009 (the closing date of our initial public offering), subject to the rights of first refusal, “drag along” rights and other restrictions contained in the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement.

Non-U.S. holders who own more than 5% of our Class A common stock or substantial amounts of our Class B common stock may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain realized on the disposition of such stock.

Because we have significant U.S. real estate holdings, we may be a “United"United States real property holding corporation”corporation" ("USRPHC") for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but we have made no determination to that effect. There can be no assurance that we do not currently constitute or will not become a USRPHC. As a result, a “non-U.S. holder”"non-U.S. holder" may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain realized on a disposition of our Class A common stock if such non-U.S. holder has owned, actually or constructively (through certain family members, related entities and options), more than 5% of our Class A common stock at any time during the shorter of (a) the five-year period ending on the date of disposition and (b) the non-U.S. holder's holding period in such stock.