Unless otherwise specified or required by the context, otherwise requires, references in this annual report to "we," "our," "us," "Hyatt," and the "Company" refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries.

As used in this annual report, the term "Pritzkerreport:

As used in this annual report, the term "colleagues" refersAdditionally, through strategic relationships, we provide certain reservation and/or loyalty program services to the more than 115,000 individuals working athotels that are unaffiliated with our corporatehotel portfolio and regional offices and our managed, franchised, andwhich operate under other tradenames or marks owned properties in 58 countries around the world. We directly employ approximately 45,000 of these colleagues. The remaining colleagues are employed by third-party owners and franchisees of our properties.such hotel or licensed by third parties.

Hyatt was founded by Jay Pritzker in 1957 when he purchased the Hyatt House motel adjacent to the Los Angeles International Airport.Hotels Corporation is a global hospitality company with widely recognized, industry-leading brands and a tradition of innovation developed over our more than sixty-year history. In 2004, substantially all of the hospitality assets owned by Pritzker family business interests, including Hyatt Corporation and Hyatt International Corporation, were consolidated under a single entity whose name was subsequently changed to Global Hyatt Corporation. On June 30,In 2009, Global Hyatt Corporation changed its name to Hyatt Hotels Corporation. WeCorporation, and we completed our initial public offering ("IPO") of our Class A common stock on November 10, 2009.stock.

Our thirteen full service hotels and resorts operate under seven established brands:brands are: Park Hyatt, Miraval, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt,Alila, Andaz, Hyatt Centric, and The Unbound Collection by Hyatt. In 2017, we acquired Miraval Group ("Miraval")Hyatt, Destination, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt, Thompson Hotels, Hyatt Centric, Joie de Vivre, and Exhale Enterprises, Inc. ("exhale"), forming a distinct wellness category within our portfolio of brands.tommie. Our two select service brands are Caption by Hyatt, PlaceHyatt House, and Hyatt House.Place. In addition, we participate in an unconsolidated hospitality venture with a Chinese hospitality company that owns the UrCove select service brand serving the upper-midscale market in Greater China. Our all inclusiveall-inclusive resort brands are Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara. We also manage, provide services to, or license our trademarks with respect to residential ownership units that are often adjacent to a Hyatt-branded full service hotel. We consult with third parties in the design and development of such mixed-use projects. We license to Interval Leisure Group ("ILG")certain of our trademarks with respect to vacation ownership units, which are part of the Hyatt Residence Club.

We primarily derive our revenues from owned and leased hotel operations, management of hotels, and franchise fees, and other revenues from managed and franchised properties.licensing of our portfolio of brands to franchisees. For the yearsyear ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016,2020, revenues totaled $4.7$2.1 billion, and $4.4 billion, respectively, net incomeloss attributable to Hyatt Hotels Corporation totaled $249$703 million, and $204 million, respectively, and Adjusted EBITDA totaled $816 million and $785 million, respectively.$(177) million. See Part II, Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Key Business Metrics Evaluated by Management—Adjusted Earnings Before Interest Expense, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA") and EBITDA" for our definition of Adjusted EBITDA, why we present it, and for a reconciliation of our net income (loss) attributable to Hyatt Hotels Corporation to consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented.

ToWe care for people so they can be their best.

ToWe deliver distinctive experiences for our guests.

Respect, integrity, humility, empathy, creativity, and fun are our shared core values.fun.

Our purpose, vision, mission, and values are brought to life by our colleagues, whom we refer to as the Hyatt family. We believe our colleagues around the world embody our purpose of caring for people, including each other,one another, our guests and ultimatelycustomers, property owners, and the communities in which our owners. This commitmenthotels operate. We are strongly committed to genuine service andadvancing care is what differentiates us and drives guest preference. The management teams at eachfor all of our managed properties lead by example,stakeholders and we provide them with the appropriate autonomycreating personal connections to make operational decisions in the best interest of the hotelincrease loyalty and brand. We believe the managers of our franchised properties are experienced operators with high standards who have demonstrated commitment to our values and our approach to caring for guests to enhance guest satisfaction.drive results. High levels of guest satisfaction lead to increased guest preference for our brands, which we believe results in a strengthened revenue base over the long term. We also believe engaged colleagues will enhance efficient operation of our properties, resulting in improved financial results for our owners.results. Sustained adherence to these principles is a basis for our brand reputation and is one of the principal factors behind the decisions ofstrongly contributes to our growth as our diverse group of owners and developers choose to invest in the Hyattour portfolio of properties around the world. We work with existing and prospective owners and developers to increase our presence around the world, which we expect will lead to guest satisfaction, brand preference, and new channels for professional growth for our colleagues.

We have significant competitive strengths that support our mission to deliver distinctive experiences for our guests and our goal of being the most preferred branddrive growth and create value for our customers, colleagues, guests, owners, operators, community members, and shareholders.

Despite the disruptive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and the hospitality industry, we remain committed to our long-term strategy. Our strategy to drive long-term sustainable growth and create value for guests, customers, colleagues, owners, and shareholders is focused on the following three areas:

Hyatt hotels are smaller-sized properties conveniently located in diverse business and leisure areas. Regardless ofThese hotels help guests make the reason for a guest's stay, our Hyatt hotels provide guests with a home base as they discover and explore our neighborhoods. Hyatt hotels accommodate business and leisure travelers, as well as smaller scale business meetings and social gatherings.

Hyatt Residence Club provides members with vacation ownership opportunities in regionally inspired and designed residential-style properties with the quality of the Hyatt brand. Members pre-purchase time at a Hyatt Residence Club property and have the flexibility of usage, exchange, and rental. Hyatt Residence Club members can choose to occupy their vacation home, exchange time among 16other Hyatt Residence Club locations, trade their time for World of Hyatt loyalty program bonus points, or travel within the Hyatt system. Alternatively, members can exchange their intervals for stays at other properties participating within Interval International’s program, which has over 3,000 resorts in its exchange network worldwide.

We manage our business within four reportable segments as described below:

Within corporate and other, we include the results of Miraval and exhale, Hyatt Residence Club license fees, results from our co-branded credit card program, the results of the Exhale spa and fitness business, which was sold in December 2020, and unallocated corporate expenses. Effective January 1, 2020, we changed the strategic and operational oversight for our Miraval properties, which were previously evaluated as a distinct business by our chief operating decision maker ("CODM"). The results of our ownedmanagement fees from Miraval resortsproperties are now reported in the Americas management and franchising segment, and the operating results and financial position of underlying hotel results are now reported in our owned and leased hotels revenuessegment; the results of Miraval properties were previously reported in corporate and ownedother. In addition, the license fees we receive from Hyatt Residence Club are now reported within our Americas management and leased hotels expenses on our consolidated statements of income.franchising segment due to changes in the strategic oversight for these license agreements. For information regarding our four reportable business segments, revenues, and geographical information, see Part IV, Item 15, "Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedule—Note 1819 to our Consolidated Financial Statements."

We manage hotels branded spas, fitness studios, and residential properties worldwide pursuant to management agreements.

Our hotel management agreements typically provide for a two-tiered fee structure that compensates us both for the volume of business we generate for the property as well as for the profitability of hotel operations. In these two-tier fee structures, our base compensation is a base fee that is usually an agreed uponagreed-upon percentage of gross revenues from hotel operations. In addition, we are incentivized to improve hotel profitability through an incentive fee that is typically calculated as a percentage of a hotel profitability measure, such as gross operating profit, adjusted profit, or the amount by which gross operating profit or adjusted profit exceeds a specified threshold. Outside of the United States, oursome management agreements have fees are often more dependent on hotel profitability measures either through a single management fee structure where the entire fee is based on a profitability measure or because our two-tier fee structure is more heavily weighted toward the incentive fee than the base fee.

The approximate average remaining term of our hotel management agreements with third-party owners and unconsolidated hospitality ventures for full service hotels and select service hotels (other than those currently under development) is as follows:

Some of our hotel management agreements grant early termination rights to hotel owners upon the occurrence of a stated event, such as the sale of the hotel or our failure to meet a specified performance test (any such event a "termination event"). In the case of a termination event, some of our management agreements grant hotel owners the right to terminate the hotel management agreement and convert the hotel to a Hyatt franchise. Generally, termination rights under performance tests are based upon the property's individual performance or its performance when compared to a specified set of competitive hotels branded by other hotel operators or both. These termination rights are usually triggered if we do not meet the performance tests over multiple years. We generally have the option to cure performance failures by paying an amount equal to the shortfall, but in some cases our cure rights may be limited, and the result of our failure to meet a performance test may beresult in the termination of our hotel management agreement. Certain of our management agreements allow for a termination right after a multi-year lock-out period and are subject to a termination fee generally based upon a formula related to the lost fees.

Many of our hotel management agreements, particularly in the United States, are subordinated to mortgages or other secured indebtedness of the owners. In the United States, most cases, our subordination agreements with lenders have agreed to recognize our right to continue to manage the hotels under the terms set forth in the hotel management agreements if the lenders take possession of the hotel property through foreclosure or similar means.

Our franchise agreements grant our franchisees the limited right to use our name, marks, and system in the operation of franchised Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt, Hyatt Ziva, Hyatt Zilara, Thompson Hotels, Hyatt Centric, Caption by Hyatt, Hyatt House, and Hyatt Place Hyatt House, Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara properties, and franchised properties operated under distinct tradenames and affiliated with "TheThe Unbound Collection by Hyatt".Hyatt, Destination Hotels, and Joie de Vivre. We do not participate in the management of our franchised hotels; however, franchisees are required to operate franchised hotels consistent with our brand standards. We approve the plans for, and the location of, franchised hotels and review the operation of these hotels to ensure our standards are maintained.

In general, our franchisees pay us an initial application fee andand/or a design services fee as well as ongoing royalty fees, the amount of which depends on whetherthe brand under which the franchised property is a select service hotel or full service hotel.licensed. We franchise full service hotels under the Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt, CentricThompson Hotels, and Hyatt Centric brands, all inclusiveall-inclusive resorts under the Hyatt Ziva and Hyatt Zilara brands, and full service hotels under distinct tradenames and affiliated with "TheThe Unbound Collection by Hyatt".Hyatt, Destination Hotels, and Joie de Vivre brands. We franchise select service hotels under the Caption by Hyatt, Hyatt House, and Hyatt Place brands. Our Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt, and Thompson Hotels franchisees typically pay us franchise fees calculated as 6% of gross room revenues and 3% of gross food and beverage revenues. Our Hyatt House brands. ApplicationCentric franchisees typically pay us franchise fees arecalculated as 5% of gross room revenues. The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, Destination Hotels, and Joie de Vivre franchisees typically $75,000pay us continuing franchise fees calculated as 7% of gross room revenues generated through Hyatt reservation and booking channels. In some cases, typically for our Hyatt Place and our Hyatt House hotels and the greaternew hotel development

In addition to our franchise fees, we charge full service hotel and all inclusiveselect service hotels and all-inclusive resort franchisees for certain services arranged and, in most cases, provided by us. These activities may include centralized reservation functions, certain sales functions, technology, national advertising, certain marketing and promotional services, as well as various revenue management services. We charge select service franchisees for marketing, central reservations, and technology services.

The standard term of our franchise agreements is typically 20 years, with one 10 year renewal option exercisable by the franchisee, assuming the franchisee has complied with franchise agreement requirements and standards. Certain of our franchise agreements have renewal options at Hyatt's option, generally triggered if the franchisee has failed to exercise its renewal option. Certain of our franchise agreements have renewal options upon the mutual agreement of the parties. We have the right to terminate franchise agreements upon specified events of default, including non-payment of fees and non-compliance with brand standards. In the event of early termination for any reason, our franchise agreements typically set forth liquidated damages our franchisees must pay to us upon termination. The bankruptcy of a franchisee or lender foreclosure could result in the termination of the franchise agreement. The average remaining base term of our franchise agreements for our select service and full service hotels in all regions (other than those currently under development) is approximately 1716 years, assuming no renewal options are exercised by either party. Including exercise of extension options in Hyatt’sHyatt's sole discretion, the average remaining term of our franchise agreements for our select service hotels and full service hotels in all regions (other than those currently under development) is approximately 1917 years.

We deploy a global sales team as well as regional sales teams in our Americas, ASPAC, and EAME/SW Asia regions. The global team is responsible for our largest and most significant accounts doing business in all three regions. The regional teams are responsible for large accounts that typically do business within one region, but at multiple hotels within the region. The global and regional sales teams coordinate efforts with the hotel sales teams. The in-house sales colleagues are focused on local and regional business opportunities, as well as securing the business generated from our key global and regional accounts.

Our corporate sales organizations are focused on growing market share with key accounts, identifying new business opportunities, and maximizing our local customer base. Our key accounts consist of:of major corporations; national, state, and regional associations; specialty market accounts (social, government, military, educational, religious, and fraternal); travel agency and luxury organizations; and a broad and diverse group of individual consumers. Our global and regional sales teams target multiple brands to key customer accounts within these groups. No onesingle customer is material to our business. Our global and regional teams consist of over 200125 colleagues at global and regional sales offices around the world, who are focused on group business, businesscorporate and leisure traveler accounts, and travel agencies.

Sales colleagues at our regional offices and at many of our full service hotels use our proprietary sales tool to manage the group rooms forecast, maintain an inventory of definite and tentative group rooms booked each day, streamline the process of checking guest room availability and rate quotes, and determine meeting room availability.

We seek to maximize revenues in each hotel we operate through a team of revenue management professionals and also provide revenue management services to franchisees upon request. Our revenue management leaders use a proprietary technology tool to help set appropriate pricing in each hotel. The goal of revenue management is to secure the right customers, on the right date, at the right price. Business opportunities are reviewed and agreed upon by the hotel's management team.

We have a proprietary central reservation system that provides a comprehensive view of inventory, while allowing for local management of rates based on demand. Through this system, we are able to allow bookings and subsequent maintenance of bookings by hotels directly, via telephone and correspondence through our contact centers, by travel agents, by corporate clients, and online through Hyatt.com.digital platforms.

We have nine global contact centers that service our global guest base 24 hours per day, seven days per week and provide reservation and other services in over 1817 languages. While we continue to provide full reservation services via telephone through ourthese global contact centers, we have made significant investments in internet booking capabilities on Hyatt.com web and mobile platforms. Additionally, we continue to enhance the services and capabilities of our global contact centers to better align with evolving technology and guest preference.

In addition, some of the rooms at hotels and resorts we manage or franchise are booked through internet travel intermediaries, partners, or online travel service providers. We also engage third-party intermediaries who collect fees by charging our hotels and resorts a commission on room revenues, including travel agencies and meeting and event management companies.

We operate the World of Hyatt loyalty program thatfor the benefit of our portfolio of properties. The program generates substantial repeat guest business by rewarding frequent stays with points toward freethat can be redeemed for hotel nights and other rewards. Inspired by our purpose, World of Hyatt is also about building community and engagement with high-end travelers. Loyalty program members enjoy additional rewards as they reach milestone rewards and advance through the three elite tiers based on qualifying nights or base points in a calendar year.

World of Hyatt membersMembers earn points based on their spend at our properties, by transacting with our strategic loyalty alliances (e.g., American Airlines, Lindblad Expeditions, MGM Resorts International, and Small Luxury Hotels of the World), or in connection with spend on the Hyatt co-branded credit card. Loyalty program points can be redeemed at properties across the majority of our brands, and can also be converted into airline miles with numerous participating airlines, and redeemed with other third parties.

The loyalty program is primarily funded through contributions from eligible revenues generated from loyalty program members. These funds are applied to reimburse hotels for room nights when members redeem loyalty program points and pay for administrative expenses and marketing initiatives to support the loyalty program.

At December 31, 2017,2020, the loyalty program had over 1025 million active members, and during 2017,2020, represented approximately 30%36% of total room nights systemwide.system wide.

There is intense competition in all areas of the hospitality industry. Competition exists for hotel, guests,resort, and condominium ownership guests; management and franchise agreements,agreements; and sales of vacation ownership properties and branded residential properties. Our principal competitors are other operators of full service, select service, all inclusive, wellness, and extended stay, all-inclusive, and wellness properties, including other major hospitality chains with well-established and recognized brands. We also compete against small chains and independent and local owners and operators. Increasingly, we also face competition from new channels of distribution in the travel industry. Additional sources of competition include large companies that offer online travel services as part of their business model, such as Alibaba, search engines such as Google, and peer-to-peer inventory sources that allow travelers to book stays on websites that facilitate the short-term rental of homes and apartments from owners, thereby providing an alternative to hotel rooms, such as Airbnb and HomeAway.

We compete for guests based primarily on brand name recognition and reputation, location, customer satisfaction, room rates, quality of service, health and cleanliness standards, amenities, quality of accommodations, security, and the ability to earn and redeem loyalty program points.

We compete for management agreements based primarily on the value and quality of our management services,services; our brand name recognition and reputation, our ability and willingness to invest our capital in third-party owned or hospitality venture projects,reputation; the level of our management fees,fees; the costs of payroll at managed properties where we are the employer; cost associated with sales, reservations, technology, and marketing services (collectively, "system-wide services"); 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 total revenues we can deliver to the properties.properties, and cost associated with our system-wide services. Other competitive factors for management and franchise agreements include relationships with property owners and investors, including institutional owners of multiple properties,properties; marketing support,support; reservation and e-commerce system capacity and efficiency,efficiency; and the ability to make investmentsprovide capital that may be necessary to obtain management and franchise agreements.

The number of branded lodging operators with a global reach and depth of product and offerings similar to us is limited. We believe our strong customer base, prominent brand recognition, strategic property locations, and global development team enable us to compete effectively. For additional information, see Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors—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, and new distribution channels, alternatives to traditional hotels, and industry consolidation among our competitors may negatively impact our business."

The hospitality industry is cyclical and generally follows, on a lagged basis, the overall economy. There is a history of increases and decreases in demand for hotel rooms, in occupancy levels, and in rates realized by owners of hotels through economic cycles. Variability of results through some of the cycles in the past has been more severe due to changes in the supply of hotel rooms in given markets or in given categories of hotels. The combinationIn the most recent cycle, the impact of changesthe global COVID-19 pandemic drove immediate decreases in demand. Changes in industry demand related to economic conditions, andother factors such as those experienced with the COVID-19 pandemic, or in the supply of hotel rooms, or any combination thereof, can result in significant volatility in results for owners, managers, and franchisors of hotel properties. The costs of running a hotel tend to be more fixed than variable. Because of this, in an environment of declining revenues, the rate of decline in earnings will be higher than the rate of decline in revenues. Conversely, in an environment of increasing demand and room rates, the rate of increase in earnings is typically higher than the rate of increase in revenues.

In the highly competitive hospitality industry in which we operate, trademarks, service marks, trade names, and logos are very important in the sales and marketing of our hotels, residential, vacation, and vacationcondominium ownership properties and services. We have a significant number of trademarks, service marks, trade names, logos, and pending registrations and significant resources are expended each year on surveillance, registration, and protection of our trademarks, service marks, trade names, and logos, which we believe have become synonymous in the hospitality industry with a reputation for excellence in service and care. For additional information, see Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—Any failure to protect our trademarks and intellectual property could reduce the value of our brand names and harm our business."

We are subject to numerous foreign, federal, state, and local government laws and regulations, including those relating to the preparation and sale of food and beverages, building and zoning requirements, data privacy, and general business license and permit requirements, in the various jurisdictions in which we operate, manage, franchise, own, lease, develop, license, and ownor provide services to properties. Our ability to develop new hotel properties and to remodel, refurbish, or add to existing properties is also dependent on obtaining permits from local authorities. We are also subject to laws governing our relationships with employees, including minimum wage requirements, overtime, working conditions, hiring and firing, non-discrimination for disabilities and other individual characteristics, work permits, and benefit offerings. Federal, state, and provincial laws and regulations require certain registration, disclosure statements, compliance with specific standards of conduct, and other practices with respect to the franchising of hotels. In addition, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, governmental agencies in various jurisdictions have issued evolving health and safety-related regulations and orders that affect our operations. Compliance with these various laws and regulations can affect the revenues and profits of properties managed, franchised, licensed, owned, or owned,leased, and of the residential, vacation, and condominium ownership business and could adversely affect our operations.operations or our reputation. We believe our businesses are conducted in substantial compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

At December 31, 2017,2020, there were more than 115,000 colleagues working at our corporate and regional offices and our managed, franchised, owned, and leased properties, and we directly employ approximately 37,000 of these colleagues. The remaining colleagues are employed by third-party owners and franchisees of our properties. Approximately 23% of our employees (approximately 25% of our 45,000 employeesU.S.-based employees) were either represented by a labor union or had terms of employment that were determined under a labor agreement. We believe relations with our employees and colleagues are good.

In connection with our ownership, management, and development of 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. 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.

We are also subject to various requirements, including those contained in environmental permits required for our operations, governing air emissions, effluent discharges, the use, management, and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes, and health and safety. From time to time, we may be required to manage, abate, or remove mold, lead, or asbestos-containing materials at our properties. We believe our properties and operations are in compliance, in all material respects, with all foreign, federal, state, and local environmental laws and ordinances. However, additional operating costs and capital expenditures could be incurred if additional or more stringent requirements are enacted in the future.

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") and are incorporated by reference herein. For additional information regarding these agreements, please also refer to Part I, Item 1A, "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, and any of their successors that own, directly or indirectly, shares of our common stock, 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. At January 31, 2018,2021, Pritzker family business interests own, directly or indirectly, 68,384,88659,895,959 shares, or 57.6%59.1%, of our total outstanding common stock and control approximately 90.6% of our total voting power. Specifically, such parties have agreed that until 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.

In addition, such parties have agreed that until 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 Pritzker family members and spouses (including U.S. and non-U.S. situs trusts for the current or future, direct or indirect, vested or contingent, benefit of any Pritzker family members and spouses or affiliates of any thereof) in a "beneficiary group" (including trusts only to the extent of the then current benefit of members of such beneficiary group) may sell up to 25% of their aggregate holdings of our common stock, measured as of November 4, 2009, the date of effectiveness of the registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-161068) relating to our initial public offering of our Class A common stock, in each 12-month period following the date of effectiveness of such registration statement (without carry-overs), and shall not sell more than such amount during any such period. Upon the unanimous affirmative vote of our independent directors (excluding for such purposes any Pritzker), such 25% limitation may, with respect to each such 12 month period, be increased to a higher percentage or waived entirely. Sales of our common stock, including Class A common stock and Class B common stock, between and among Pritzkers is permitted without regard to the sale restrictions described above and such sales are not counted against the 25% sale limitation.

All shares of our common stock owned by each beneficiary group (including trusts only to the extent of the then current benefit of members of such beneficiary group) are freely pledgeable to an institutional lender and such institutional lender will not be subject to the sale restrictions described above upon default and foreclosure.

The Amended and Restated Global Hyatt Agreement may be amended, modified, supplemented, or restated by the written agreement of the successors to Mr. Thomas J. Pritzker, Mr. Marshall E. Eisenberg, and Mr. Karl J. Breyer, solely in their capacity as co-trustees of the Pritzker family U.S. situs trusts, 75% of the adult beneficiaries named below and a majority of the other adult beneficiaries party to the agreement. Each of Thomas J. Pritzker, Nicholas J. Pritzker, Jennifer N. Pritzker, John A. Pritzker, Linda Pritzker, Karen L. Pritzker, Penny Pritzker, Daniel F. Pritzker, Anthony N. Pritzker, Gigi Pritzker Pucker, and Jay Robert Pritzker, and their respective lineal descendants and current spouse, if relevant, make up a "beneficiary group."

Disputes that relate to the subject matter of the Amended and Restated Global Hyatt Agreement are subject to arbitration pursuant to the terms of the agreement. The exclusive requirement to arbitrate under the Amended and Restated Global Hyatt Agreement shall not apply with respect to the manner in which Hyatt's operations are conducted to the extent the parties (in their capacities as stockholders) and non-Pritzker public stockholders are affected comparably; provided, however, that a party

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, and any of their successors that own, directly or indirectly, shares of our common stock, 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. At January 31, 2018,2021, Pritzker family business interests own, directly or indirectly, 68,384,88659,895,959 shares, or 57.6%59.1%, of our total outstanding common stock and control approximately 90.6% of our total voting power. Specifically, such parties have agreed that until 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 addition, such parties have agreed that until 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 Pritzker family members and spouses (including U.S. and non-U.S. situs trusts for the current or future, direct or indirect, vested or contingent, benefit of any Pritzker family members and spouses and/or affiliates of any thereof) in a "beneficiary group" (including trusts only to the extent of the then current benefit of members of such beneficiary group) may sell up to 25% of their aggregate holdings of our common stock, measured as of November 4, 2009, the date of effectiveness of the registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-161068) relating to our initial public offering of our Class A common stock, in each 12-month period following the date of effectiveness of such registration statement (without carry-overs), and shall not sell more than such amount during any such period. Upon the unanimous affirmative vote of our independent directors (excluding for such purposes any Pritzker), such 25% limitation may, with respect to each such 12 month period, be increased to a higher percentage or waived entirely. Sales of our common stock, including Class A common stock and Class B common stock, between and among Pritzkers is permitted without regard to the sale restrictions described above and such sales are not counted against the 25% sale limitation.

All shares of our common stock owned directly or indirectly by each beneficiary group (including trusts only to the extent of the then current benefit of members of such beneficiary group) are freely pledgeable to an institutional lender and such institutional lender will not be subject to the sale restrictions described above upon default and foreclosure.

The Amended and Restated Foreign Global Hyatt Agreement may be amended, modified, supplemented, or restated by the written agreement of 75% of the adult beneficiaries named below and a majority of the other adult beneficiaries party to the agreement. Each of Thomas J. Pritzker, Nicholas J. Pritzker, Jennifer N. Pritzker, John A. Pritzker, Linda Pritzker, Karen L. Pritzker, Penny Pritzker, Daniel F. Pritzker, Anthony N. Pritzker, Gigi Pritzker Pucker, and Jay Robert Pritzker, and their respective lineal descendants and current spouse, if relevant, make up a "beneficiary group."

Disputes that relate to the subject matter of the Amended and Restated Foreign Global Hyatt Agreement are subject to arbitration pursuant to the terms of the agreement. The exclusive requirement to arbitrate under the Amended and Restated Foreign Global Hyatt Agreement shall not apply with respect to the manner in which Hyatt's operations are conducted to the extent the parties (in their capacities as stockholders) and non-Pritzker public stockholders are affected comparably; provided, however, that a party may participate in and benefit from any shareholder litigation initiated by a non-party to the agreement. A party to the agreement may not solicit others to initiate or be a named plaintiff in such litigation (i) unless two thirds of the independent 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 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") and GS Sunray Holdings Parallel, L.L.C. ("GSSHP" and collectively with GSSH, the "Goldman Sachs 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, as described below.

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'

In connection with a "change of 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. At January 31, 2018,2021, the stockholders party to the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement own in the aggregate 2,270,395 shares of Class B common stock or approximately 3.2%3.7% of our Class B common stock, approximately 1.9%2.2% of the total outstanding shares of our common stock and approximately 3.0%3.4% of the total voting power of our outstanding common stock.

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:

Each stockholder party to the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement has also agreed that, if at any time during the period such stockholder is subject to the foregoing provisions, such stockholder is approached by any third party concerning its participation in any transaction or proposed transaction involving the acquisition of all or any portion of the assets,

We make available on or through our website certain reports and amendments to those reports 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.

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 and services at aour portfolio of properties that we develop, own, operate, manage, franchise, and license.properties. These factors include:

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. Declineslevels, and the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a number of trends that negatively impact consumer demand. Changes in consumer demand dueand general business cycles can subject, and have subjected, our revenues to adversesignificant volatility. Adverse general economic conditions, health and safety concerns, risks or restrictions affecting or reducing travel patterns, lower consumer confidence, and high unemployment, or adverse political conditions can result in a decline in consumer demand, which can lower the revenues and profitability of our owned and leased properties and the amount of management and franchise fee revenues we are able to generate from our managed and franchised properties. In addition, expenses associated with managing, franchising, licensing, owning, or owningleasing hotels branded spasas well as residential, vacation, and fitness studios, residential and vacationcondominium ownership propertiesunits 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.growth like the United States and other economies are currently experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Economic downturns generally affect the results derived from owned and leased properties more significantly than those derived from managed and franchised properties givendue to the high fixed costs associated with operating an owned or leased property and the greater exposure owners have to the properties' performance. Our proportion of owned and leased properties, compared to the number of properties we manage or franchise for third-party owners and franchisees, is larger than that of many of our competitors and, as a result, an economic downturn, like the current one resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, could have a greater adverse effect on our results of operations. As a result, changes in consumer demand and general business cycles, like the current downturn, can subject, and have subjected, our revenues, earnings, and results of operations to significant volatility.

Uncertainty regarding the future rate and pace of economic growth in different regions of the world makes it difficult to predict future profitability levels. Additionally, if economic weakness were to affect any particular regions of the world, it could have an adverse impact on our revenues and negatively affect our profitability.

Because we derive a portionIn addition to general economic conditions, new hotel room supply is an important factor that can affect the hospitality industry's performance. Increased or excessive growth in lodging supply could further exacerbate the negative impact of the economic downturn resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, and result in returns that are substantially below expectations or result in losses, which could materially and adversely affect 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.profitability, and future growth prospects.

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, extended stay, all-inclusive, and wellness 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, own, or ownlease or based on the number of geographic locations in which they operate. Some of our competitors also have significantly more members participating in their 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 competitors, we also compete against smaller hotel chains and independent and local hotel owners and operators.

Increasingly, we also face competition from new channels of distribution in the travel industry. Additional sources of competition include large companies that offer online travel services as part of their business model, such as Alibaba, search engines such as Google, and peer-to-peer inventory sources that allow travelers to book stays on websites that facilitate the short-term rental of homes and apartments from their owners, thereby providing an alternative to hotel rooms, such as Airbnb and HomeAway.

The hospitality industry has experienced and is continuing to experience significant consolidation, and we expect this trend may continue as companies attempt to strengthen or hold their market positions in a highly competitive and evolving industry. Consolidation by our competitors willwould give them increased scale and may enhance their capacity, abilities, and resources and lower their cost structure, causing us to be at a competitive disadvantage. If we lose market share or are not able to successfully attract third-party hotel owners to our brands as a result of this consolidation, our results of operations, cash flow, business, and overall financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

Increasingly, the rooms at hotels and resorts that we manage, franchise, own, or ownlease are booked through third-party internet travel intermediaries and online travel service providers. We also engage third-party intermediaries, including travel agencies and meeting and event management companies, who collect fees by charging our hotels and resorts a commission on room revenues. A failure by our distributors to attract or retain their customer bases could lower demand for hotel rooms and, in turn, reduce our revenues. In addition, some of our distribution agreements are not exclusive, have aare short term, are terminable at will, or are subject to early termination provisions. The loss of distributors, increased distribution costs, or the renewal of distribution agreements on less favorable terms could adversely impact our business.

Our information technology systems are vulnerable to damage or interruption from fire, floods, hurricanes, power loss, telecommunications failures, computer viruses, break-ins, and similar events. The occurrence of any of these natural or man-made disasters or unanticipated problems at any of our information technology facilities or any of our callglobal contact centers could cause interruptions or delays in our business, or loss of data, or render us unable to process reservations.

In addition, if our information technology systems are unable to provide the information communications capacity that we need or if our information technology systems suffer problems caused by installing system enhancements, we could experience similar failures or interruptions. If our information technology systems fail and our redundant systems or disaster recovery plans are not adequate to address such failures or if our property and business interruption insurance does not sufficiently compensate us for any losses that we may incur, our revenues and profits could be reduced and the reputation of our brands and our business could be harmed.

We participate in numerous hospitality ventures with third parties. In the future, weWe 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:

For these and other reasons, it could be more difficult for us to sell our interest in any hospitality venture or to pursue the venture's activities, which could reduce our ability to address any problems we may have with those properties or respond to market conditions in the future and could lead to impairments of such investments. As a result, our investments in hospitality

In addition, in conjunction with financing obtained for our hospitality ventures, we may provide completion guarantees, debt repayment guarantees, or standard indemnifications to lenders for loss, liability, or damage occurring as a result of our actions or actions of the other hospitality venture owners.

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 operatingfinancial 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.

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 andhospitality ventures in our consolidated Adjusted EBITDA regardless of whether the cash flow of those ventures is, or can be, distributed to us.

The terms of the indenture governing our Senior Notes (as defineddescribed in Part IV, Item 15, "Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedule—Note 911 to our Consolidated Financial Statements") and those of our revolving credit facility subject us to the following:

Although we anticipate we will be able to repay or refinance our existing indebtedness when it matures, there can be no assurance we will be able to do so, or that the terms of such refinancing will be favorable.

Our business, properties, and colleagues are subject to a variety of laws and regulations.regulations around the globe. 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 collection and use of personal data are governed by privacy laws and regulations, and privacy law is an area that changes often and varies significantly by jurisdiction. Increasingly, there is potential for increased exposure to fines, penalties, and civil judgments as a result of new privacy regulations. Compliance with applicable privacy regulations may increase our operating costs and/or adversely impact our ability to market our properties and services to our guests.

Our franchising and licensing businesses and our international operations outside the United States are also subject to laws and regulations affecting those businesses.businesses:

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, severala number of U.S. states and foreign countries require franchisors to register the franchise offering with the applicable governmental body and/or to make extensive disclosures to potential franchisees in connection with offers and sales of franchises in those states and countries. Further, a number of U.S. states and countries have "franchise relationship laws" or "business opportunity laws" that, among other restrictions, limit the ability of franchisors to terminate franchise agreements or to withhold consent to the renewal or transfer of agreements. Failure to comply with those agreements.laws, where applicable, can limit a franchisor's ability to enter into new franchise agreements or enforce the terms of existing franchise agreements and may create liability for fines, penalties, and civil judgments.

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. Marketing for these properties is also subject to federal regulation of certain marketing practices, including federal telemarketing regulations.

If we, or our hospitality ventures, fail to comply with these laws and regulations, we could be exposed to claims for damages, financial penalties, reputational harm, incarceration of our colleagues, or restrictions on our operation or ownership of hotels and other properties, including the termination of our management, franchise, and ownership rights. These restrictions could increase our costs of operations, reduce our profits, or cause us to forgo development opportunities that would otherwise support our growth.

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 or franchisees, 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.

Our global operations subject us to income and non-income based taxes such as sales, use, value added, goods and services, payroll, property, and franchise taxes in numerous jurisdictions. Our future tax expenses and liabilities could be affected by changes in tax laws or the interpretation of the tax laws, as well as changes in our business operations. Our future tax expense could be affected by changes in the composition of earnings in jurisdictions with differing tax rates, changes to our global transfer pricing methodology, changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities, including net operating losses, or changes in determinations regarding the jurisdictions in which we are subject could increase our environmental costs and liabilities, reduce our profits, or limit our ability to run our business.

We are subject to on-going and periodic audits by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and various state, local, and foreign tax authorities and currently are engaged in disputes with certain of such tax authorities. We are a party to certain agreements with tax authorities that reduce or defer the amount of tax we pay. The ultimate results of these agreements, or the expiration of such agreements, or changes in circumstances or in the interpretation of such agreements, could increase our tax costs. We believe we have established adequate reserves for potential tax liabilities, but the final amount of taxes, including interest and penalties, assessed and paid could exceed the amount of such reserves, which could reduce our profits and cash position.

We and our third-party property owners and franchisees may also become subject to additional collective bargaining agreements in the future. Potential changes in the federal regulatory scheme could make it easier for unions to organize groups of our colleagues. If such changes take effect, more of our colleagues or other field personnel could be subject to liability under someincreased organizational efforts, which could potentially lead to disruptions or require more of these laws for the costs of investigatingour management's time to address unionization issues. These or remediating hazardous substancessimilar agreements, legislation, or wastes on, under, orchanges in real property we currently or formerly manage, own, or develop, or third-party sites where we sent hazardous substances or wastes for disposal. Weregulations could be held liable under these laws regardless of whether we knew of, or were at fault in connection with, the presence or release of any such hazardous or toxic substances or wastes. Some of these laws make each covered person responsible for all of the costs involved, even if more than one person may have been responsible for the contamination. Furthermore, a person who arranges for hazardous substances or wastes to be transported, disposed of, or treated offsite, such as at disposal or treatment facilities, may be liable for the costs of removal or remediation if those substances are released into the environment by third parties at such disposal or treatment facilities. The presence or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, or the failure to properly clean up such materials, could cause us to incur significant costs, or jeopardizedisrupt our operations, hinder our ability to develop, use, sell,cross-train and cross-promote our colleagues due to prescribed work rules and job classifications, reduce our profitability, or rent real property we own or operate or to borrow using such property as collateral.

Our franchisees and their hotel operators also currently may be or may become subject to common law claims by third parties based on damagescollective bargaining agreements. Labor disruptions, labor regulation, and costs resulting from violationsnegotiation of environmental regulationslabor agreements may be disruptive to a franchisee's operations which could impact our franchised fee income or from contamination associated with one or more ofharm our properties. Complying with these laws and regulations, or addressing violations arising under them, could increase our environmental costs and liabilities, reduce our profits, or limit ourreputation. We do not have the ability to run our business. Existing environmental laws and regulations may be revised or new more stringent laws and regulations related to global climate change, air quality, or other environmental and health concerns may be adopted or become applicable to us. The identificationcontrol the negotiations of new areas of contamination, a change in the 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.

The reputation and perception of our brands are 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 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.

Monitoring the unauthorized use of our intellectual property is difficult. We may need to resort to litigation to enforce our intellectual property rights. Litigation of this type could be costly, force us to divert our resources, lead to counterclaims or other claims against us, or otherwise harm our business.

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

In addition, we may be required to indemnify third-party owners and franchisees of the hotels we manage or franchise for any losses they incur as a result of any such third-party infringement claims. Any necessary royalty or licensing agreements may not be available to us on acceptable terms. Any costs, lost revenues, changes to our business, or management attention related to intellectual property claims against us, whether successful or not, could impact our business.

Our operations and properties are subject to time the U.S.extensive environmental laws and regulations of various federal, state, local, and foreign governments, make substantive changes to tax rulesincluding requirements addressing:

We are subject to on-going and periodic audits by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") 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 and cash position. We are a party to certain agreements with foreign tax authorities that reduce or defer the amount of tax we pay. The expiration of such agreements, or changes in circumstances or in interpretation of such agreements, could increase our tax costs.

The stock market in general, and hospitality companies in particular, including us, have experienced 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 at times experienced disproportionate volatility and price and volume fluctuations, and we expect this dynamic 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.

In addition to the risks described in this section, several factors that could cause the price of our Class A common stock in the public market to fluctuate significantly include, among others, the following:

Volatility in the market price of our Class A common stock may prevent investors from being able to sell their Class A common stock at or above the price at which they purchased the stock. As a result, investors may suffer a loss on their investment.

Securities class action litigation has often been instituted against companies following periods of volatility in the overall market and in the market price of a company's securities. This litigation, if instituted against us, could result in substantial costs, reduce our profits, divert our management's attention and resources, and harm our business.

On February 14, 2018, we announced thatWe suspended all dividend payments beginning in the second quarter of 2020, and suspended all share repurchase activity effective March 3, 2020. The terms of the Revolver Amendment restrict our board of directors declared a cash dividend of $0.15 per share of Class A common stockability to pay dividends and Class B common stock forrepurchase shares through the first quarter of 2018. Further, pursuant to our share repurchase program, we are authorized to purchase shares of our common stock in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions, or otherwise, including pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan.2021. Our dividend paymentspolicy or share repurchase program may change from time to time, and we may not continue to declare dividends or repurchase shares in any particular amounts, in amounts consistent with historical practice, or at all. Our repurchase program does not obligate the Company to repurchase any specific dollar amount or to acquire any specific number of shares and the timing and amount of repurchases, if any, will depend upon several factors, including market and business conditions, applicable debt covenants, the timing and amount of cash proceeds from asset dispositions, the timing and amount of any 1031like-kind exchange transactions and other tax-planning matters, the trading price of our common stock, the nature of other investment opportunities, and other factors as our board of directors may deem relevant from time to time. A reduction in or elimination of our dividend payments or repurchase activity could have a negative effect on our stock price, increase volatility, or fail to enhance shareholder value. The actual declaration and payment of future dividends, the amount of any such dividends, and the establishment of record and payment dates, if any, are subject to determination by our board of directors after its review of our business strategy, applicable debt covenants, and financial performance and position, and other factors as our board of directors may deem relevant from time to time. Our declaration and payment of future dividends is subject to risks and uncertainties, including: deterioration of our financial performance or position, inability to declare a

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 ceasescease coverage of our companyCompany or failsfail to publish reports on us regularly, our stock price or trading volume could decline.

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. At January 31, 2018,2021, Pritzker family business interests beneficially own, in the aggregate, 68,348,34259,768,523 shares, or approximately 96.8%96.3%, of our Class B common stock, and 36,544,127,436 shares, or less than 0.1%0.3%, of Class A common stock, representing approximately 57.6%59.1% of the outstanding shares of our common stock and approximately 90.6% 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 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."

In addition, the difference in the voting rights between our Class A common stock and Class B common stock could diminish the value of the Class A common stock to the extent that investors or any potential future purchasers of our common stock ascribe value to the superior voting rights of the Class B common stock.

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 were resolved with no admissions or finding of any misconduct.

Disputes among Pritzker family members, and between and among beneficiaries of the Pritzker family trusts and the trustees of such trusts, including with respect to Hyatt, may arise or continue in the future. If such disputes occur, they 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 Pritzker family members, including Pritzker family members involved with Hyatt.

Pritzker family business interests, which beneficially own at January 31, 2018,2021, directly or indirectly, 68,384,88659,895,959 shares, or 57.6%59.1% of our total outstanding common stock and control approximately 90.6% 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 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, at January 31, 2018,2021, the stockholders party to the 2007 Stockholder's Agreement beneficially own, in the aggregate, approximately 3.2%3.7% of our outstanding Class B common stock, representing approximately 3.0%3.4% of the total voting power of our outstanding common stock. Pursuant to the 2007 Stockholder's Agreement, the stockholders party thereto have entered into a voting agreement with us, with respect to the shares of common stock that they beneficially own, and have agreed to vote their shares of 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—Stockholder Agreements."

While the voting agreements are in effect, they may provide our board of directors with effective control 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. This is because the number of our shares that are required by the voting agreements to be voted consistent with the recommendation of our board of directors will be sufficient to determine the outcome of the election of directors and other matters submitted to stockholders for approval. This will limit your ability to influence the election of directors and other matters submitted to stockholders for approval, even if you do not believe those actions to be in our interests or your interests. For instance, the voting agreements may have the effect of delaying or preventing a transaction that would result in a change of control, if our board of directors does not recommend that our stockholders vote in favor of the transaction, even if you or some or all of our major stockholders believe that the transaction is in our interests or your interests. On the other hand, the voting agreements may result in our stockholders approving a transaction that would result in a change of control, if our board of directors recommends that our stockholders vote in favor of the transaction, even if you or some or all of our major stockholders believe that the transaction is not in our interests or your interests.

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. At January 31, 2018,2021, we had 48,102,80539,261,233 shares of Class A common stock outstanding and 70,618,73762,038,918 shares of Class B common stock outstanding.

At January 31, 2018, 48,076,5882021, 37,811,649 shares of Class A common stock are freely tradable in the public market without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") unless these shares are held by any of our "affiliates," as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act ("Rule 144"). The remaining 26,2171,449,584 outstanding shares of Class A common stock and 70,618,73762,038,918 outstanding shares of Class B common stock are deemed "restricted securities," as that term is defined in Rule 144. Restricted securities may be sold in the public market only if they are registered under the Securities Act or they qualify for an exemption from registration under Rule 144 or Rule 701 under the Securities Act ("Rule 701"). Of these restricted securities, 2,270,395 shares of Class B common stock are held by shareholders party to the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement and are otherwise eligible to be sold at any time, subject to the applicable rights of first refusal, "drag along" rights and other restrictions contained in the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement. See Part I, Item 1, "Business—Stockholder Agreements—2007 Stockholders' Agreement." Another 14,2031,422,153 shares of Class A common stock that are deemed restricted securities are otherwise eligible to be sold at any time.

The rest of the restricted securities, consisting of 68,348,34259,768,523 shares of Class B common stock and 12,01427,431 shares of Class A common stock, together with 24,530100,005 shares of Class A common stock previously registered, are subject to contractual lock-up and certain other restrictions contained in the Amended and Restated Global Hyatt Agreement and the Amended and Restated Foreign Global Hyatt Agreement as described in Part I, Item 1, "Business—Stockholder Agreements." These contractual restrictions may be amended, waived, or terminated by the parties to those agreements in accordance with the terms

If any of these holders causes a large number of securities to be sold in the public market, the sales could reduce the trading price of our Class A common stock. These sales also could impede our ability to raise future capital. See also "—If holders of shares of our Class B common stock convert their shares of Class B common stock into shares of Class A common stock and exercise their registration rights, a significant number of shares of our Class A common stock could be sold into the market, which could reduce the trading price of our Class A common stock and impede our ability to raise future capital."

We also may issue shares of our Class A common stock from time to time as consideration for future acquisitions and investments. If any such acquisition or investment is significant, the number of shares that we may issue may in turn be significant.

Holders of 70,618,73762,038,918 shares of our Class B common stock (or 59.5%61.2% of our total outstanding shares of common stock at January 31, 2018)2021), including Pritzker family business interests, have rights, subject to certain conditions, to require us to file registration statements registering sales of shares of Class A common stock acquired upon conversion of such Class B common stock or to include sales of such shares of Class A common stock in registration statements that we may file for ourselves or for other stockholders. In order to exercise such registration rights, the holder must be permitted to sell shares of its common stock under applicable lock-up restrictions. See "—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" and Part I, Item 1, "Business—Stockholder Agreements" for additional information with respect to these lock-up provisions. Subject to compliance with applicable lock-up agreements, shares of Class A common stock sold under the registration statements can be freely sold in the public market. In the event such registration rights are exercised and a large number of shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of shares of Class B common stock are sold in the public market, such sales could reduce the trading price of our Class A common stock. These sales also could impede our ability to raise future capital. Additionally, we will bear all expenses in connection with any such registrations (other than underwriting discounts).

Following our decision in May 20172020 to file a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 pursuant to Rule 415 of the Securities Act, certain stockholders party to the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of August 28, 2007, as amended, among us and the stockholders party to the 2007 Stockholders' Agreement, elected to exercise their "piggyback" registration rights with respect to 12,654,050 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of shares of Class B common stock, and certain stockholders party to the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 12, 2009, among Hyatt and the Pritzker family business interests party thereto, elected to exercise their piggyback registration rights with respect to 8,470 shares of Class A common stock and 15,607,76113,347,885 shares of Class A common stock issuable upon conversion of shares of Class B common stock. On May 22, 2017,21, 2020, the Company filed an automatic effective shelf registration statement with the SEC to register the resale of such aggregate 28,270,28113,347,885 shares. In connection with such registration, all other holders of registration rights, including trustees of trusts for the benefit of Thomas J. Pritzker and his lineal descendants (including Jason Pritzker), elected not to exercise their piggyback registration rights.

Because we have significant U.S. real estate holdings, we may be a "United States real property holding 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" 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.

If we were or were to become a USRPHC, a non-U.S. holder may be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain realized on the disposition of our Class B common stock. Such tax would apply if on the date such non-U.S. holder actually or constructively acquired Class B common stock, and on any date on which such non-U.S. holder acquires additional Class B common stock, the aggregate fair market of the Class B common stock it actually and constructively owns is greater than 5% of the fair market value of our Class A common stock on such date. Certain dispositions of substantial amounts of Class B common stock by non-U.S. holders may be subject to withholding under section 1445 of the Internal Revenue Code.

None.