The Most Hospitable Company in the World: An Anthropology of Power, Shareholder Value, and Semiotic Grounds at Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (1919-2023)

Abstract

In this thesis, I offer up an anthropology of power and semiotic grounds through an ethnographic study of Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. I begin with an exploration of the history of Hilton, tracing central myths surrounding the company’s founding CEO Conrad Hilton and other key events in Hilton’s history. I also explore the impacts of COVID-19 through ethnographic interviews with Hilton employees and executives. Furthermore, I develop an analysis of power by examining the affective and discursive tools that Hilton CEO Christopher Nassetta employs to channel power which I argue impact the formation and reworking of the semiotic grounds of Hilton. Finally, I trace the rise of shareholder value in the United States economy and explore stock buybacks and the formation of hospitality Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) as case studies. In this thesis, I unveil the semiotic concepts that underlie corporate life at Hilton including hospitality, optimism, innovation, and shareholder value.