Chicago, IL | Hyatt Corporation has placed #21 on BusinessWeek’s “Best Places to Launch a Career 2007” survey, recently published in the September 17th issue. The industry-leading and widely read business magazine included the company as part of its second-annual survey of the year’s best employers for entry-level workers. The list of 95 “winners” spans seventeen industries and highlights the best-in-class companies, non-profits and government agencies that impressed editors with feedback from career counselors, students and company-specific statistics. Hyatt’s high ranking on the list places it among top-performance companies such as Google, Microsoft, Disney and Goldman Sachs.

Chicago-based Hyatt Corporation, a subsidiary of Global Hyatt Corporation, gained its #21 position through a combination of effective intern-to-hire programs, training methods and promotional opportunities for entry-level hires into its internship and Corporate Management Training programs. As noted in the article:

  • The company offered 250 paid internships in 2007, accepting primarily hospitality majors.
  • In 2006, 25% of eligible interns received full-time job offers, with 90% of the offers
  • accepted. 25% were minorities and 60% were women.
  • An average of $3,000 per new hire was spent on orientation and training, and all new hires participate in a mentorship program.
  • New hires into the Corporate Management Training program are eligible for a raise and
  • promotion in the first year (within five to twelve months, depending on program length).
  • Additional benefits include access to health benefits (extending to same-sex partners),
  • relocation packages, equal maternity/paternity leave, etc.

The BusinessWeek survey used a three-part method. The first queried career services directors at U.S. colleges on their choices for best employer (counting for 25% of final ranking). Based on these results, the magazine conducted an employer survey that gauged hiring, pay, benefits, and training programs (50% of ranking). Finally, the magazine consulted the results of a 2007 survey by Universum Communications of 44,000 U.S. undergraduates asked to identify five mostdesirable employers (25% of ranking).

“We are thrilled that Hyatt is being recognized for its ongoing efforts to attract and reward new employees,” said Robb Webb, Chief Human Resources Officer – Global Hyatt Corporation, “especially by an authority such as BusinessWeek. We work hard to create a family-like environment, in which workers can thrive and feel proud of their accomplishments and their company. Our policy to first consider our own associates when filling senior positions reflects our faith in our training and hiring methods. The fact that 80% of our associates take advantage of these promotional opportunities indicates their satisfaction with their experience at Hyatt. Maintaining a culture of integrity has always been a top priority.”

Hyatt Corporation has long been dedicated to helping employees find rewarding careers and balanced lives. To this end it has developed a number of programs to assist both entry-level employees and veterans. Examples include the following:

  • Corporate Management Training Program: Top-ranking college graduates complete projects, converse with a Hyatt mentor and rotate through each major industry area. The program varies from five to 18 months, depending on area of concentration. After successful completion, participants are placed as an Assistant Manager or Manager in their area.
  • Health programs: In addition to comprehensive health coverage, Hyatt has created special programs like Moms-to-Babies and the Healthy Outlook.
  • F.O.R.C.E.: The Family of Responsible and Caring Employees is a volunteer program that allows associates to participate in local community outreach efforts on paid company time.
  • Educational partnerships: Hyatt sponsors a number of programs for minority students in the hospitality industry, including the Hyatt Hotel Fund for Minority Lodging Management Students (199 scholarships totaling $398,000 to date), a partnership with the Historically and Predominantly Black Colleges and Universities (helping students attend New York’s annual Hotel/Motel Show) and The Multicultural Foodservice and Hospitality Alliance (an organization co-founded by Hyatt to enhance the image of minority development and career advancement opportunities).

The ranking follows on the heels of Hyatt’s inclusion on the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) “2007 Best Places to Work” list, which includes the top companies that support equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) employees, and on Hispanic Business magazine’s “Diversity Elite 2007” list, which recognizes the 60 best companies for Hispanics.

For more information about career opportunities with Hyatt, please visit Hyatt.com or ExploreHyatt.jobs. For additional questions, please contact Hawkins International PR or Global Hyatt Corporation at the numbers listed above.

Global Hyatt Corporation

Global Hyatt Corporation, one of the world’s premier hotel companies, offers today’s travelers over 735 hotels and resorts (over 136,000 rooms) in more than 44 countries. The company’s affiliates own, operate, manage and franchise Hyatt branded hotels and resorts under the Park Hyatt™, Grand Hyatt™, Hyatt Regency™, Hyatt Resorts™, Hyatt™, Hyatt Place™ and Hyatt Summerfield Suites™ brands. In April 2007, Hyatt launched its newest global brand, AndazÔ. Global Hyatt Corporation is also the owner of Hyatt Vacation Ownership, Inc. operator of the Hyatt Vacation Club and fractional residential properties and U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc, which franchises Hawthorn Suites and Microtel Inns and Suites. From the U.S. and Canada, reservations for any Hyatt hotel worldwide may be obtained by calling 1-800-233- 1234 or logging onto .

Katie Meyer
Vice President Communications
(312) 780 5711
Hyatt