Hilton (NYSE: HLT), Asia’s fastest-growing hospitality company, has been ranked No. 2 on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For in South East Asia, making it the top hospitality workplace in the region. Produced in partnership with Great Place To Work®, Fortune’s inaugural South East Asia list recognizes organizations that champion employee growth and exceptional workplace culture, following its annual editions in the U.S. and Europe.
This latest honor adds to Hilton’s earlier workplace accolades, including being named the No. 1 World’s Best Workplace and the No. 1 Best Workplace in Asia, alongside the No. 1 Best Workplace in Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Thailand, No. 2 Best Workplace in the Philippines and Indonesia and No. 3 Best Workplace in Singapore.
“Being named the top hospitality workplace on Fortune’s first South East Asia list is a proud moment for our region, and especially meaningful as it reflects the voices of our team members,” said Alexandra Murray, area vice president and regional head of South East Asia, Hilton. “These results affirm that when we can build an inclusive, people-first culture where our people feel they belong, can grow their careers and are supported in their wellbeing, it shows up in the way they care for our guests, our communities and one another.”
As a business of people serving people, Hilton’s team members are the heart of the company’s success, creating exceptional experiences for guests and driving its business. Among them are Nitchakarn Prasoppol, Achara Thongdee, Tran Duc Minh, Richard Chew, and Lord Carlo Bayaban, whose stories reflect Hilton’s commitment to fostering an environment where team members feel empowered and supported in their growth.
Nitchakarn Prasoppol, assistant front office manager, and Achara Thongdee, floor supervisor at DoubleTree by Hilton Phuket Banthai Resort, exemplify Hilton’s dedication to cultivating an environment where team members can truly flourish. Nitchakarn, who started her journey at Hilton as a university intern in Houston before returning to Thailand as a front desk associate, now leads a 30-strong front office team, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment that empowers them to succeed. She also takes part in university sharing sessions, speaking at Songkhla University about her career journey to inspire aspiring hoteliers. Meanwhile, Achara, a business graduate who started in housekeeping with no hotel experience, has spent more than a decade honing her craft, and now manages the daily rotation of more than twenty team members, mentoring younger colleagues and showing how housekeeping is a profession with real pride, progression, and purpose. With her approachable style and upbeat energy, she has built a tight-knit, motivated team whose pride shows in spotless rooms, thoughtful details and a consistently welcoming atmosphere.
Tran Duc Minh, a 20-year-old commis chef at Hilton Garden Inn Da Nang, joined the hospitality industry through a partnership between Hilton Garden Inn Da Nang and STREETS International, a social enterprise that supports vulnerable youth in Vietnam. As the primary caretaker for his younger siblings, Minh was offered a traineeship with STREETS, which is funded by the Hilton Global Foundation, and took part in life skills classes led by the hotel’s leadership team. This experience paved the way for him to join the hotel’s culinary team earlier this year. Minh’s strong work ethic quickly distinguished him, leading to his promotion to full-time commis chef just two months after joining the hotel.
Another inspiring example is Lord Carlo Bayaban, executive chef at Hilton Manila Newport World Resorts. Working various odd jobs to support his family, a chance encounter with a passenger who offered him a stewarding role opened the door to the hospitality industry. At Hilton, structured mentorship and leadership programs helped develop Chef Lord’s natural talents and work ethic. Today, he is among the few Filipino executive chefs working for a global hospitality brand in the country. A champion of local ingredients and the communities behind them, Chef Lord partners with over thirty local farmers in rural areas to integrate locally sourced produce into the hotel’s menu. Today, Hilton Manila Newport World Resorts sources close to 80% of its ingredients locally, significantly reducing its carbon footprint while supporting the farmers’ livelihoods.
Meanwhile, Richard Chew’s journey highlights Hilton’s culture of opportunity and innovation. In 2007, Richard left his job as an electrician to pursue his passion for baking. In under a decade of honing his craft, his hard work and passion saw him step into the role of executive pastry chef at Conrad Singapore Marina Bay. There, he reimagines the hotel’s afternoon tea and champions the use of local ingredients, such as locally cultivated vanilla. Richard also dedicates himself to mentoring young chefs and recently led his team to competition success on the regional stage, including a First Runner-Up finish and Best Plated Dessert award at the Asia Pastry Cup.
“These stories reflect how our team members embody Hilton’s purpose-driven culture, which is rooted in our founder’s vision to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality,” added Murray. “This spirit will continue to carry Hilton forward as we grow across the region and create even more opportunities for our people and the communities we serve.”
Hilton’s commitment to providing a strong workplace culture centers on fostering career growth and a future-ready workplace for its team members, who are at the heart of providing great service for its guests. According to internal company data, the vast majority of team members globally say they believe the company is a great place to work (93%) because of its unwavering investment in their long-term growth potential and wellbeing. Nearly 90% (87%) of team members believe that they can achieve their career goals at Hilton, with nine out of ten (91%) able to learn and grow with the company.
To determine the 100 Best Companies to Work for in South East Asia, Fortune partnered with global research consulting firm, Great Place to Work® to analyze confidential survey feedback from employees across different industries in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Responses from all six markets were evaluated to ensure consistency.
