Business and Tourism Management


Chapter 1: Introduction

Aim of the Blog

The blog aims to critically explore and compare two major players within the tourism industry namely Hilton Hotels in the hospitality sector and Jet2 Holidays in the tour operations segment. The two organisations have already developed a firm presence in the market and they are well known about their customer focused policies, new services and flexibility in a dynamic international marketplace. This blog is aimed at evaluating the way how these companies create their tourism products, establish relations with their stakeholders, and how they react to major risks, including sustainability, digital transformation, and changing consumer behaviours.

Sector Overview

The tourism industry is composed of various interdependent sectors, with hospitality and tour operations playing pivotal roles. Hilton Hotels is an example of hospitality industry that provides accommodation facilities to clients with head and shoulders services of luxurious brands as well as low end facilities with a variety of rooms and grades across the globe. The brand is now recognized to relate to quality service, innovation and identification as a global brand. Conversely, Jet2 Holidays falls under the tour operations industry whereby it offers package holidays which composed of flights, hotels and on the ground services. Being a company based in the UK, Jet2 Holidays has developed a competitive advantage comprising customer confidence, flexible packages and holiday as a whole with the purpose of cost-effectiveness and satisfaction.

Structure Overview

The blog consists of four important chapters. In chapter two, there is a comparative review of the two organisations followed by the analysis of the key stakeholders of the organisations. Chapter three encompasses the tourism product strategies, the challenge, as well as the opportunities accruing to each company respectively. Chapter four has a conclusion and strategy points to improve the sustainability, stakeholders, and customer experience as a whole.

Chapter Two: Comparative Organisational and Stakeholder Analysis

Organisational Overview

Hilton Hotels

Hilton Hotels was established in 1919 by Conrad Hilton who has since developed the brand to become one of the most renowned in the international hospitality business. The company has a history of more than a hundred years and has a very rich and wide collection of 22 best brands around the world, such as Waldorf Astoria, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree, Hilton and Hampton by Hilton (Hilton, 2021b). Hiltons spread as an international business has been great and currently, it is present in 139 countries and aspects as well as territories, covering over 8,600 properties and over 1.3 million rooms located worldwide (Investor relations, 2021). This wide global presence has enabled the firm to serve different market segments, which include luxury travellers and economy attractions.


                                                                 Figure 1: Hilton Hotel

(Source: Tahiri et al., 2021)

Hilton has a two-fold business strategy which involves both franchise transactions and managed hotels. Approximately 88% of Hilton’s properties are franchised, allowing for rapid growth with lower capital investment, while the remaining properties are either managed directly or owned (Contact, 2025). This asset-light approach is due to a greater rate of returns on investments coupled with the ability to control brands and retain service uniformity. In market positioning, Hilton is regarded as a luxury hospitality brand that sets high standards of providing services to customers who have also been loyal to its Hilton Honours programme and the company keeps innovating in terms of digital services like the Digital Key and the ability to select a room using the mobile application (Tahiri et al., 2021). The RevPAR (Revenue Per Available Room) in the entire world is £102.31, and average occupancy is at 68.3% as it was generated by Hilton, according to the 2024 Annual Report (Contact, 2025). These metrics indicates robust recovery after the COVID-19 events and a strategic focus on the long-term growth, the digital transition, and sustainability with its program, Travel with Purpose.

Jet2 Holidays

Jet2 Holidays is one of the leading British package holiday companies, introduced in 2007 as a subsidiary to Jet2.com which is one of the fastest growing low-cost airlines in the UK. The brand has risen fast as the largest tour operator in UK taking about 15% of the UK share in package holidays. The company has many departure points within UK and provides holiday all-inclusive packages to the most popular sun and city destinations within Europe and possibly anywhere in the world. In the scaling of Jet2 Holidays, a vertically integrated tour operations model is adopted, with its own airline (Jet2.com), the accommodation partners, ground transportation and in-destination customer service. It has ATOL-protected holidays where consumer protection is enhanced through money and the firm has good levels of customer service with in-resort representatives and around the clock helpline. It is a comprehensive model under which Jet2 can own service delivery, prices, and brand reputation (Trišić et al., 2021).

Figure 2: Jet2holidays

(Source: Jet2.com, 2024)

The company operates as a customer focused tour operator and portrays its product as Value-adding, holiday producer with a trading name of Package Holidays you can Trust. This has been strengthened with several awards in customer service and satisfaction. Jet2 Holidays carried greater than 19 million passengers in 2024 and offered greater than 70 locations to overseas locales in the Mediterranean, Canary Islands and the cities of Europe (Jet2.com, 2024). It has been able to compete effectively because of its strategic focus on flexible booking policies, transparent pricing and high customer interaction with established tour operators such as TUI.

Aspect

Hilton Hotels

Jet2 Holidays

Product Differentiation

Offers 22 distinct brands ranging from luxury (Waldorf Astoria) to economy (Tru by Hilton). Provides unique in-hotel experiences (e.g. Hilton Honors exclusive rooms, spas, and dining) (Manzoor et al., 2024).

Offers all-inclusive, city breaks, and flexible family packages. Differentiates through own airline, wide range of departure airports, and bespoke hotel partnerships.

Customer Loyalty Strategies

Hilton Honors Programme with tier-based rewards (free nights, upgrades, digital check-in). Strong emphasis on mobile convenience and personalisation.

MyJet2 membership offers exclusive deals and early bookings. Focus on transparency, value for money, and flexible bookings to retain repeat customers (Leyva, and Parra, 2021).

Quality Assurance

Implements “Brand Standards” across all properties; uses guest satisfaction surveys and third-party auditing (Calisto et al., 2024). Maintains quality via franchise oversight and digital feedback tools.

Conducts hotel inspections, provides in-resort reps, and runs a 24/7 helpline (Bae, 2022). Maintains service quality through customer reviews, complaints resolution, and ATOL compliance.

Table 1: Comparison Table: Hilton Hotels vs Jet2 Holidays

(Source: Leaner)

Stakeholder Analysis

Hilton Hotels Stakeholders

Hilton Hotels has a wide range of stakeholders among which the customers appear more central as the ones determining the services and reputation of the companies. Customers are demanding superior customer-experience, on the digital offering and are looking to gain experiences by loyalty programmes such as Hilton Honours (Antonova, Ruiz, and Mendoza, 2021). Customers also want to see that Hilton is an environmentally responsible business, which it is doing by following the strategy of sustainability under the tagline of Travel with Purpose, where the company concentrates on reducing its carbon footprint, removing all single-use plastic, and donating to the local communities. Workers are another important stakeholder systems to Hilton (Tripathi, Kumar, and Rawat, 2022). Having more than 400,000 staff worldwide, including franchisee properties, Hilton pays much attention to training, professional growth, and the environment in workplaces.

Such lists as “World Best Workplaces” by Fortune and Great Place to Work have been continuously recognising the company. This efforts as the Team Member Value Proposition and online or digital staff training aids facilitate employee engagement and retention, both of which have a direct effect on the quality of services provided to the customers, and their satisfaction (Yousaf et al., 2021). Hilton also enjoys close relationships with investors, owners of property which is close under asset-light business model of Hilton, where about 88% of properties are franchised. The investors are hoping to get good returns on investment, continuity to the brand, and growth in the market. Hilton responds to these expectations by means of disciplined growth plans, brand positioning around the world, and scalable technologies which facilitate profitability and excellence in services.

Jet2Holiday Stakeholders

The customers of Jet2 Holidays are the mainstay of its operations since they aim at cost effective and stress-free all-inclusive holiday packages. Such customers appreciate open fare prices, varieties of booking policies, and at-destination services. The customer-focused model that Jet2 applies to its customers such as pleasant customer service, multiple baggage allowance, and in-resort representatives has resulted in customer loyalty and many awards, including service awards (Solakis et al., 2021). Being a licensed tour operator and carrier, Jet2 is strongly affected by regulatory agencies, in the first place, by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the ATOL (Air Travel Organiser’s Licence). They are not negotiable on safety, consumer protection and financial security standards. The vigilance of Jet2 in the observance of these frameworks guarantees customers and substantiates the legitimacy of operations (Dani, Tiwari, and Negi, 2021).

Jet2 Holidays also has very many strategic partnerships within their business partners such as hotels, airport authorities and local transportation providers. These allied partners play a vital role in giving quality service. The company develops these relationships with long-term contracts, quality assurance procedures, and common customer service criteria, so that the entire experience up to the travel matches the brand promise.

Chapter Three: Strategic Comparison – Challenges and Opportunities

Tourism Product Development

Hilton Hotels

Hilton Hotels has come up with a large and a diversified portfolio in the products as far as tourism is concerned which serves international clients. The brand has opened different markets and operates in a wide scope of market levels including ultra-luxury properties, mid-scale and budget properties such as Waldorf Astoria and Conrad Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by Hilton are some of the properties that have been opened in this line (Jeong et al., 2023). Through this multi-brand strategy, Hilton can capture the luxury travellers as well as the affordable customers with uniformity in service delivery. One of the elements of Hilton product development strategy is innovation. The company became the first one to introduce the Digital Key, which enables the guests to unlock doors with their smartphones, check-in, and choose rooms (Padave, and Kanekar, 2023).

Moreover, the Hilton Honors application allows members to personalise their stay, get additional discounts and get rewarded by points (loyalty program), as well as make it much more convenient and personal (Zhou et al., 2022). Hilton value added is that it is globally recognised brand and offers similar standards in terms of services to all its customers and its commitment to customer satisfaction. In addition to service, Hilton further incorporates sustainability practices, which are part of the product, in its operations via the sustainable programme, which is referred to as, travel with purpose (Suliman et al., 2023). This incorporates good sourcing, efficient energy consumption in the hotel operations and community impacting projects that go in line with the preference of the eco-conscious travellers.

Jet2 Holidays

By ensuring a big selection of ATOL-protected package holidays, short city break, and family focused offers, Jet2 Holidays has established itself as one of the leading tour operators. Its products are well priced and focused to various customer attributes such as couples, family, and lone travellers (Pereira et al., 2021). This wide selection is made possible by a large flight route network and UK departure points of Jet2.com. Jet2 has also invested in its easy-to-use reservation system as well as the mobile boarding pass technology, facilitating the user experience all through, by eliminating the steps between purchase and arrival (Lozano, Rey, and Sastre, 2021). The fact that they have a 24/7 customer helpline, as well as in-resort representatives makes sure that travellers are given round the clock support and assistance.

Jet2 Holidays has often won awards in the form of outstanding service including “Which? Recommended Provider and TripAdvisor Travellers Choice Awards". These awards denote its quality, trust and customer interaction hence it is regarded as one of the most respected brands in UK travel industry.

Category

Hilton Hotels

Jet2 Holidays

Product Differentiation

Offers 22 distinct brands from luxury (Waldorf Astoria) to budget (Hampton). Tailors hotel experiences to lifestyle segments.

Offers wide range of ATOL-protected packages, including city breaks, beach holidays, and family deals. Integrates flights, hotels, and ground transport (Yousaf et al., 2021).

Customer Loyalty

Hilton Honors loyalty programme with digital benefits: points redemption, upgrades, mobile key, and member discounts.

MyJet2 membership provides exclusive deals and early access to sales. Focus on flexible bookings and trust-based marketing.

Quality Assurance

Maintains brand standards across all hotels. Uses customer feedback, third-party audits, and tech-enabled service quality monitoring.

Conducts regular partner inspections, employs in-resort reps, and runs a 24/7 helpline (Huo et al., 2021). Ensures quality through regulatory compliance and guest reviews.

Table 2: Tourism Product Development comparison

(Source: Learner)

Strategic Challenges and Organisational Responses

Hilton Hotels

Hilton Hotels has had to navigate a very competitive hospitality industry in the world, and sustainability has become one of the major strategic issues in the market along with the digital transformation of the company. Efforts to raise consumer awareness on climate change and its effects on the environment have given pressure to hotel chains to be greener. Moreover, the fast development of digital technologies has advanced the expectations of the guest with ease and smooth technology related services (Kolobkova et al., 2021). To react to the pressure of sustainability, Hilton introduced its broad “Travel with Purpose” Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) plan. This effort aims at cutting emission of carbon, increasing energy and water efficiency and eradicating single use plastic in its global operations. The goal set by Hilton is to reduce 50% of its environmental impact and invest two times as much into social impact by 2030 (Hilton, 2021).

The company is also participating in responsible sourcing and community-based projects which make their activities to be in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (Hassanein, and Özgit, 2022). In response to digital transformation, Hilton has invested in technologies that touch the customer, these include the Digital Key, which enables guests to open their rooms with a smartphone, and Hilton Honors app, which helps in room selection, check-in and personalised preferences. Such digital tools make travelling more convenient and efficient to satisfy the demands of tech-savvy travellers and allows increasing the agility of its operations (Rajesh et al., 2022). The digitalisation strategy of Hilton guarantees the process of consistency in the services provision within the global front the portfolio, bringing a more engaging and responsive customer experience.

Jet2 Holidays

The strategic challenges, to which Jet2 Holidays is exposed, include another list of matters, mainly pertaining to the situation after the pandemic, unstable fuel costs, and the EU travel regulations adjustments. The travel and tourism industry were one of the major industries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and Jet2 had to make a quick turnaround to restore customer confidence and the company to its feet (Ogutu et al., 2023). The increased fuel prices only worsen the profitability and new regulations (visa regulations and rights of passengers) must be met constantly. To compete, Jet2 resorted to flexible booking rules, such as the free change and refunding guarantees, and this helped the company calm its travellers in times of uncertainty (Chen et al., 2022). These policies assisted in customer confidence and brand loyalty. The company was also upgrading its planes fleet to more fuel-efficient cars to reduce the effects of the increased costs of operations and also aid the environmental goals.

It has also enhanced interrelationship with the regulatory agencies of Jet2 including the UK Civil Aviation Agency and tourism regulatory agencies in the European Union. Through its voice of transparency and proactive compliance, the brand has established a trustworthy image of its operator in the new world order (or post-Brexit setting) of travelling (Ramaano, 2022). These strategic reactions have helped Jet2 Holidays to overcome the devastations in the industry and still provide reliable, customer-centered vacation products.

Category

Hilton Hotels

Jet2 Holidays

Response to Industry Disruptions

Adapted to global travel disruptions through enhanced hygiene protocols, flexible booking options, and operational resilience.

Introduced refund guarantees, flexible booking changes, and ramped up customer communication post-pandemic (Hoang et al., 2021).

Sustainability Expectations

Launched “Travel with Purpose” strategy: 50% reduction in environmental footprint by 2030, reduced plastic usage, and sustainable sourcing (Buhalis, Leung, and Lin, 2023).

Upgraded to fuel-efficient aircraft, reduced carbon impact, maintained ATOL protection, and aligned with environmental regulations.

Digital Consumer Behaviour

Introduced Digital Key, Hilton Honors App, and AI-based personalisation tools for bookings and room preferences.

Developed user-friendly website and mobile boarding passes, streamlined booking process, and increased digital customer support.

Table 3: Strategic Responses – comparison table

(Source: Learner)

Chapter Four: Conclusion and Recommendations

Recommendations

Hilton Hotels

In order to increase its competitive advantage, Hilton Hotels ought to pay special attention to increased transparency of its sustainability endeavours. Although the goals defined within the corresponding program, Travel with Purpose, are bold, there is a necessity in publishing quarterly and weekly amounts of progress and accompanying documentation of the results accomplished through the program to ensure the establishment of credibility among travellers focusing on the environment. Furthermore, to enhance the guest experiences even further Hilton can invest into AI-based personalisation of the pre-arrival and booking experiences. Artificial intelligence allows to analyse preferences and past bookings history, thus Hilton can provide custom recommendations, or room upgrades along with promotions that customers will find satisfying and loyal.

Jet2 Holidays

Expansion of the company portfolio to offer more experiential travel opportunities, which are akin to culinary tours, adventures as well as wellness retreats can be of great value to Jet2 Holidays. This would attract the changing interest of the customers and would improve the worth of the nation about the brand. Moreover, a better post-booking guidance via the digital technology, like real-time tracking of itinerary, tailored travel experiences and automated customer service solutions via their mobile device, would make the customer experience easier and the holiday more enjoyable.

Conclusion

Hilton Hotels and Jet2 holidays are successful in slightly different ways with respect to the development of the tourism product and engaging stakeholders. Hilton has been succeeding in providing consistent and excellent experience in hospitality with a diverse brand portfolio and digital solutions innovation. Its global reputation is supported by its devotion to sustainability and employee growth. On the other hand, Jet2 Holidays has established itself as customer-oriented tour operator of flexible, well-valued packages with the good service and supervision by regulation. The two organisations are grappling with a sustained set of threats such as pressure on the environment and digital disruption, which they have addressed through planning innovative solutions and agility. The fact that they can place their product offerings in line with the emerging customer expectation, as well as quality standards, speaks of their dominance in the hospitality and tour operations markets.

 


 

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