Hilton CEO optimistic about potential impact of tax reform

　　Hilton CEO Christopher Nassetta said he was optimistic that tax reform would help the lodging industry and the economy.

　　Nassetta said during Hilton's third-quarter earnings call that the tax bill, which House Republicans are slated to announce this week, would encourage larger companies to repatriate money that's been invested overseas and free more cash for hirings and business investments.

　　"I think there's a reasonable probability that something gets done, I think net-net it's good for the industry," Nassetta said. "The whole point of this is to stimulate economic growth and get more hands, more cash in the hands of businesses to make more investments and hire more people, and I think we would be a net beneficiary of it."

　　The tax-reform plan has been touted by Republicans as well as the White House as a way to provide a boost to the U.S. economy, while many Democrats have said such a bill would likely benefit larger corporations and wealthier individuals more than the rest of the economy.

　　If a reform were passed, the resulting boost in business spending would would likely boost business bookings in the lodging industry. While Hilton's leisure business continues to grow at a steady rate, Hilton "continues to see steady business transient and group growth at the low-to-mid point of our guidance range," Nassetta said.