Hyatt Hotels Corporation has confirmed that its executive chairman, Thomas Pritzker, has stepped down with immediate effect following disclosures in newly released documents from the US Department of Justice relating to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
Pritzker, 75, said he would leave his role in order to provide “good stewardship” of the global hotel group amid scrutiny over his past association with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein and convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.
The company confirmed that Pritzker would be replaced by its president and chief executive, Mark Hoplamazian, who will assume the role of executive chairman.
The latest batch of documents released by the United States Department of Justice suggest Pritzker maintained contact with Epstein and Maxwell for nearly two decades, including after Epstein’s 2008 plea deal on sex crime charges.
In a statement, Pritzker said he had exercised “terrible judgment” in continuing contact with Epstein following that plea deal and acknowledged there “is no excuse for failing to distance myself sooner”. There is no suggestion of criminal wrongdoing by Pritzker.
Epstein died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 for her role in procuring underage girls for Epstein.
The disclosed correspondence includes a December 2011 exchange referencing cruise ships “Oasis” and “Allure” being in St Thomas regularly. At the time, Pritzker was a director of Royal Caribbean Cruises. Little Saint James, Epstein’s private island, is part of the Saint Thomas archipelago.
In separate exchanges, Epstein referred to Pritzker as “one of us” in correspondence with a third party. Other emails reference discussions about business matters and social engagements.
Documents also suggest Pritzker communicated in 2001 with an email address believed to be associated with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, regarding a multimillion-dollar investment round in a pharmaceuticals marketing company.
Additional correspondence attributed to Maxwell includes personal remarks and references to social interactions, the details of which have been partially redacted in the released files.
The disclosures have prompted resignations beyond the hospitality sector. Kathy Ruemmler, a senior lawyer in the United States, has stepped down from her role at Goldman Sachs. Brad Karp, chairman of law firm Paul Weiss, has also resigned. Ruemmler has denied any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal conduct, while Paul Weiss said Karp “never witnessed or participated in any misconduct”.
For Hyatt, the immediate leadership transition is aimed at safeguarding corporate stability and protecting the brand amid heightened scrutiny. Pritzker has served as executive chairman since 2004 and is part of the family that founded the hotel group.
The development comes at a sensitive time for the global hospitality industry, where governance, brand integrity and corporate responsibility are under increasing scrutiny from investors, regulators and corporate travel buyers alike.