Shadow Tourism: Global Travel Giants Buckle Under Epstein Revelations

The global travel and hospitality ecosystem is reeling from its most profound reputational crisis in decades. It is not a dip in bookings or a new pandemic, but a moral shockwave emanating from more than 4,000 pages of recently declassified Epstein files. In a week marked by high-profile resignations, the veil of corporate impunity in the luxury tourism sector has begun to disintegrate.

From the executive suites of Hyatt to the decks of P&O Ferries, the names of industry captains are now surfacing in a web of favors, private flights, and communications that are currently the subject of intense judicial scrutiny.

THE FALL OF THOMAS PRITZKER AT HYATT

February 17, 2026, will be remembered as the day the Pritzker dynasty lost its crown jewel. Thomas Pritzker, who for decades steered Hyatt Hotels Corporation into a global lodging titan, was forced to step down after the leak of email exchanges that public opinion has labeled "indefensible."

The investigation reveals that Pritzker maintained contact with Epstein’s circle years after the financier’s 2008 conviction. The message that sealed his fate was a cynical reply: "May the Force be with you," sent after he was informed of a search for a new "girlfriend" for the financier. This scandal not only damages the brand of the hotel chain but also calls into question the ethical compliance protocols within Fortune 500 boards.

CRUISES AND LOGISTICS: THE DOWNFALL OF BIN SULAYEM

The cruise and maritime transport industry has not escaped the fire. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, the powerful chairman of DP World and the head of P&O Ferries, submitted his immediate resignation after being cornered by evidence from encrypted messaging.

Court documents suggest an alarming level of intimacy. Prosecutors have noted that Sulayem was not only a frequent passenger on the "Lolita Express" jet, but his communications with Epstein included detailed descriptions of sexual encounters. Furthermore, files suggest his name may have been used in the purchase of Great St. James, Epstein's second private island. His departure leaves a massive power vacuum in one of the world’s largest port and maritime tourism operators.

THE "LOLITA EXPRESS" TRAIL IN THE AVIATION SECTOR

The investigative spotlight has also turned toward declassified flight manifests. While no commercial airline has been implicated as an entity, the systematic use of private infrastructure for the transport of victims has tainted executives who facilitated the logistics of these trips.

• Barry Sternlicht: The strategist behind Starwood Hotels (now part of Marriott) appears in Epstein’s calendars. While Sternlicht’s representatives claim he only attended a single group dinner, his name’s presence in the financier’s social circle highlights the intersection of tourism real estate power and Epstein’s inner sanctum.

• Donald Trump: The hotel and casino mogul remains a central figure in the files. While no criminal charges have been filed against him in this context, his historical relationship with Epstein in the Palm Beach social scene remains a critical reference point for understanding how the financier infiltrated the luxury travel elite.

MARKET IMPACT AND THE SECTOR'S FUTURE

Market reaction has been swift. Stocks of the companies involved have shown extreme volatility, with institutional investors demanding a total purge of executive leadership. The travel sector, which thrives on consumer trust, now faces the challenge of proving its leaders were not complicit—by action or omission—in a network of exploitation.

"We are witnessing the dismantling of a power structure that used tourism resources to mask criminal activities," says a corporate risk analyst consulted for this report.

THE ARCHITECT OF THE NETWORK: WHO WAS JEFFREY EPSTEIN?

Jeffrey Epstein was an enigmatic American billionaire who built his fortune in finance, starting at Bear Stearns before founding a firm catering exclusively to ultra-high-net-worth clients. Beyond his wealth, Epstein projected the image of an influential philanthropist and socialite, acquiring luxury properties in New York, Palm Beach, Paris, and a private island in the Caribbean. However, this facade masked a criminal reality: in 2019, he was arrested on federal sex trafficking charges involving minors, and he died by suicide in a New York jail months later while awaiting trial.

His relationship with the leaders of the travel and business worlds was based on a calculated strategy of proximity to power. Epstein cultivated ties with executives and celebrities through private flights on his jet, exclusive dinners, and high-level meetings that facilitated corporate networking.

For many industry leaders, such as those at Hyatt or DP World, Epstein was initially perceived as a well-connected businessman whose company signaled status. However, the 2026 declassification of court records has revealed that these relationships often persisted long after his 2008 conviction, triggering an unprecedented crisis of corporate accountability.