Jonathan Tisch | $1B+
Get in touch with Jonathan Tisch | Jonathan Tisch, co-chairman of Loews Corporation and chairman & CEO of Loews Hotels, is a leading figure in American hospitality and one of the industry’s most prominent voices on travel, tourism, and civic engagement. Under his leadership, Loews Hotels expanded from a regional operator into a national luxury and lifestyle brand known for service, design, and strong urban partnerships. As part of the Tisch family enterprise, he also helps guide Loews Corporation’s diversified holdings in insurance, energy, and packaging. A bestselling author and influential philanthropist, Tisch has championed public–private collaboration, destination marketing, and workforce development, shaping both the business and cultural landscape of major U.S. cities.
Jonathan M. Tisch is an American businessman and philanthropist best known for his long-standing leadership roles at Loews Corporation, a multinational conglomerate, and its hospitality subsidiary Loews Hotels, as well as his executive involvement with the National Football League's New York Giants.[1][2][3]
Born on December 7, 1953, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Tisch is the son of Loews co-founder Robert Preston Tisch and Joan Hyman Tisch, and the brother of film producer and New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch.[4][1] He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tufts University in 1976.[4] Early in his career, Tisch worked at his family's hotels before joining Loews Corporation in 1980, where he quickly rose through the ranks, serving as president of Loews Hotels starting in 1986 and becoming its chief executive officer in 1989.[4] During the 1979–1990 period, he also held the position of president at Bulova Watch Company and Bulova Corporation, and from 1990 to 1995, he was chairman and CEO of Lorillard, Inc., a Loews tobacco subsidiary.[2]
Tisch joined the Loews board of directors in 1986 and was appointed to the Office of the President in 1999, a role he held until 2021; he served as co-chairman of the board from 2006 to 2024 alongside his cousin Andrew Tisch, before transitioning to director emeritus.[2][1] As executive chairman of Loews Hotels & Co.—having previously been its chairman and CEO, a role from which he plans to retire effective December 31, 2025—he oversaw the expansion and management of the company's portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts.[3][2][5] Additionally, Tisch has been an officer of Loews since 1986 and currently serves on the board of directors for CNA Financial Corporation, another Loews subsidiary.[2][3]
In sports, Tisch holds the position of executive vice president of the New York Giants, where his family owns a 45% controlling stake in the franchise, valued at approximately $10.1 billion as of August 2025.[3][6] Beyond business, Tisch and his wife, Lizzie, are active philanthropists; in 2019, they donated more than $2.8 million to the University of Michigan Museum of Art to support acquisitions and programming.[1]
Early life and education
Family background
Jonathan Tisch was born on December 7, 1953, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, to Joan Hyman Tisch and Preston Robert Tisch.[4] His father, Preston Robert Tisch, co-founded the Loews Corporation with his brother Laurence Tisch and served as the United States Postmaster General from 1986 to 1988 under President Ronald Reagan.[7] The Tisch family, of Jewish heritage, built their fortune starting in the late 1940s with small hotel investments in New Jersey before acquiring control of Loews Theatres in 1959, leveraging the valuable real estate of urban movie houses to expand into a diversified conglomerate encompassing hospitality, insurance, energy, and packaging.[8][9][10]
Tisch grew up alongside his siblings—brother Steve Tisch, a film producer, and sister Laurie Tisch, a philanthropist—in a household deeply immersed in the family's burgeoning enterprises.[11] From an early age, he was exposed to the operations of the family's hotels, beginning with explorations during family vacations at their first major property, the Americana in Bal Harbour, Florida, which opened in 1957.[12] This upbringing instilled in him the core values of entrepreneurship, innovation in hospitality, and public service, as exemplified by his father's government role and the family's emphasis on community involvement.[13]
Education
Tisch completed his secondary education at The Frederick Gunn School, a preparatory institution in Washington, Connecticut, graduating in 1972.[14]
He pursued higher education at Tufts University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1976.[4]
Tisch's experiences at Tufts fostered his enduring interest in civic engagement and leadership, as he later described himself as an "early and avid" supporter of the university's active citizenship initiatives, which foreshadowed his significant philanthropic commitments in these areas.[15]
Following graduation, Tisch did not seek advanced degrees, choosing direct entry into professional business roles to build practical expertise.[16]
Career
Loews Corporation and Hotels
After graduating from Tufts University in 1976 and working for three years in television production roles at WBZ-TV in Boston, Tisch joined Loews Hotels in 1979 as a sales representative, advancing through positions in development and operations, including director of development in 1981 and vice president of marketing in 1982.[13][17] By 1986, he had risen to executive vice president and president of Loews Hotels, becoming chief executive officer in 1989, a role he held until 2012 and resumed from 2016 to 2022.[18][13][19]
Under Tisch's leadership, Loews Hotels emphasized innovative community engagement, most notably through the launch of the Good Neighbor Policy in 1990, which he conceived as the industry's first comprehensive outreach program to foster partnerships with local schools, nonprofits, and communities at each hotel property.[20][21] This initiative encouraged employee volunteering and resource donations, setting a standard for corporate responsibility in hospitality and earning early recognition, including a 1996 President's Volunteer Service Award.[22] Tisch oversaw significant portfolio growth during his tenure, directing expansions and major renovations to enhance guest experiences and market positioning; a prominent example is the 1998 opening of the 790-room Loews Miami Beach Hotel, a flagship oceanfront property in South Beach, followed by multimillion-dollar refurbishments in 2009 and 2016 that modernized its Art Deco elements and amenities.[23][24][25]
Tisch served on the Loews Corporation Board of Directors from 1986 to 2024, holding the position of co-chairman from 2006 until transitioning to Director Emeritus on December 31, 2024.[2] As of November 2025, he remains Executive Chairman of Loews Hotels & Co., guiding strategic initiatives for portfolio expansion and operational excellence in the post-pandemic recovery, while preparing for his announced retirement from that role at the end of the year.[26][27]
New York Giants ownership
Jonathan Tisch inherited a minority ownership stake in the New York Giants following the death of his father, Preston Robert Tisch, in November 2005. Preston Robert Tisch had acquired a 50% stake in the franchise in 1991 for $75 million, sharing ownership with the Mara family. Upon his passing, the stake passed to his sons, Jonathan and Steve Tisch, who continue as co-owners alongside the Maras—though in October 2025, the Mara and Tisch families sold a 10% minority stake to Julia Koch and her family (NFL-approved October 22, 2025), reducing their combined ownership to 90% as of November 2025—maintaining the family's involvement in the team's governance.[28][29][30]
As Treasurer and a member of the board of directors for the New York Giants, Jonathan Tisch plays a key role in the organization's financial oversight and strategic decisions. He contributes to high-level franchise operations, including the management of MetLife Stadium, which the Giants co-own with the New York Jets and opened in 2010 as a state-of-the-art facility hosting NFL games and major events. Tisch's involvement ensures the team's financial stability and supports long-term planning for infrastructure and operations.[3][29][31]
Tisch has been actively involved in elevating the Giants' profile through landmark events, notably co-chairing the 2014 NY/NJ Super Bowl XLVIII Host Committee, which brought the game to MetLife Stadium and generated significant economic impact for the region. His efforts helped secure the bid and coordinated logistics for the event, which drew over 100,000 visitors. Additionally, Tisch supports the team's community initiatives, such as contributions from Super Bowl proceeds to the NY/NJ Snowflake Youth Foundation, funding over 50 youth development projects focused on education and health in underserved areas.[3][32][33]
Industry leadership roles
Jonathan Tisch serves as Chairman Emeritus of the U.S. Travel Association, a role in which he has advocated for policies supporting the multibillion-dollar travel and tourism industry, including recovery efforts following the September 11, 2001 attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] He founded the Travel Business Roundtable in the 1990s, which evolved into the U.S. Travel Association, and through this platform, Tisch lobbied on Capitol Hill for federal aid to revive tourism after 9/11, emphasizing economic impacts and job preservation.[13] During the COVID-19 crisis, as Chairman Emeritus, he contributed to national initiatives promoting safe travel protocols and vaccination campaigns to accelerate industry rebound, drawing on his experience at Loews Hotels to highlight the sector's workforce challenges.[34]
Tisch served as Chairman of NYC & Company, New York City's official tourism marketing and convention bureau, from 2002 to 2008, during which he led efforts to expand the city's visitor economy and chaired the New York Rising initiative to restore tourism post-9/11.[35] Under his leadership, NYC & Company launched marketing campaigns that boosted international arrivals and positioned the city as a premier destination, achieving record visitor numbers by 2007.[36] His tenure focused on public-private partnerships to enhance economic development through tourism, including promotion of cultural and hospitality assets.
Tisch has held leadership positions on the boards of key industry organizations, including serving as former Chairman of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), where he advanced standards for hotel operations and labor policies.[3] He has also been involved with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), participating in global summits addressing economic contributions of travel and sustainable practices.[37] In 2011, Tisch co-chaired the NY/NJ Super Bowl Host Committee for the 2014 event, overseeing non-sports logistics such as tourism promotion, venue coordination, and economic impact assessments that generated over $500 million for the region.[38]
As of 2025, Tisch continues to advocate for sustainable tourism and workforce development in hospitality, supporting initiatives through the NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center for Hospitality, which under his namesake endowment advances research on eco-friendly practices like tourist taxes for conservation and apprenticeship programs for industry talent.[39] His efforts emphasize training underrepresented workers and integrating sustainability into tourism recovery strategies, aligning with broader U.S. Travel Association goals for resilient growth.[40]
Publications and media
Books
Jonathan Tisch has authored three books that draw from his leadership experiences at Loews Corporation, particularly in the hospitality sector, offering insights into customer service, collaborative business strategies, and civic engagement.[3]
His debut book, Chocolates on the Pillow Aren't Enough: Reinventing the Customer Experience, co-authored with Karl Weber and published by John Wiley & Sons in April 2007, examines innovation in the hospitality industry and the pursuit of customer service excellence beyond conventional amenities.[41] The work, informed by Tisch's role as CEO of Loews Hotels, advocates for authentic people-to-people connections to create memorable guest experiences, using real-world examples from the hotel sector to illustrate how businesses can differentiate through personalized service.[41]
In The Power of We: Succeeding Through Partnerships, also co-authored with Weber and released by John Wiley & Sons in August 2004, Tisch explores collaborative leadership and the integration of community involvement into business practices.[42] Drawing on his tenure at Loews, the book outlines strategies for forging partnerships across social, intellectual, and political spheres to drive competitive advantages and collective success, emphasizing that shared efforts yield greater results than individual endeavors.[42]
Tisch's third book, Citizen You: Doing Your Part to Change the World, co-authored with Weber and published by Crown (an imprint of Penguin Random House) in May 2011, focuses on individual civic responsibility and the growth of social entrepreneurship.[43] Inspired by his philanthropic work alongside his corporate leadership, it encourages readers to contribute to societal improvement through personal action and community initiatives, highlighting examples of everyday citizens driving positive change.[43]
All three titles achieved bestseller status and have shaped discussions in business management and philanthropy, positioning Tisch as a thought leader who bridges corporate strategy with broader social impact.[3]
Media ventures
In 2008, Jonathan Tisch co-founded Walnut Hill Media with Loews executive Jeffrey Stewart, establishing a venture focused on investing in media companies and developing creative content across film, television, and online platforms.[44][45] The company emphasized opportunities in travel and lifestyle sectors, aligning with Tisch's hospitality background, and quickly made a multimillion-dollar initial investment in Tribeca Enterprises, the parent company of the Tribeca Film Festival, to support its expansion into broader media activities beyond annual events.[46][47]
Through Walnut Hill Media, Tisch became a minority investor in Tribeca Enterprises and joined its board of directors, contributing to initiatives that extended the organization's brand into digital and production realms.[48] He also serves on the board of the Tribeca Film Institute, supporting nonprofit efforts to foster independent filmmakers and film education.[36]
Tisch hosted the Emmy-nominated television series Beyond the Boardroom, which premiered in 2008 and aired on networks including Bloomberg Television and CNBC, featuring interviews with prominent business leaders on topics such as leadership, innovation, and corporate success.[49][3] The series ran for multiple seasons, with Tisch conducting in-depth conversations that highlighted personal stories behind professional achievements, often drawing connections to themes in hospitality and teamwork.[50][20]
Tisch has produced documentaries tied to civic and personal narratives, including Love Etc. (2010), which explores New York City's marriage bureau and was inspired by his own experiences there, and New York Says Thank You (2011), which documents New Yorkers' 2007 volunteer efforts to aid California wildfire victims as a thank you to firefighters who assisted after 9/11, highlighting themes of reciprocity and community resilience.[51][52][53] These projects, produced under Walnut Hill Media, underscore his interest in storytelling that intersects with urban life and public service.[54]
As of 2025, Tisch maintains involvement in digital media through his board roles at Tribeca Enterprises and the Tribeca Film Institute, advocating for content creation that promotes industry and civic engagement.[55][56]
Philanthropy
Major donations
Jonathan M. Tisch has made several transformative philanthropic gifts to educational institutions, often in collaboration with his wife, Lizzie Tisch. In 2006, he donated $40 million to Tufts University, his alma mater, which renamed the existing University College of Citizenship and Public Service to the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service (renamed Tisch College of Civic Life in 2016), focusing on experiential learning in civic engagement and public service.[57] This endowment has supported interdisciplinary programs integrating academics with community-based initiatives, enhancing the university's commitment to active citizenship.
In the cultural sector, the Tisches contributed $10 million to The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2011, funding the renovation of the Costume Institute's exhibition spaces.[58] This gift enabled the creation of the 4,200-square-foot Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch Exhibition Galleries, part of the broader Anna Wintour Costume Center, which hosts major fashion exhibitions and improves conservation facilities for the museum's collection.[58]
In 2019, the Tisches donated $27.5 million to The Shed, a New York City cultural institution, supporting its construction and the creation of new artistic works through the Commissioning Fund.[59] That same year, they gave more than $2.8 million to the University of Michigan Museum of Art to support acquisitions and programming.[60] They also contributed $5 million to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center to enhance its facilities and programs.[61]
More recently, in 2022, the Tisches gave $25 million to The Frederick Gunn School, Jonathan Tisch's preparatory alma mater in Washington, Connecticut—the largest single gift in the institution's 172-year history.[62] This commitment supported the construction of the 24,000-square-foot Lizzie & Jonathan Tisch Center for Innovation & Active Citizenship, dedicated in 2024, which features collaborative learning spaces, a makerspace, and facilities to foster student-led projects in innovation and community service.[63]
The Tisches channel much of their philanthropy through the Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch Family Foundation, established in 2013, which prioritizes grants in education, the arts, youth development, and healthcare.[64] In 2024, the foundation distributed $825,000 in grants to organizations advancing these areas, including support for arts programs and educational access initiatives.[65]
Additional contributions include longstanding family support for New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where cumulative gifts exceeding $100 million have funded facilities, scholarships, and programs since the 1980s, reflecting the Tisch family's deep ties to performing arts education.[66] Tisch has also backed welfare-to-work initiatives through his leadership and funding involvement with the Welfare to Work Partnership, aiding employment programs for underserved communities.[67]
Board positions and foundations
Jonathan Tisch has served as a trustee of Tufts University since 1988, becoming Vice Chair Emeritus in 2019 after more than three decades of involvement, during which he has overseen initiatives in civic engagement, including the establishment and support of the Tisch College of Civic Life.[68]
Since 2022, Tisch has chaired the board of directors of The Shed, a New York City cultural institution dedicated to innovative arts and community programming, succeeding founding chair Daniel L. Doctoroff and guiding its mission to foster creative expression across disciplines.[69][70]
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Tisch served as vice chairman of the Welfare to Work Partnership, a nonprofit coalition that promoted employment opportunities for individuals transitioning from welfare to self-sufficiency, emphasizing corporate hiring practices to address underserved populations.[16][67]
Tisch is a board member of the Tribeca Film Institute, supporting its efforts to advance independent filmmaking and storytelling as tools for social impact.[36] He also holds positions on boards of other civic and cultural organizations, including the Business Committee for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which facilitates corporate support for the museum's programs.[71]
Tisch provides leadership to family philanthropic entities, notably as a key figure in the Jonathan M. Tisch Family Foundation, a private foundation with assets of approximately $198 million as of 2023, directing grants toward education, arts, and community development causes.[72]
Awards and recognition
Business and hospitality
In June 2022, Jonathan Tisch was included in the International Hospitality Institute's Global 100 in Hospitality list, recognizing leaders in the global hospitality sector.[73]
Tisch received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Urban Land Institute Southeast Florida/Caribbean Vision Awards in 2024, acknowledging his distinguished contributions to real estate development and leadership in the travel and tourism industry.[74]
In 2025, he was inducted into the NYU School of Professional Studies Hall of Fame, celebrated for his innovations in hospitality education and industry practices through the Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality.[75]
In 2002, the Tisch family, including Jonathan Tisch, received the Hospitality Heritage Award from the American Hotel & Lodging Association, recognizing their achievements in the hospitality industry.[76]
For initiating the Loews Hotels Good Neighbor Policy in the 1990s—a pioneering corporate social responsibility program emphasizing community partnerships—Tisch and the policy earned the U.S. President's Service Award in 1996.[22][77]
Philanthropy and civic honors
In 2024, the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference established the inaugural Jonathan Tisch Active Citizenship Award in his honor, celebrating his lifelong commitment to civic leadership; the first recipient was Blackstone President and COO Jon Gray, acknowledging Tisch's influence in fostering active citizenship within the hospitality sector.[78][79]
The Shed elected Tisch board chair in 2022, recognizing his foundational contributions, including a $27.5 million donation from him and his wife Lizzie, to the cultural center's mission of artistic and social innovation.[80][81]
In 2024, the Frederick Gunn School community celebrated Tisch and his wife with a dedication ceremony for the Lizzie & Jonathan Tisch Center for Innovation & Active Citizenship, honoring the impact of their $25 million gift—the largest in the school's history—which supports active citizenship programs and underscores his dedication to educational philanthropy.[82][62]
Personal life
Marriages
Jonathan Tisch married Laura Steinberg, daughter of billionaire financier Saul P. Steinberg, on April 18, 1988, in a lavish candlelight ceremony at the Central Synagogue in Manhattan.[83][84] The union united two prominent New York business families and lasted 12 years, ending in divorce in 2000 amid the broader financial challenges facing the Steinberg empire.[85]
Tisch's second marriage was to Lizzie Rudnick, a noted philanthropist and co-founder of the family's charitable initiatives, on October 2, 2007, in a private ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York City.[86][87] As of 2025, the marriage remains ongoing, with the couple actively collaborating on joint philanthropy efforts, such as significant contributions to arts and cultural organizations.[88]
Tisch has no children from either marriage.[4]
Family and heritage
Jonathan Tisch was born into a Jewish family of Eastern European descent. His father, Preston Robert Tisch, was the son of Russian émigré parents, with paternal grandparents originating from Ukraine and maternal grandparents from Poland, reflecting the broader wave of Jewish immigration from Eastern Europe in the early 20th century.[89][90] His mother, Joan Hyman Tisch, also came from a Jewish background and was deeply engaged in Jewish humanitarian efforts throughout her life, further embedding these cultural roots in the family.[91][92]
The Tisch family's commitment to philanthropy is profoundly shaped by Jewish values, particularly the principle of tzedakah, which emphasizes charitable giving as an act of justice and moral obligation rather than mere benevolence. This heritage has guided generations of Tisches in their support for Jewish causes, fostering a legacy of communal responsibility that extends beyond financial contributions to active leadership in social welfare.[66][93]
In adulthood, Tisch has maintained close ties with his extended family, including siblings Steve and Laurie, who together uphold the intergenerational dynamics of philanthropy and cultural preservation rooted in their shared heritage. He resides primarily in New York City, where he owns a prominent co-op apartment at 2 East 67th Street overlooking Central Park acquired in 2008 and a West Village apartment renovated in uptown style, properties that align with the family's longstanding affiliations through Loews Hotels in the city.[94][95]
Tisch's cultural affiliations reflect his deep involvement in the Jewish community, notably as chair of the Hospitality Division and the Real Estate group at UJA-Federation of New York, organizations dedicated to supporting Jewish life and broader humanitarian initiatives in the region.[96][97]
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