Hyatt Hotels Corporation [NYSE: H]

Alexander Cruz Saenz

Alexander Cruz Saenz is responsible for leading the end-to-end transformation of payroll processes across non-U.S. regions, including Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe (13 countries and 44 legal entities). Key areas of focus include automation, standardization and ensuring compliance with both local and global regulations. His role also oversees the design and implementation of new payroll model, vendor strategies and the integration of HRIS platforms, while aligning with broader Finance ERP´s.

Challenges in Managing Global Payroll: Opportunity to Implement Operating Models

Some of the greatest challenges I have faced involves managing language barriers, cultural diversity and the complex landscape of labor and tax legislation across the various countries where I have had the opportunity to work. Implementing unified or standardized operating models that ensure alignment with corporate policies and procedures can be highly complex—particularly in the absence of a clearly defined HR operations strategy at the leadership level.

Defining the most appropriate operating model for each region or country is essential to shaping an effective strategy. Whether the organization chooses an In-House, SaaS, BPO, or Semi-BPO model, having a robust Human Resources Information System (HRIS) is critical. This system must support seamless integration with multiple platforms, vendors and payroll systems, enabling the consolidation of key information for a variety of purposes—such as global program execution, data input management, workforce budget control, headcount tracking and compensation and benefits processes.

Strong governance, regular operational controls and continuous training of HR and payroll teams have been instrumental in successfully overcoming these challenges.

Best Practices for Payroll Transparency: Enhancing Accuracy, Trust and Awareness

Best practices for maintaining transparency include establishing robust operating rhythms to regularly review critical KPIs such as employee inputs, volumes, payments, hiring, separations, defects and SLAs with vendors and operations teams. These reviews help monitor payroll accuracy, timeliness, defect rates and areas for improvement. Together, these practices contribute to a better employee experience—employees are paid accurately and on time, which keeps them engaged and satisfied.

Providing clear and timely pay stubs, with all wage components transparently explained, significantly enhances trust and clarity.

It is also essential to educate employees about fiscal matters, social security contributions and any new regulations that could affect their compensation. For this reason, payroll education is another best practice that has been implemented to foster awareness and understanding.

Payroll trends or technologies: To Reduce Paperwork

Well, not only at hospitality industry, as we step into 2025, but the landscape of payroll is also evolving rapidly. New technologies, workforce shifts and global business demands are transforming how we work. For instance, Payroll automation is here to stay, manual payroll tasks are being replaced by automated systems that reduce errors, speed up processing and help ensure compliance. This gives Payroll teams more time to focus on controls—not paperwork.

A seamless Integration with Human Capital Management (HCM) systems, HR and payroll systems are now working better together. Real-time data sharing across platforms helps improve decision-making, employee experience and compliance. It’s about creating one connected HR ecosystem.

Key Advice: Meeting the Needs of a Changing Workforce

Companies must see Payroll as a strategic partner, today’s payroll vendors do more than process payments. They provide expert guidance; help navigate compliance challenges and offer advanced tech tools to support our workforce strategy.

With remote work, global teams and new employment models on the rise, payroll needs to keep up. Features like on-demand pay, global mobility support and self-service portals are becoming essentials for today’s employees.

And by last, sustainability and ethics now play a bigger role in payroll. Going paperless, following fair pay practices and meeting global standards are all part of aligning with our company’s values.

Payroll and HR trends reflect more than just tech upgrades— they mark a strategic shift. Payroll has moved from the back office to the center of business performance, driving efficiency, compliance and workforce agility.

For organizations investing in HCM upgrades or exploring new payroll solutions, aligning with these trends is key to staying competitive and future-ready.