No. 8 The Ritz-Carlton

With occupancy down 10% and revenues down more than 20% in a brutal year for luxury travel, CEO Simon Cooper cut management by 15% and trimmed 401(k) matches for leaders at The Ritz-Carlton (MAR). Still, staffing of workers who interact with hotel guests was cut less than 5%, and their benefits were spared. "The front line certainly was staffed to make sure we delivered," Cooper says.