Hotel executive moves: Choice Hotels, Davidson, Lodging Dynamics, NEWH

Here is a compilation of the most important executive moves of the past week in the hotel investment world alphabetically (by company):

Choice CCO leaving company. Choice Hotels International Chief Commercial Officer Robert McDowell will leave the company on January 15, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. McDowell’s next step wasn’t immediately clear and there was no announcement about a replacement. McDowell joined Choice in 2011 as senior vice president for global distribution and, in 2016, was named chief commercial officer. Before joining Choice, McDowell spent 15 years in two stints at United Airlines.

Davidson names two execs. Atlanta-based Davidson Hospitality Group has appointed Brad Barnett as senior vice president of sales for its lifestyle operating vertical, Pivot, and promoted Michael Yousif to senior vice president of acquisitions and business development. Barnett has more than 25 years of experience and previously served as senior vice president of sales and marketing for HRI Lodging. He also held leadership positions at Dream Hotel Group and Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. Since joining Davidson’s acquisitions and business development team in 2010 as an analyst, Yousif has played a role in the growth and evolution of the company’s portfolio, investment management and owner relations. During his tenure, he has supported $3.5 billion in transaction/development volume and signed more than 40 management contracts.

Dimension names new EVP. Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based Dimension Hospitality has named industry veteran Ralph Thiergart as executive vice president for strategy and chief of staff. Thiergart previously led franchise relations and education support for AAHOA and held several senior leadership roles at Choice Hotels International and previously worked at Dimension.

GF Hotels hires EVP of operations. Philadelphia-based GF Hotels & Resorts has hired Nick Bilotta as executive vice president of operations. He has over 25 years of experience in the industry and has worked at Crestline Hotels and Resorts, Destination Hotels, White Lodging and TPG Hotels & Resorts.

New exec at Gurner Group. Victoria, Australia-based Gurner Group has named Peter Crinis, former CEO of Crown Sydney and Crown Hotels, as group chief operating officer of hospitality. Crinis spent 24 years at Crown Resorts overseeing hospitality and service before serving as director of Melbourne Place Hotel.

Kolter promotes two execs. Delray Beach, Florida-based Kolter Hospitality has promoted John Beaton to executive vice president of operations and Sara Martinez to senior vice president of commercial sales. With nearly seven years as senior vice president of operations at Kolter, Beaton has over 35 years of diverse hospitality management experience in the U.S. and Canada, ranging from urban convention hotels to luxury resorts for independent and branded hotels, including Hyatt, Hilton and Marriott. Martinez joined Kolter in 2023 as vice president of sales and marketing and she has over 20 years of industry experience in operations and sales leadership with managed, owner-operator and third-party management companies.

New COO at Lodging Dynamics. Provo, Utah-based Lodging Dynamics Hospitality Group has named Lisa Carlson as its new COO. Carlson is an accomplished hospitality executive with three decades of leadership experience spanning premium, independent, and boutique hotels nationwide over 45 hotels across multiple states.

NEWH names new CEO. Shawano, Wisconsin-based Network of Executive Women in Hospitality (NEWH), an association committed to scholarships, advancing education, mentorship, and networking in the hospitality industry, has announced that past president Chris Tucker assumed the position of CEO of NEWH and NEWH Canada on November 1. Previous CEO Shelia Lohmiller transitioned to NEWH, chair emerita/founder. Tucker, who also serves as president of NEWH Canada, turned that role over to Tara Witt, current vice president of finance for the NEWH Canada board. With over 35 years in the interior design industry, Tucker began her career at Fanshawe College in London, Ontario, and founded Tucker and Associates.

New CEO at Resorts World Las Vegas. Alex Dixon has been appointed CEO at Resorts World Las Vegas and will assume his role following his tenure as CEO at Q Casino & Resort and Dubuque Racing Association in Iowa. He has more than 20 years of combined global gaming, hospitality, entertainment, real estate, and banking industries working at MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment Corp. and Goldman Sachs & Co.

Stonebridge names new SVP. Denver-based Stonebridge Companies has appointed Marco Selva as senior vice president of business development and operations, luxury and lifestyle. Selva will open a Miami office and leverage his expertise to target high-end projects across the region. Before joining Stonebridge, Selva held senior roles in business development, operations and strategy at several hospitality firms, including SH Hotels & Resorts, Highgate and Ennismore, as well as luxury brands such as St. Regis and Ritz-Carlton.