Choice Hotels Hands CEO Job to Insider as It Tries to Reverse a Slump Versus Rivals

Photo Credit: New Choice interim CEO Dominic Dragisich, speaks at Choice Hotels International's 70th Annual Convention. Choice Hotels International Skift Take Choice moved Dominic Dragisich around various key leadership roles over nearly a decade to prepare him for the top job. Choice Hotels appointed Dominic Dragisich as president and CEO on Monday, ending a three-month search where its board considered internal and external candidates. Dragisich, who has led the franchisor of hotel brands like Comfort Inn and Cambria on an interim basis since May 20, will also join the board. He rose to Key Points Dominic Dragisich, a nearly 10-year Choice Hotels veteran and former CFO, was appointed permanent president and CEO after serving as interim leader since May 20 and will also join the board. The leadership change follows the departure of long-time CEO Patrick Pacious after a weak Q1, with Choice's U.S. RevPAR rising just 1.3% in Q2—trailing industry averages across its upscale, midscale, and economy segments. Dragisich is prioritizing execution and net rooms growth to close the performance gap with rivals, backed by the Bainum family, the company's largest shareholder. Summary Choice Hotels has named Dominic Dragisich as its permanent president and CEO, concluding a three-month search that weighed both internal and external candidates. Dragisich had served as interim CEO since May 20, following the departure of Patrick Pacious, who led the company for nearly nine years but exited after a disappointing first quarter marked by below-average RevPAR and net rooms growth. A nearly 10-year Choice veteran who previously served as CFO, chief global brand officer, and chief growth and strategy officer, Dragisich also helped lead the roughly $675 million Radisson Americas acquisition in 2022. He steps into the top role as the franchisor of brands like Comfort Inn and Cambria seeks to close a performance gap with rivals—U.S. RevPAR rose just 1.3% in Q2, trailing industry averages across its upscale, midscale, and economy segments. Dragisich has emphasized execution and prioritized net rooms growth, and he and the company's largest shareholder, the Bainum family, have signaled confidence in entering the next chapter from a position of strength.