Chatham Lodging Trust Appoints Former Marriott Executive Liam Brown to Board as Independent Director

Chatham Lodging Trust has strengthened its leadership structure with the appointment of Liam Brown to its board of trustees, effective immediately. Brown has been appointed as an independent director at Chatham Lodging Trust, a publicly traded lodging real estate investment trust focused on upscale extended-stay hotels and premium-branded select-service hotels.

The appointment brings decades of international hospitality leadership and hotel operating experience to the board. Brown most recently served as group president, United States and Canada of Marriott International, Inc., where responsibility was held for a vast lodging portfolio spanning North and South America.

His addition comes with extensive experience across hotel operations, franchising, owner services, development and extended-stay lodging. The experience is expected to add significant industry knowledge to Chatham Lodging Trust as the company continues to operate within the competitive US lodging real estate market.

Liam Brown Appointed Independent Director

Brown has joined the Chatham Lodging Trust board of trustees with immediate effect and will serve as an independent director.

His appointment provides the REIT with an executive who has held senior positions across one of the world’s largest hospitality companies.

Brown’s most recent executive position at Marriott involved responsibility for lodging operations across the United States and Canada. His leadership remit covered financial management and operational leadership for Marriott’s lodging business across North and South America.

The scale of that responsibility included more than 6,000 hotels and approximately 160,000 associates.

The experience provides Brown with direct exposure to large-scale hotel operations, financial management, owner relationships and the strategic issues affecting branded lodging businesses.

Former Marriott Group President Brings Extensive Experience

Brown served as group president, United States and Canada of Marriott International from January 2021 until his retirement in June 2026.

During that period, responsibility was held for the financial management and leadership of Marriott’s lodging operations in North and South America.

The portfolio involved more than 6,000 hotels and approximately 160,000 associates, making the role one of substantial scale within the international hospitality sector.

The position also placed Brown at the intersection of hotel ownership, franchising, operations and brand management.

That background is particularly relevant to Chatham Lodging Trust because the REIT’s investment strategy is focused on upscale extended-stay hotels and premium-branded select-service hotels.

Marriott Career Spanned More Than Three Decades

Brown’s career at Marriott began in 1989, giving him more than three decades of experience within the hospitality company before his retirement in 2026.

Over the course of his Marriott career, he occupied a succession of senior leadership positions covering operations, development, franchising, owner services and international markets.

His progression through the organization included senior responsibilities associated with select-service and extended-stay lodging products.

The breadth of those roles provided exposure to multiple components of the hotel business, ranging from development and franchise relationships to day-to-day operations and owner services.

Leadership Across Europe, Middle East and Africa

Brown also held significant international responsibilities during his Marriott career.

He served as president and managing director of Europe from 2018 to 2019.

In 2020, he moved into the position of group president of Europe, Middle East & Africa.

Those roles expanded his experience beyond the North American lodging market and provided exposure to hotel operations across a diverse collection of international markets.

The international experience adds another dimension to his board profile, particularly as hospitality investment and hotel ownership increasingly involve international capital and operating platforms.

Brown Held Key Marriott Franchising Role

Before assuming his senior regional leadership positions, Brown served as president for franchising, owner services and managed by Marriott select brands, North America, from 2012 to 2018.

The role placed particular emphasis on Marriott’s relationships with franchisees and hotel owners.

Franchising and owner services represent critical components of the hospitality business because hotel brands frequently operate through structures involving third-party owners and franchise partners.

Brown’s experience in this area therefore provides direct insight into the commercial relationships connecting hotel operators, brands and property owners.

Experience in Select-Service and Extended-Stay Hotels

Brown also held the position of chief operations officer for the Americas for select service & extended stay lodging and owner & franchise services.

He subsequently served as senior vice president and executive vice president of development for Marriott’s select service & extended stay lodging products.

The combination of these positions is particularly relevant to Chatham Lodging Trust’s investment focus.

The REIT is primarily focused on upscale extended-stay hotels and premium-branded select-service hotels, making Brown’s experience directly aligned with two of the company’s principal lodging categories.

His operational and development background can therefore provide specialized industry knowledge at board level.

Brown Already Serves on EPR Properties Board

Brown’s board experience extends beyond Chatham Lodging Trust.

He currently serves on the board of EPR Properties, which is a publicly traded diversified experiential net lease REIT.

At EPR Properties, Brown serves on the Compensation & Human Capital Committee as chair and is also a member of the Nominating/Company Governance Committee.

These responsibilities provide additional experience in corporate governance, executive compensation and board oversight.

His existing board position means his appointment at Chatham adds an experienced public-company director with an established background in real estate and hospitality-related assets.

American Hotel and Lodging Association Role Adds Industry Perspective

Brown also serves on the Executive Committee of the American Hotel and Lodging Association.

The organization provides an additional platform through which Brown remains connected to the broader hotel industry.

His participation at the association level complements his operating experience and current public-company board responsibilities.

Together, these positions provide exposure to corporate governance, hospitality policy and industry leadership alongside his extensive hotel management background.

Academic Background Combines Hospitality and Business

Brown’s educational background includes a Hotel Diploma and Business Degree from the Dublin Institute of Technology, Trinity College.

He also earned a Master of Business Administration from the Robert H. Smith School of Management at the University of Maryland.

The combination of hospitality-specific education and graduate-level business training complements his long executive career.

His academic background was established alongside practical experience in hotel operations, development, franchising and owner services, providing a combination of industry specialization and broader business expertise.

Chatham Lodging Trust Focuses on Select-Service Hospitality

Chatham Lodging Trust is a self-advised, publicly traded real estate investment trust focused primarily on upscale extended-stay hotels and premium-branded select-service hotels.

The company’s investment profile places it within a specialized segment of the lodging real estate market.

Extended-stay hotels can serve guests requiring accommodation for longer periods, while select-service properties generally emphasize efficient operations and focused guest offerings.

Brown’s experience with Marriott’s select-service and extended-stay lodging products therefore aligns closely with the company’s investment focus.

His previous responsibility for development and operations in these categories provides a relevant perspective as the board evaluates matters involving hotel assets, operations and investment strategy.

New Board Appointment Adds Depth to Hospitality Governance

The appointment of Brown represents an expansion of Chatham Lodging Trust’s board expertise at a time when hospitality real estate continues to require specialized knowledge across operations, ownership and investment.

His career has covered multiple sides of the hotel industry, including direct operational leadership, financial management, development, franchising and owner services.

His experience with Marriott also extends across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, giving him exposure to both domestic and international hospitality markets.

The addition of his existing board responsibilities at EPR Properties and his role with the American Hotel and Lodging Association further broadens the governance and industry perspective brought to Chatham.

Chatham Gains Executive With Directly Relevant Hotel Experience

Brown’s appointment is particularly notable because his previous Marriott responsibilities closely correspond with Chatham Lodging Trust’s investment strategy.

At Marriott, he held senior roles involving select-service and extended-stay lodging products, while Chatham focuses primarily on upscale extended-stay hotels and premium-branded select-service hotels.

His experience with franchise relationships and owner services also provides knowledge relevant to a lodging REIT whose assets operate within the broader hotel ownership and management ecosystem.

The scale of his most recent Marriott responsibility adds another important dimension. Oversight of more than 6,000 hotels and approximately 160,000 associates provided experience in managing highly complex lodging operations across major markets.

Hospitality Leadership Strengthens Chatham Board

The immediate appointment of Liam Brown as an independent director adds a senior hospitality executive with extensive experience to the Chatham Lodging Trust board of trustees.

Brown retired from Marriott International in June 2026 after serving as group president, United States and Canada, since January 2021. His Marriott career began in 1989 and included senior positions in North America, Europe and the broader Europe, Middle East & Africa region.

His responsibilities have encompassed financial management, hotel operations, franchising, owner services and development, with particular experience in select-service and extended-stay lodging.

Brown’s current board role at EPR Properties and his position on the Executive Committee of the American Hotel and Lodging Association provide additional corporate governance and industry experience.

For Chatham Lodging Trust, the appointment places a highly experienced hotel executive within its board structure while bringing expertise that closely matches the REIT’s focus on upscale extended-stay and premium-branded select-service hotels. The appointment is consequently positioned to strengthen the company’s hospitality and real estate expertise at the board level.