Choice Hotels Names Dominic Dragisich CEO as Hotel Group Enters New Growth Phase

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September 2, 2026 3:21 PM |

Choice Hotels International has appointed Dominic Dragisich as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective 31 August 2026, making his appointment permanent after he served as the company’s interim CEO since May.

Dragisich has also joined the Choice Hotels Board of Directors as part of the leadership transition.

The appointment follows a search process conducted by the company’s Board and places an experienced Choice Hotels executive at the top of the organisation as it continues to focus on growth, brand development, hotel development and franchisee performance.

Dragisich assumed the interim CEO position on 20 May 2026. His permanent appointment means the company will now continue its strategic agenda under an executive who already has extensive knowledge of its operations, brands and development priorities.

His career at Choice Hotels has covered finance, operations, branding, growth and strategy, giving him experience across several of the functions that underpin a major hotel franchising organisation.

A decade of leadership at Choice Hotels

Dragisich has held senior leadership positions at Choice Hotels for nearly a decade.

During that period, he has taken on responsibilities spanning financial management, hotel operations, global brand development and corporate strategy.

His previous positions include Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President of Operations, Chief Global Brand Officer, and Chief Growth and Strategy Officer.

The breadth of those roles has given him exposure to both the operational and commercial sides of the hotel group.

His involvement has also extended to acquisitions and strategic initiatives, areas that have become increasingly important as major hotel companies seek to expand their portfolios and strengthen their competitive positions.

That combination of experience is particularly relevant to the CEO role because Choice Hotels operates through a predominantly franchise-led model in which corporate strategy, brand performance, development and franchisee relationships are closely connected.

From interim CEO to permanent chief executive

Dragisich’s appointment follows a relatively short period as interim chief executive.

He took over the position on 20 May 2026 and has since continued to advance the company’s strategic priorities.

The Board’s decision to appoint him permanently provides continuity at a time when the hotel industry remains focused on development, international expansion, operational efficiency and changing traveller expectations.

Rather than bringing in an external executive unfamiliar with the organisation, Choice Hotels has selected someone who already understands its internal structure, portfolio and franchise network.

That could allow the company to maintain momentum while refining its strategy for the years ahead.

Stewart Bainum Jr. backs the appointment

Stewart Bainum Jr., Chairman of the Board of Directors at Choice Hotels International, highlighted Dragisich’s extensive leadership experience within the company.

Bainum said Dragisich has spent nearly a decade in leadership roles at Choice Hotels and continued to move the company’s strategic priorities forward while serving as interim CEO.

The Board’s support is significant because the chief executive role requires coordination across a wide range of business functions.

Choice Hotels must manage its brands, support franchisees, develop new properties, pursue growth opportunities and maintain financial discipline.

Dragisich’s previous positions have exposed him to many of those responsibilities.

Experience across finance and hotel operations

Dragisich’s career at Choice Hotels did not begin in a traditional hotel operations role.

His earlier position as Chief Financial Officer provided responsibility for the financial side of the business.

He later moved into operational leadership as Executive Vice President of Operations, followed by roles focused on global brands, growth and strategy.

This progression has given him experience across the hotel company’s broader value chain.

Finance is central to hotel development and franchising because new properties require investment, while existing franchisees depend on sustainable operating economics.

Operations determine how effectively brands are delivered at property level.

Brand leadership influences customer perception and market positioning.

Growth and strategy determine where the company invests and how it expands.

Dragisich has therefore worked across the main disciplines now required of him as CEO.

His role in acquisitions and strategic initiatives

The new chief executive has also been involved in acquisitions and strategic initiatives during his time with Choice Hotels.

Acquisitions can play a major role in the growth strategies of large hotel companies.

They can provide access to new brands, markets, franchise relationships and development pipelines more quickly than organic expansion alone.

However, integrating an acquired business requires careful management of brands, franchisees, systems and commercial operations.

Dragisich’s involvement in these activities provides additional experience as Choice Hotels continues to assess opportunities for growth.

Before Choice Hotels: XO Communications and Marriott

Before joining Choice Hotels, Dragisich served as Chief Financial Officer at XO Communications.

Earlier in his career, he held senior finance and operational positions at Marriott International, NII Holdings and Deloitte Consulting.

His experience at Marriott is particularly relevant to the hotel industry, providing exposure to one of the world’s largest hospitality companies before his move to Choice Hotels.

His time at Deloitte Consulting also added experience in advisory and business strategy.

The combination of corporate finance, consulting and hospitality leadership has shaped a career that extends beyond a single functional discipline.

Franchisees remain central to the strategy

One of Dragisich’s stated priorities as CEO is to help franchisees succeed.

That is a critical component of Choice Hotels’ business model.

Franchisees own or operate hotels under Choice Hotels’ brands, while the corporate organisation provides brands, systems, distribution, marketing and other forms of support.

The relationship therefore needs to work for both sides.

Choice Hotels benefits when its franchise network grows and performs well, while franchisees need strong brands and commercial support to generate sustainable returns.

A chief executive must consequently balance corporate growth objectives with the practical requirements of hotel owners and operators.

Dragisich’s previous experience in operations, finance and strategy gives him a broad understanding of those competing priorities.

Brand strength becomes a key leadership focus

Dragisich has also said he intends to continue strengthening the company’s brands.

Brand performance is increasingly important in a crowded hotel market.

Travellers have access to an expanding range of accommodation choices, while hotel companies operate multiple brands designed to target different customer segments.

A successful brand must offer a clear proposition while maintaining consistency across its properties.

For Choice Hotels, brand management is particularly important because franchisees deliver the guest experience across a large network of independently owned and operated properties.

Corporate standards, franchisee support and customer expectations must therefore remain aligned.

Dragisich’s previous position as Chief Global Brand Officer provides direct experience in this area.

Development remains a priority

The appointment also comes as Choice Hotels continues to work across its hotel portfolio and development pipeline.

Hotel development remains an important growth mechanism for major franchising companies.

New properties expand the geographical reach of a brand and create additional rooms through the franchise network.

For Choice Hotels, the development pipeline also provides opportunities to strengthen its presence in markets where demand is increasing.

Development decisions must take account of local demand, construction costs, financing conditions, franchisee appetite and brand suitability.

Leadership experience across growth and strategy can therefore be important in determining how a hotel group allocates resources and prioritises markets.

International growth remains important to Choice Hotels

Choice Hotels has continued to focus on international growth alongside its established North American business.

International development can provide hotel groups with access to new travel markets and additional franchise opportunities.

It can also increase brand recognition among international travellers.

However, international expansion introduces additional complexity because hotel markets differ in regulations, consumer behaviour, development economics and competitive structures.

A global brand strategy therefore needs to be flexible enough to respond to local conditions while maintaining a consistent identity.

Dragisich’s experience as Chief Global Brand Officer and Chief Growth and Strategy Officer provides a relevant background for this aspect of the CEO role.

The changing hotel industry creates new challenges

Choice Hotels is entering this leadership phase against a backdrop of continuing change across the hotel industry.

Travellers are increasingly using digital channels to research and book accommodation, while hotel companies are investing heavily in loyalty programmes, technology and direct customer relationships.

At the same time, owners remain focused on operating costs and returns on hotel investments.

Franchise-based businesses must manage these pressures while ensuring that their brands remain attractive to both travellers and hotel owners.

This creates a complex environment for Choice Hotels.

The company’s next stage will require continued attention to development, brand performance, franchisee economics and operational execution.

What Dragisich’s appointment means for Choice Hotels

The appointment provides Choice Hotels with leadership continuity and an executive who already understands the organisation.

Dragisich has worked across finance, operations, brands, growth and strategy during nearly a decade with the company.

His previous responsibilities also included involvement in acquisitions and other strategic initiatives.

That background gives him a broad platform from which to lead the hotel group.

His priorities are focused on continuing the company’s strategy, supporting growth, strengthening brands and helping franchisees perform successfully.

Those objectives are closely connected.

A stronger franchise network can support development. Effective brand positioning can attract customers and franchisees. Operational improvements can enhance hotel performance, while strategic growth can increase the company’s overall scale.

A leadership transition designed for continuity

The permanent appointment of Dragisich comes after his interim tenure began in May 2026.

The transition gives Choice Hotels an opportunity to maintain strategic continuity while placing permanent leadership around its next stage of development.

His appointment to the Board also gives him a formal role in the company’s wider governance structure.

For Choice Hotels, the significance of the appointment extends beyond the change in job title.

The company is continuing to operate across a broad hotel portfolio while developing new properties, supporting franchisees and managing its brands in an increasingly competitive global market.

Dragisich’s challenge will be to translate his experience across those functions into sustained growth.

Choice Hotels enters its next chapter

Dominic Dragisich’s appointment as President and CEO marks a new chapter for Choice Hotels International under an executive who has already spent years helping shape the company.

His experience covers senior finance, operations, global brand management, growth and corporate strategy, while his earlier career includes leadership positions at Marriott International, NII Holdings, Deloitte Consulting and XO Communications.

He now has responsibility for guiding Choice Hotels’ wider strategy and working with its franchise network as the company continues to develop its portfolio.

The immediate priorities are clear: execute the existing strategy, support hotel development, strengthen brands and help franchisees succeed.

The leadership continuity could allow Choice Hotels to maintain its focus while responding to changes in travel demand, hotel development and the wider hospitality market.

With Dragisich moving from interim CEO to permanent chief executive, the company enters the next stage with a leader who already understands its business from multiple perspectives.