The board has appointed Dragisich president, CEO and director effective 31 August, following a search process after he had led the company on an interim basis since May.
Choice Hotels International has appointed Dominic Dragisich as president and chief executive officer, effective 31 August 2026.
- Choice Hotels International has appointed Dominic Dragisich as president, chief executive officer and a member of the board, effective 31 August 2026.
- Dragisich had served as interim chief executive since 20 May 2026 and previously held senior roles including CFO, chief growth and strategy officer, chief global brand officer and head of operations.
- The board said it carried out a comprehensive search involving internal and external candidates before selecting Dragisich for the permanent role.
- Choice Hotels says it operates more than 7,500 hotels representing over 650,000 rooms across 49 countries and territories.
(NEWS) NORTH BETHESDA, Maryland, United States, 2026-Aug-31 — /Travel PR News/ — Choice Hotels International has ended its chief executive search by appointing Dominic Dragisich as president and chief executive officer, making permanent a leadership arrangement that had been in place on an interim basis since May.
The company said the appointment took effect on 31 August 2026 and also includes a seat on the board of directors. Dragisich had been serving as interim chief executive since 20 May, a period during which the board said he continued to advance strategic priorities while overseeing day-to-day operations.
Board turns to a long-serving internal executive
Stewart Bainum Jr., chairman of Choice Hotels’ board, said the company had carried out a comprehensive search that included both internal and external candidates before concluding that Dragisich was the right person to lead the next phase of the business. In the board’s view, his familiarity with the company and track record across finance, operations and strategy made him the strongest choice to build on recent momentum.
Dragisich has spent nearly a decade at Choice Hotels in a series of increasingly senior roles. The company said those posts have included chief financial officer, executive vice president of operations and chief global brand officer, as well as chief growth and strategy officer. It credits him with helping to lead acquisitions and strategic initiatives that expanded the group’s brand portfolio and strengthened its competitive position.
Before joining Choice, Dragisich served as chief financial officer at XO Communications. Earlier in his career he also held senior finance and operational roles at Marriott International, NII Holdings and Deloitte Consulting, giving him a background that spans hospitality, telecoms and advisory work.
Permanent appointment follows interim period
In comments released with the announcement, Dragisich said the company was entering its next chapter from what he described as a position of strength, citing its team, brand portfolio and development pipeline. He said the focus would remain on disciplined execution, faster growth and support for franchisees, while continuing commercial investment across the business.
The appointment brings clarity to leadership at one of the world’s largest lodging franchisors. Choice Hotels says it has more than 7,500 hotels representing over 650,000 rooms in 49 countries and territories, operating across 22 brands that range from economy to extended stay and upper-upscale lodging. That scale means the chief executive role carries particular weight not only for investors but also for franchise owners whose businesses depend on the company’s reservation, marketing and brand systems.
What the move signals for franchise-led growth
The choice of an internal candidate suggests continuity rather than a major strategic break. Because Dragisich has already held leadership positions in finance, operations, brand management and growth, the board’s decision points to an emphasis on execution of the existing strategy rather than a wholesale reset.
That continuity could matter in a hotel franchising market where development pipelines, owner economics and brand standards remain under close scrutiny. Choice’s own description of its current position highlights a higher-quality portfolio and a more diverse pipeline, language that indicates the company sees scope to keep expanding while balancing returns for franchisees and shareholders.
For the broader hospitality industry, the appointment is another reminder that boards often prefer operational familiarity and financial discipline when selecting leaders in large franchise businesses. In Dragisich, Choice Hotels has opted for an executive who already knows the company’s internal systems, brand portfolio and owner network rather than an outsider brought in to reshape the company from scratch.
