Choice Hotels Names Dominic Dragisich Permanent CEO

Choice Hotels International has appointed interim leader Dominic Dragisich as its permanent president and chief executive officer, effective August 31, 2026, while also naming him to the company's board of directors [4]. Dragisich had served as interim CEO since May 20, 2026, following the departure of Patrick Pacious after nearly nine years leading the hotel franchisor [[3], [4]].

Who is Dominic Dragisich and what is his track record at Choice Hotels?

Dominic Dragisich has spent nearly ten years at Choice Hotels across several high-level leadership positions, according to Hotel Business [1]. His previous posts at the company include chief financial officer, executive vice president of operations and chief global brand officer, and chief growth and strategy officer [[1], [4]]. During his tenure, Dragisich helped steer major portfolio expansions, including the roughly $675 million acquisition of Radisson Americas in 2022, as Skift reported [3].

Before his tenure at Choice Hotels, Dragisich served as chief financial officer at XO Communications, where he helped return the company to top-line growth and improved profitability [[1], [4]]. Earlier in his professional career, he held operational and finance positions at Marriott International, NII Holdings, and Deloitte Consulting, according to Asian Hospitality [5].

Why did Choice Hotels undergo a leadership change?

The leadership transition began on May 20, 2026, when former president and CEO Patrick Pacious exited the post after a disappointing first quarter, Skift reported [[3], [4]]. Pacious remained with Choice Hotels in an advisory capacity through August 31, 2026, although the company did not state a formal reason for his departure, according to Hotel Dive [2].

Skift noted that the change followed pressure from below-average net rooms growth and RevPAR results in early 2026 [3]. The board launched a three-month search evaluating a slate of internal and external candidates before selecting Dragisich, backed by the Bainum family, the company's largest shareholder [[1], [3]]. Stewart Bainum Jr., chairman of the board, credited Dragisich with fostering a performance-driven culture during his interim tenure [1].

What operational targets and performance metrics face the new CEO?

Dragisich inherits the top post as the franchisor behind brands like Comfort Inn and Cambria aims to close a performance gap with competitors, Skift reported [3]. During the second quarter, Choice reported that U.S. RevPAR rose 1.3%, lagging industry averages across its economy, midscale, and upscale segments [3].

Despite those headwinds, Choice Hotels raised its full-year U.S. RevPAR outlook and global net rooms growth targets during its second-quarter earnings call, according to Hotel Dive [2]. The company highlighted hotel conversions and the extended-stay segment as primary growth drivers to expand its portfolio [2]. Dragisich has stated the company will prioritize net rooms growth, disciplined execution, and commercial investments to support franchisees [[1], [3]].