Choice Hotels International president and CEO Patrick Pacious is stepping down from his role, effective immediately.
Patrick Pacious
Choice chief growth and strategy officer Dominic Dragisich has been named interim CEO by Choice's board of directors. Pacious will act in an advisory role through Aug. 31 to aid the leadership transition as the board searches for the next CEO.
Pacious, who joined Choice in 2005 and was named CEO in 2017, said in a statement that leading Choice was "greatest privilege of my career." Under his tenure at Choice, Pacious has doubled Choice's portfolio to 22 brands and expanded its presence in upscale and extended-stay segments via the WoodSpring Suites and Radisson Hotels Americas acquisitions.
Pacious also oversaw the development of Choice's international direct franchising platform, drove franchisee-focused technology and digital advancements and more than doubled adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), according to the company. In a statement, board chair Stewart Bainum Jr. called Choice a "more resilient and diversified company" following Pacious' leadership.
Pacious also led Choice's ill-fated pursuit of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. Choice in 2023 made an offer to acquire Wyndham for $7.8 billion, and when it was publicly rebuffed, Choice revised the deal and then launched a hostile bid for the company. Choice abandoned the pursuit in 2024, but Pacious even afterward didn't rule out further attempts, though none since have been forthcoming.
Pacious and CFO Scott Oaksmith faced scrutiny from analysts last month during the company's first-quarter earnings call after Choice maintained its 2026 full-year RevPAR guidance in the range of a 2% year-over-year decline to a 1% increase.
Meanwhile competitors like Hilton Worldwide and Marriott International revised their projections upward following a better-than-expected start to the year. Following Wednesday's news, the company once more affirmed its 2026 full-year outlook and said it "remains focused on executing its strategic priorities, driving franchisee success and delivering long-term shareholder value."
Prior to becoming chief growth and strategy officer, Dragisich was executive vice president, operations and chief global brand officer and also served as Choice's CFO from 2017 to 2023.
Source: Business Travel News