Choice Hotels International announced that its board of directors has appointed Dominic Dragisich as president and CEO and to the board of directors, effective immediately. He has served as Interim CEO since May 20, 2026, when Patrick Pacious stepped down.
Stewart Bainum Jr., chairman of the board, said: “Dom has been a proven, exceptional leader for nearly a decade at Choice Hotels. Since stepping into the role of Interim CEO, Dom has advanced strategic priorities and fostered a performance-driven culture across the company. He brings an innovative mindset, a deep appreciation for attracting and developing great talent and a clear vision for the future of the business.”
Bainum added: “The board conducted a comprehensive search and evaluated a strong slate of internal and external candidates. Through that process, we concluded that Dom is the right leader to build on Choice Hotels’ recent momentum, execute our strategy, and drive long-term value for our franchisees and shareholders.”
In his nearly 10 years with Choice Hotels, according to an announcement, Dragisich has held roles of increasing responsibility across the company, including CFO, executive vice president of operations and chief global brand officer, and chief growth and strategy officer.
According to the announcement, he has played a pivotal role in the company’s growth, helping lead major acquisitions and advancing key strategic initiatives that have expanded the company’s portfolio, reinforced its competitive position and created long-term value for franchisees and shareholders.
Prior to joining Choice, Dragisich served as CFO at XO Communications, where, according to the announcement, he successfully returned the company to top-line growth and increased profitability. Earlier in his career, Dragisich held senior finance and operational positions at Marriott International, NII Holdings, and Deloitte Consulting.
Choice is one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world, with over 7,500 hotels, representing more than 650,000 rooms in 49 countries and territories. It has a portfolio of 22 brands.
