Choice Hotels International announced that Patrick Pacious will step down as president and CEO. He will serve as an advisor to the company through Aug. 31 to support the transition. The company’s board of directors has appointed Dominic Dragisich, chief growth & strategy officer, as interim CEO.
The board, said the announcement, will conduct a comprehensive search in partnership with a leading executive search firm to identify the company’s next CEO and will consider all qualified internal and external candidates.
Over the course of his nearly 21-year tenure with Choice Hotels, including as president and CEO since 2017, Pacious has led a period of significant growth and transformation for the company, said the announcement. Under his leadership, Choice Hotels expanded its portfolio from 11 to 22 brands, grew its presence in the upscale and extended-stay segments through the acquisitions of WoodSpring Suites and Radisson Hotels Americas, established a high-growth direct franchising international platform, advanced franchisee-focused technology and digital initiatives and more than doubled adjusted EBITDA, the company said.
“Leading Choice Hotels has been the greatest privilege of my career,” said Pacious. “Together, we have built a higher-quality portfolio of hotels, a more accretive, diverse pipeline and a capital-light model that enables the company to capture significant opportunities ahead.”
With the company having laid the foundation for a customer-centric, AI-enabled business, in alignment with a long-term strategic plan, he said, “now is the right time for a new leader to guide Choice Hotels into its next phase of growth.”
Dragisich previously served as executive vice president, operations and chief global brand officer; and as CFO from 2017 to 2023. According to the announcement, he has helped lead Choice’s strategic evolution, overseeing transformative acquisitions and other major growth initiatives to enhance long-term value.
In connection with the announcement, the company reaffirmed its full-year 2026 financial outlook provided in its first quarter 2026 earnings results reported on April 30.
