Experienced development leader brings 35 years
of multi-brand and diverse vertical experience to top hotel
management company and is expected to expand company's U.S. and
International footprint
PLANO,
Texas, May 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Aimbridge
Hospitality, a leading, global hotel management company and the
world's largest third-party hotel operator, today announced
Eric B. Jacobs as its new Chief
Global Growth Officer, effective June 2,
2024. Jacobs will sit on the organization's executive
leadership team and report directly to Craig S. Smith, Chief Executive Officer.
As Chief Global Growth Officer, Jacobs is set to oversee all
aspects of growth and development, leveraging his more than three
decades of North America and
International leadership across development, operations, brand
creation and brand positioning to grow Aimbridge's hotel roster and
help its owners and brand partners meet their portfolio expansion
goals domestically and abroad.
"As we continue sharpening our capabilities, further advancing
our development strategy will be key to our short- and long-term
success—and a benefit we intend to pass on to the owners and brands
we partner with," said Smith. "Eric's proven leadership and strong
track record of successfully developing properties across diverse
verticals, brands, and markets will take Aimbridge to the next
level. We believe we still have vast opportunity for growth and
with Eric leading the charge, we expect to strategically broaden
our reach across both full and select service in established and
emerging markets."
Jacobs is expected to bring a fresh perspective to the team,
with the company fully leveraging his background in developing core
and next-generation brands, as well as his ability to anticipate
up-and-coming markets and capture outsized share in high-demand
markets. The company is also looking to become the go-to deal
matchmaker for its partners by tapping into its deep network of
relationships across brands, ownership groups, investment firms,
and financial institutions to further fuel global growth,
particularly as third-party management grows in popularity across
the industry.
"With more owners and brands turning to third-party hotel
operators to expertly manage their assets, now is an exciting time
to join Aimbridge," said Jacobs. "The company's deep expertise
across all property types and its enhanced focus on operational
excellence, guest experience, and associate engagement is
unmatched, and when paired with its comprehensive services and
industry-leading data capabilities, gives partners a clear
competitive advantage. I'm looking forward to joining the Aimbridge
leadership team and bringing forward innovative solutions that will
drive rapid, sustainable growth for Aimbridge and its owners."
Jacobs, who has had tremendous success in development and
branding, joins the team following a nearly 20-year career with
Marriott International. For more than a decade, Jacobs served as
Chief Development Officer for Marriott Select Brands where he led
the growth strategy and execution for 10 different brands ranging
from core to lifestyle, including Courtyard, Residence Inn, AC
Hotels, and Moxy. During this time, he added close to 2,400 hotels
and 264,000 rooms to the Marriott system. This resulted in Jacobs
being tapped to expand his role to also lead the significant global
expansion of Marriott's mid-scale portfolio, with highlights being
the acquisition of City Express in Latin
America, the expansion of Four Points by Sheraton across
Europe, Middle East and Africa, and the from-scratch creation of the
StudioRes by Marriott brand. In his most recent role as Chief
Development Officer for Marriott Midscale Brands - North America and Marriott Brands - Canada, he helmed the strategy and growth of
more than 30 established and emerging brands in those markets.
Jacobs' experience also includes development leadership across
several private and publicly held companies, including Hilton
International, InterContinental Hotels Group, Stouffer Hotels and
Resorts, and Tarsadia Hotels, plus a diverse background in hotel
and restaurant operations.
He succeeds Allison Reid, who
served as Chief Global Growth Officer from July 2022 to May
2024.
About Aimbridge Hospitality
Aimbridge Hospitality is
the world's leading global hospitality management company. A
trusted operator of over 80 globally recognized lodging brands and
distinctive luxury and lifestyle assets, Aimbridge delivers
compelling results for hotel owners by leveraging proprietary data
and insights as an authority in key markets and destinations, while
creating exceptional guest experiences. Aimbridge continually
strives to set the new standard in hospitality excellence, leading
the industry into the future through a wealth of unmatched
resources and best-in-class supplier agreements, while recruiting
and developing top industry talent in all key verticals and
geographies. To learn more, visit www.aimbridgehospitality.com.
Connect with Aimbridge on LinkedIn.
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SOURCE Aimbridge Hospitality