This Major Hotel Company's CEO Just Stepped Down After 21 Years — and Nobody Saw It Coming

Choice Hotels International announced that Patrick Pacious has stepped down as president and CEO, effective May 20, after nearly 21 years with the company and nine years leading it as chief executive.

The company did not provide a reason for his departure, which came as a surprise to the hospitality industry. Pacious had been at the helm since 2017, steering the company through the pandemic era and overseeing a portfolio that includes brands like Comfort Inn, Quality Inn, and Cambria Hotels.

Dominic Dragisich, Choice's chief growth and strategy officer, has been appointed interim CEO while the board conducts a formal search for a permanent replacement. Dragisich brings nine years of experience at the company, having previously served as chief financial officer from 2017 to 2023 and later as executive vice president of operations and chief global brand officer.

Pacious will remain as an adviser through August 31 to support the transition. His departure adds to a wave of leadership changes sweeping the hospitality industry in recent months. Hyatt recently restructured its Americas leadership, Hilton announced executive changes ahead of a key retirement, and Four Seasons named a new executive chairman — all within a matter of weeks.

The timing raises questions about whether the industry is entering a generational leadership shift, as companies that navigated the pandemic under one set of executives now look to position themselves for a different era of travel demand and technological disruption.