Choice Hotels Leadership Change: Patrick Pacious Steps Down as CEO
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 20 2026
0mins
Choice Hotels announced a leadership transition under which Patrick Pacious will step down as President and CEO. Pacious will serve as an advisor to the company through August 31 to support the transition. The board has appointed Dominic Dragisich, Chief Growth & Strategy Officer, as Interim CEO, effective May 20. The board 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. Before becoming Chief Growth & Strategy Officer, Dragisich previously served as EVP, Operations and Chief Global Brand Officer and as the company's CFO from 2017 to 2023.
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Analyst Views on CHH
Wall Street analysts forecast CHH stock price to fall
10 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
5 Hold
3 Sell
Hold
Current: 109.270
Low
91.00
Averages
103.44
High
126.00
Current: 109.270
Low
91.00
Averages
103.44
High
126.00
About CHH
Choice Hotels International, Inc. is a lodging franchisor with over 7,500 hotels, representing over 650,000 rooms, in 50 countries and territories. The Company’s segments include Hotel Franchising & Management and Corporate & Other. The Hotel Franchising & Management reportable segment includes the Company's hotel franchising operations, which consists of its 22 brands and brand extensions and the hotel management operations of 13 hotels (including four owned hotels). Its brand names include Clarion, Clarion Pointe, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Sleep Inn, Quality, Park Inn by Radisson, Everhome Suites, WoodSpring Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Studios, Radisson Blu, Park Plaza, Cambria Hotels, Ascend Collection, Radisson RED, Radisson Individuals, Radisson, Radisson Collection, Radisson Inn & Suites, Econo Lodge, and Rodeway Inn. Ascend Collection is a global collection brand offering resort, boutique, and historic properties.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Choice Hotels to Report Q2 2026 Earnings on August 5
- Earnings Release Schedule: Choice Hotels International will report its Q2 2026 earnings on August 5, 2026, at 6:30 a.m. ET, providing detailed financial data that will help investors assess the company's financial health.
- Conference Call Details: The company will host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. ET on the same day, led by Interim CEO Dom Dragisich and CFO Scott Oaksmith, to analyze financial performance and answer investor questions, enhancing transparency.
- Participation Method: Investors can access the live webcast through the company's Investor Relations website or dial in using the provided numbers, ensuring they connect at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start time to receive complete information.
- Replay and Transcript: A replay and transcript of the call will be available on the company's Investor Relations website within 24 hours after the conclusion of the call, ensuring that investors who cannot participate live can still access key information.
See More
Choice Hotels Appoints AI Expert as Independent Director
- New Board Member: Choice Hotels International has appointed Ali Keshavarz as an independent director, whose deep expertise in artificial intelligence and advanced analytics will further strengthen the board's capabilities in executing the company's long-term growth strategy.
- Strategic Value Addition: As Chief Data & Analytics Officer at CVS Health, Keshavarz brings extensive experience in enterprise data and AI transformation, which is expected to provide unique insights that enhance unit economics for hotel owners.
- Industry Background: Prior to joining CVS Health, Keshavarz served as Chief Analytics Officer at Aetna and CVS Caremark, where he helped build enterprise-level data and analytics capabilities, showcasing a proven track record in data-driven transformation.
- Educational Credentials: Keshavarz holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BA in Mathematics and Economics from Northwestern University, providing a solid foundation for his leadership in the data analytics field.
See More
Choice Hotels CEO Sells Stock Options Amid Leadership Change
- Executive Stock Transaction: Dominic Dragisich, the Interim CEO of Choice Hotels, exercised 12,796 stock options and sold 22,621 common shares on May 26, 2026, with a transaction value of approximately $2.58 million, indicating proactive financial management amid leadership changes.
- Shareholding Proportion Change: Following this transaction, Dragisich's direct holdings decreased from 104,000 to 81,607 shares, representing only 0.18% of the company's outstanding shares post-transaction, which may impact investor confidence due to the significant reduction in his stake.
- Transaction Context Analysis: The stock sale was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan established in February 2026, aimed at avoiding legal issues related to insider trading, suggesting that the sale was not indicative of negative sentiment towards the company's future.
- Financial Performance Fluctuation: Although Choice Hotels achieved a record revenue of $340.6 million in Q1 2026, rising costs led to a drop in net income to $20.3 million, highlighting the challenges the company faces in balancing growth with profitability.
See More
Choice Hotels CEO Executes Stock Sale Amid Leadership Change
- Stock Sale Overview: On May 26, 2026, Dominic Dragisich sold 22,621 common shares for approximately $2.58 million, representing 21.70% of his direct holdings, reducing his ownership to 81,607 shares.
- Options Exercise Details: The transaction involved exercising 12,796 stock options, with all shares disposed of directly, indicating a significant direct market impact without indirect entity involvement.
- Leadership Change Context: Dragisich executed this sale shortly after being appointed Interim CEO on May 20, yet it did not raise red flags for investors as it was part of a pre-arranged trading plan established in February 2026.
- Financial Performance Analysis: Despite Choice Hotels achieving a record revenue of $340.6 million in Q1, rising costs led to a net income drop to $20.3 million compared to $44.5 million in the same quarter last year, highlighting the challenges the company faces.
See More
Choice Hotels Appoints New Chief Technology Officer
- Executive Appointment: Choice Hotels International announced the promotion of Tony Pallasto to Chief Technology Officer, overseeing enterprise technology, engineering, and the SkyTouch technology platform, marking a strategic push in the company's technology innovation.
- Leadership Role: Pallasto will report directly to Chief Data, AI & Technology Officer Anna Scozzafava, and is expected to drive further development in hotel operations and property management technology for Choice Hotels.
- Innovation Focus: The new CTO's appointment aims to strengthen Choice Hotels' technological infrastructure to enhance operational efficiency and customer satisfaction in a rapidly changing market environment.
- Strategic Transformation: This personnel change aligns with Choice Hotels' ongoing asset-light transformation and AI adoption strategy, reflecting the company's commitment to future technology investments.
See More
Choice Hotels Appoints New Chief Technology Officer
- Leadership Enhancement: Choice Hotels has promoted Tony Pallas to Chief Technology Officer, aiming to leverage his extensive innovation experience to strengthen the company's leadership at the intersection of hospitality, data, AI, and technology.
- Innovation Drive: Pallas will oversee enterprise technology, engineering, and the SkyTouch technology platform, which is expected to enhance operational efficiency and property management, thereby improving customer experience.
- Reporting Structure Optimization: The new CTO will report directly to Chief Data, AI & Technology Officer Anna Scozzafava, ensuring alignment of technology strategies with the company's overall objectives.
- Future Development Plans: Pallas's appointment signifies a new phase of technology innovation for Choice Hotels, which is anticipated to drive the company’s competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving market landscape.
See More
Choice Hotels to Report Q2 2026 Earnings on August 5
- Earnings Release Schedule: Choice Hotels International will report its Q2 2026 earnings on August 5, 2026, at 6:30 a.m. ET, providing detailed financial data that will help investors assess the company's financial health.
- Conference Call Details: The company will host a conference call at 10:00 a.m. ET on the same day, led by Interim CEO Dom Dragisich and CFO Scott Oaksmith, to analyze financial performance and answer investor questions, enhancing transparency.
- Participation Method: Investors can access the live webcast through the company's Investor Relations website or dial in using the provided numbers, ensuring they connect at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start time to receive complete information.
- Replay and Transcript: A replay and transcript of the call will be available on the company's Investor Relations website within 24 hours after the conclusion of the call, ensuring that investors who cannot participate live can still access key information.
See More
Choice Hotels Appoints AI Expert as Independent Director
- New Board Member: Choice Hotels International has appointed Ali Keshavarz as an independent director, whose deep expertise in artificial intelligence and advanced analytics will further strengthen the board's capabilities in executing the company's long-term growth strategy.
- Strategic Value Addition: As Chief Data & Analytics Officer at CVS Health, Keshavarz brings extensive experience in enterprise data and AI transformation, which is expected to provide unique insights that enhance unit economics for hotel owners.
- Industry Background: Prior to joining CVS Health, Keshavarz served as Chief Analytics Officer at Aetna and CVS Caremark, where he helped build enterprise-level data and analytics capabilities, showcasing a proven track record in data-driven transformation.
- Educational Credentials: Keshavarz holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BA in Mathematics and Economics from Northwestern University, providing a solid foundation for his leadership in the data analytics field.
See More
Choice Hotels CEO Sells Stock Options Amid Leadership Change
- Executive Stock Transaction: Dominic Dragisich, the Interim CEO of Choice Hotels, exercised 12,796 stock options and sold 22,621 common shares on May 26, 2026, with a transaction value of approximately $2.58 million, indicating proactive financial management amid leadership changes.
- Shareholding Proportion Change: Following this transaction, Dragisich's direct holdings decreased from 104,000 to 81,607 shares, representing only 0.18% of the company's outstanding shares post-transaction, which may impact investor confidence due to the significant reduction in his stake.
- Transaction Context Analysis: The stock sale was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan established in February 2026, aimed at avoiding legal issues related to insider trading, suggesting that the sale was not indicative of negative sentiment towards the company's future.
- Financial Performance Fluctuation: Although Choice Hotels achieved a record revenue of $340.6 million in Q1 2026, rising costs led to a drop in net income to $20.3 million, highlighting the challenges the company faces in balancing growth with profitability.
See More
Choice Hotels CEO Executes Stock Sale Amid Leadership Change
- Stock Sale Overview: On May 26, 2026, Dominic Dragisich sold 22,621 common shares for approximately $2.58 million, representing 21.70% of his direct holdings, reducing his ownership to 81,607 shares.
- Options Exercise Details: The transaction involved exercising 12,796 stock options, with all shares disposed of directly, indicating a significant direct market impact without indirect entity involvement.
- Leadership Change Context: Dragisich executed this sale shortly after being appointed Interim CEO on May 20, yet it did not raise red flags for investors as it was part of a pre-arranged trading plan established in February 2026.
- Financial Performance Analysis: Despite Choice Hotels achieving a record revenue of $340.6 million in Q1, rising costs led to a net income drop to $20.3 million compared to $44.5 million in the same quarter last year, highlighting the challenges the company faces.
See More
Choice Hotels Appoints New Chief Technology Officer
- Executive Appointment: Choice Hotels International announced the promotion of Tony Pallasto to Chief Technology Officer, overseeing enterprise technology, engineering, and the SkyTouch technology platform, marking a strategic push in the company's technology innovation.
- Leadership Role: Pallasto will report directly to Chief Data, AI & Technology Officer Anna Scozzafava, and is expected to drive further development in hotel operations and property management technology for Choice Hotels.
- Innovation Focus: The new CTO's appointment aims to strengthen Choice Hotels' technological infrastructure to enhance operational efficiency and customer satisfaction in a rapidly changing market environment.
- Strategic Transformation: This personnel change aligns with Choice Hotels' ongoing asset-light transformation and AI adoption strategy, reflecting the company's commitment to future technology investments.
See More
Choice Hotels Appoints New Chief Technology Officer
- Leadership Enhancement: Choice Hotels has promoted Tony Pallas to Chief Technology Officer, aiming to leverage his extensive innovation experience to strengthen the company's leadership at the intersection of hospitality, data, AI, and technology.
- Innovation Drive: Pallas will oversee enterprise technology, engineering, and the SkyTouch technology platform, which is expected to enhance operational efficiency and property management, thereby improving customer experience.
- Reporting Structure Optimization: The new CTO will report directly to Chief Data, AI & Technology Officer Anna Scozzafava, ensuring alignment of technology strategies with the company's overall objectives.
- Future Development Plans: Pallas's appointment signifies a new phase of technology innovation for Choice Hotels, which is anticipated to drive the company’s competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving market landscape.
See More
