Dragisich brings two decades of industry experience to the permanent role, including prior tenures as the company’s chief financial officer and head of global brand operations. Chairman Stewart Bainum Jr. credited the new CEO with fostering a performance-driven culture during his three-month interim period, noting that his internal expertise made him the standout choice among a field of internal and external candidates.

Before his rise through the ranks at the North Bethesda-based lodging giant, Dragisich held leadership positions at Marriott International and Deloitte Consulting, as well as a stint as CFO at XO Communications. As he shifts into the permanent post, he inherits a portfolio of 22 brands and over 7,500 properties. His stated agenda focuses on disciplined execution, brand acceleration, and leveraging recent commercial investments to drive value for the company’s extensive network of franchisees.