ROBERT MCDOWELL, CHIEF commercial officer of Choice Hotels International, will leave the company on Jan. 15, according to a Dec. 5 filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. He assumed his current leadership role in 2016, overseeing digital commerce, revenue management, procurement and customer care functions, according to Choice’s website.
McDowell, who joined in May 2011 as senior vice president of global distribution, is departing to pursue other opportunities, Choice’s filing said. During his tenure, he led customer acquisition through an integrated digital ad campaign, developed a top-tier revenue management platform, relaunched the Choice Privileges loyalty program, and enhanced the digital platform, Choice said.
Before joining Choice, McDowell spent nearly 15 years at United Airlines as managing director of distribution and eCommerce, managing distribution strategy across direct and indirect sales channels, including the website and contact centers. He also served as chief operating officer at C&H International, overseeing daily operations.
Choice reported a record $428 million in third-quarter revenue, up 1 percent from last year, with net income rising 15 percent to $105.7 million. The global pipeline grew 11 percent to more than 110,000 rooms, including a 54 percent increase in rooms.
