Plano-based Aimbridge Hospitality announced that Eric B. Jacobs is its new Chief Global Growth Officer, effective June 2.

Aimbridge, a global hotel management company and the world’s largest third-party hotel operator, said Jacobs will sit on the organization’s executive leadership team and report directly to CEO Craig S. Smith. Jacobs succeeds Allison Reid, who served as chief global growth officer from July 2022 to May 2024.

“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,” Smith said in a statement. “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.”

Aiming to expand the portfolio

In his new role, Jacobs will 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.

The company said that Jacobs is expected to bring a fresh perspective, 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.

Aimbridge said it’s 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,” Jacobs said in a statement. “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.”

Expertise in growing hotel brands

Jacobs, who has had success in development and branding, comes to Aimbridge after a nearly 20-year career with Marriott International.

For more than a decade, Jacobs was 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 that time, he added close to 2,400 hotels and 264,000 rooms to the Marriott system.

That resulted in Jacobs being chosen 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.

Aimbridge said that in his most recent role as chief development officer for Marriott Midscale Brands – North America and Marriott Brands – Canada, Jacobs led the strategy and growth of more than 30 established and emerging brands in those markets.

His 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.

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