Mark Shalala

Bio:

Mark D. Shalala is vice president, development - upscale brands for Choice Hotels, one of the world’s largest hotel companies. In this role, he is responsible for the growth of the company’s upscale portfolio, which includes the Ascend Hotel Collection, Cambria Hotels and Radisson brands, for the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.  

Mr. Shalala joined Choice Hotels in 2015, bringing more than 18 years of hospitality development and franchise sales experience to the company’s upscale leadership team. During his successful tenure, Mr. Shalala played an integral role in catapulting Choice’s upscale portfolio into several high-barrier markets, and helping it achieve one of its best development years. In addition, he led the Choice Hotels upscale development team to implement new strategies to further improve brand growth, including the company’s $475 million authorized corporate capital investment for Cambria. 

Prior to joining Choice Hotels, Mr. Shalala served as senior director of development and franchise sales at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, where he was responsible for the strategic growth of the company’s nine upscale and luxury lifestyle brands in the southeastern United States and Caribbean. Mr. Shalala earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in Business & Sports Management.