Choice Hotels’ Patrick Pacious Is Out as CEO

Choice Hotels said Wednesday that Patrick Pacious is stepping down as president and CEO after nearly nine years running the franchising giant, with Chief Growth & Strategy Officer Dominic Dragisich taking over on an interim basis effective immediately.

The leadership change was abrupt: It comes with no permanent successor and an outside search underway. CEO successions at the largest travel companies usually arrive with a named successor.

The terms of Pacious' exit are substantially the same as the severance package he negotiated in 2022. He is entitled to cash severance equal