|
Jay S. Witzel, a senior executive in the hospitality businesses of Carlson, serves as president and CEO of Carlson Hotels Worldwide and CEO of Regent. In this role, he leads the global strategies and growth of all of Carlson's hotel operations, which currently includes over 965 locations in 70 countries.
The five brands of Carlson Hotels Worldwide encompass the major segments of the hotel industry and include Regent Hotels & Resorts, Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson and Park Inn hotels. The executive leaders of the company's global hotel structure report to Witzel who is responsible for the development and implementation of overall strategies and guiding the organization's resources to support the success of the individual brands.
He also serves on the board of directors of The Rezidor Hotel Group, the company's primary partner in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and serves as the key contact for business development and relations with Rezidor. Carlson owns 41.74 percent of The Rezidor Hotel Group.
With a wide range of leadership experience in both public and private hospitality companies, Witzel is noted for his depth of management expertise including financial strategy, capital markets, operational structure and change management.
He has nearly 20 years experience in senior management positions in the hotel and cruise operations of Carlson. Witzel most recently served as the executive vice president of Carlson Hotels Worldwide. Prior to that, he held the position of president and COO of Radisson Hotels & Resorts.
Witzel began his career at Radisson in 1987 when he joined the company as vice president of operations. In 1989, he was promoted to executive vice president of operations and in 1995 he was named president and chief operating officer.
In other experience, he served a 24-month tenure as Chief Operating Officer at Extended Stay America, where he was responsible for leading the company in an ambitious growth program from 70 locations to 357 locations with 30 additional properties under construction. During that period he was responsible for the investment of $1.8 billion in new assets for the company.
Witzel began his career in the hospitality industry with Hyatt Hotels Corporation as a trainee and rose through the ranks of operations and management. He served in a variety of property management positions, including general manager of several Hyatt locations during his 12-year career with the company. From 1983-1987 he held senior operational management positions with JP Hotels, a division of W.B. Johnson Properties, of Atlanta, Ga. and the Landmark Hotel Group of San Mateo, Calif.
Witzel earned a BS degree in Business Administration and a BA in Economics from Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont, in 1970. He also completed the Minnesota Executive Program through the University of Minnesota Executive Leadership Center. Witzel is also active in various leadership roles with the American Hotel & Lodging Association and its Educational Institute. In 2005 he was honored with the Lifetime Hotelier Achievement Award from Niagara University College of Hospitality and Tourism Management. | 