ATLANTA—The IHG Owners Association has appointed Donald Berg as CEO. In this role, Berg will protect, promote and advocate for the interests of the organization’s global members—all owners and operators of IHG-branded hotels. He is charged with overseeing the Owners Association relationship strategies with IHG, increasing the member value proposition and establishing the association as a world-class organization. Berg will represent hoteliers on industry-facing public-affairs issues, including championing the association’s political action committee, INN PAC, and he will actively support opposition to unfavorable hospitality legislation.
The role of CEO is new at the association, as the board of directors devoted much of 2015 to developing a new structure of governance to meet the evolving needs of owners, according to the association.
Berg possesses 30 years of hospitality marketing, relationship-building and branding experience, most recently serving as managing partner of MB Global House Associates, a consulting firm he cofounded specializing in helping companies drive incremental revenue through loyalty program development and enhancement.
Nearly 24 years of his career has been with IHG at the corporate level, where he served in the roles of director of field marketing, director of loyalty programs and, most recently, VP of loyalty programs. Berg was responsible for global loyalty program strategy, operations, finance and program delivery. He managed the loyalty program P&L, along with a global team of 50-plus employees across four continents.
“The IHG Owners Association, now celebrating its 60th anniversary, has seen tremendous changes in the concerns and interests of hotel ownership throughout the years,” stated Kerry Ranson, 2015 chair of the association, and president of New-Orleans based Expotel Hospitality, who led the CEO search initiatives. “With the rapidly changing issues that impact hotel owners today, it was imperative that we were forward thinking in evolving our own governance to be prepared for what lies ahead in this decade and beyond. With our new organizational framework, and the need for a newly created CEO position to spearhead the association’s next steps, Don proved to be an excellent fit for us and our new structure.”
“I am honored to join the IHG Owners Association as its first CEO,” said Berg. “Having worked closely with hotel owners for many years, I understand the passion and dedication that each owner has for their business. I look forward to leveraging my knowledge, skills and IHG relationships to build a new vision for the association. We already have a 120-day action plan in place, and I am prepared to work in tandem with the team to assess our perspectives, systems and needs to elevate the association to one of premier efficiency and effectiveness.”
Steve Ehrhardt, incoming 2016 chair of the IHG Owners Association, who also actively participated in the governance rebuilding and CEO search, added, “As owners of IHG-branded hotels, we are truly looking forward to Don leading us into our next phase of growth. With such challenging issues as the future of the franchising model, minimum wage laws and immigration reform, among others, it was imperative that we selected a CEO who has the vision to catapult us with excellence, advocacy and entrepreneurial spirit.”