SPOKANE, WA—Magnuson Hotels Worldwide has appointed ex-Cendant Hotels CEO and Chairman John Russell as strategic growth advisor.
Russell’s primary focus will be the national expansion of Magnuson Hotels’ low-cost membership brand—Magnuson Hotels, Magnuson Grand Hotels and M Star Hotels.
As CEO of Cendant’s hotel division, Russell oversaw eight hotel brands including Days Inn, Ramada and Super 8, growing the number of franchises by nearly 1,000 hotels. In his position as EVP of franchise sales for Century 21 Real Estate Corporation, Russell grew sales by 600% from 1995 to 1996.
“I am honored to be working with Magnuson Hotels Worldwide and have extreme respect for the company and their great business model. They have created a company culture of high touch and higher profits for their family of hotels,” said Russell.
“John Russell is the Steve Jobs of the hotel industry, and can be credited with changing the landscape of the U.S. hotel business forever through the massive expansion of franchise branding in the 1990s” stated Magnuson Hotels Worldwide CEO Thomas Magnuson. “We are beyond proud to work with John, and to help owners increase profits via a low-cost membership alternative to traditional hotel franchising.”