Choice Hotels International announced the promotion of Brian Parker to vice president, Emerging Markets and New Business Development, where he will focus on expanding and diversifying Choice Hotels`…
Choice Hotels International announced the promotion of Brian Parker to vice president, Emerging Markets and New Business Development, where he will focus on expanding and diversifying Choice Hotels` customer base by selling franchises to minority developers and successful entrepreneurs outside of the lodging industry.
In his new role, Parker reports to David Pepper, senior vice president, franchise development.
Brian has a proven history of penetrating untapped markets and creating new business opportunities for Choice, said Pepper. Since joining Choice, Brian has established the company as a leader in the sports marketing arena and most recently in the minority franchise sales and development area through its successful recruitment of influential minority business owners.
Pepper added, The emerging markets group has evolved from recruiting based on ethnicity to targeting successful entrepreneurs beyond the lodging industry including but not limited to owners of quick-service restaurants, auto dealerships, and real estate companies.
Parker joined the company in 1998 in the Business Strategy department and soon thereafter developed and launched the Sports Marketing department. He introduced the lodging industry`s first website dedicated exclusively for the sports travel market and established Choice Hotels as the Official Hotel Partner of Little League Baseball.
In 2003 Parker developed and launched the Emerging Markets and New Business Development division. Under his leadership, Choice has brought high profile minority entrepreneurs into its franchise system. Parker has established Choice as a leader in minority franchise recruitment, as noted in Black Enterprise magazine`s Top 10 Franchises for 2004 issue.
Parker, 29, is the first African American to hold the post of Vice President at Choice Hotels.
Choice Hotels is a successful company with a solid and scalable business model but I don`t believe the organization has reached it`s full potential, said Parker. By simultaneously launching new brands and recruiting new customers we`ll achieve substantial long-term growth and levels of success far beyond what we`re realizing today.
Parker holds a bachelor`s degree in marketing and business administration from Delaware State University.
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