Magnuson Hotels Worldwide has announced the appointment of 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 brands; Magnuson Hotels, Magnuson Grand Hotels and M Star Hotels.
As chief executive officer of Cendant’s Hotel Division, Russell oversaw eight hotel brands, including Days Inns, 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 percent in the year 1995 to 1996.
“John Russell is the Steve Jobs of the hotel industry, and can be credited with changing the landscape of the US hotel business forever through the massive expansion of franchise branding in the 1990’s” stated company 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.”
