CATEGORY
Chief Development Officer
RECIPIENT
David Pepper, Choice Hotels International
By DAVID EISEN
D
avid Pepper thought he’ d be a master of the universe on Wall Street. Instead, he became one of the most respected and skilled chief development officers in the hospitality industry. Greek life, interestingly enough, made it happen, but not without its fits and starts.
A graduate of Tufts University near Boston, Pepper’ s fraternity brother turned him on to a franchise sales job at Days Inn upon graduation. He was hired by John Snodgrass, who at the time was president and COO. The day before Pepper was to leave for the position in Atlanta, the job was cut— he was laid off before even beginning.
Unbowed, the intrepid young man trekked to Atlanta anyhow. In a coincidence of fortune, that same fraternity brother of Pepper’ s had a father named Mike Leven, who at the time was president and COO of Holiday Inn Worldwide. He ' d go on to become a hotel industry legend.
Pepper was able to procure a position within Holiday Inn’ s sales training program;
The Comfort Suites French Lick in Indiana.
everything seemed to work out, until it didn’ t. It was around this time that British brewer Bass PLC bought the international rights to Holiday Inn. A hiring freeze ensued in the States: Pepper could wait six months and see what happens or take another role with Holiday Inn— in Mexico.
“ I go to Mike Leven’ s house for dinner, and I’ m going to tell him I don’ t want to move to Mexico,” Pepper said. He was 22 years old at the time. That’ s when Leven corrected him. Before Pepper had the chance, Leven enthusiastically offered congratulations:“ You’ re going to be the most wanted person,” Pepper remembered him saying.“ You’ re going to know the business; you’ re going to learn Spanish; you’ re going to know Mexico. When do you start?”
Pepper moved to Mexico to sell franchises throughout Latin America.
NAFTA took effect around this time, removing trade barriers between the U. S., Canada and Mexico. It was his first job in the hospitality business, but not his last.
A FINE CHOICE In 2002, Pepper, affectionately called Pep by peers and colleagues, joined Choice Hotels International as its VP for franchise sales and development for the company’ s new-construction brands. By 2015, he was chief development officer. He’ s been there since, expanding Choice’ s market presence, helping launch its upscale Cambria Hotels brand, relaunching the Suburban Studios and WoodSpring Suites brands and playing a pivotal role in the acquisition and integration of the Radisson Hotels Americas brands.
52 hotelsmag. com September 2026