Aimbridge Hospitality Welcomes Christopher Tatum as Full Service Division President

August 6, 2024

PLANO, TX — Aimbridge Hospitality, a leading, global hospitality management company and the world’s largest third-party hotel operator, today announced Christopher Tatum as the new divisional president of its robust Full Service division. Tatum will be a member of the company’s executive leadership team and report directly to Craig S. Smith, Chief Executive Officer.

As President – Full Service, Tatum will provide oversight and leadership for the entire Aimbridge Full Service division portfolio, which includes Full Service, Evolution Lifestyle, Luxury and Resort properties in some of the most iconic and sought-after destinations in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean.

“Chris is a proven operational leader who has committed his career to refining and elevating guest experiences across the U.S. and around the world,” Smith said. “As we strengthen our portfolio with an emphasis on performance and growth, Chris brings the right mix of expertise and passion to drive results within our Full Service division, forge relationships with owners, and instill his service-driven mindset into our general managers and property teams.”

Tatum’s industry experience spans four decades, the majority of which was spent at Marriott International. During that time, he gained luxury experience in Hawaii, Boston, Australia, Malaysia, Japan, Korea, Singapore and beyond, with his properties generating over $500M in sales and achieving record profits, while stacking up operational successes. After departing from Marriott after 37 years, Tatum served as the President & Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, responsible for managing the marketing and destination management of the state’s No. 1 revenue producer and crafting multi-year strategies to promote the Hawaii brand worldwide while preserving the culture, community and environment. Most recently, Tatum managed a portfolio of hotels at Davidson Hospitality, serving an integral role in elevating the performance of those properties.

“Third-party hotel management is changing the hospitality industry and Aimbridge is at the forefront of driving change and a renewed guest experience through a commitment to operational excellence,” Tatum said. “Together with the rest of the Aimbridge leadership team, we will continue to lead the industry through innovative strategies and guest-focused initiatives that generate success for owners and partners.”

Tatum joins a number of executive-level hires at Aimbridge Hospitality in recent months.