LARRY GUEST
With 30+ years of lodging industry experience at both the corporate and property levels in company-managed and franchised operations, Larry Guest is an expert in improving revenue, profit and market performance amidst volatile economic climates and ever-changing market trends. His success is based on straightforward business philosophies which combine vision, a genuine concern for people, high-performance and cross-functional competencies in strategic planning, executive development, human resources, finance, and operational leadership. The combination has enabled Larry to repeatedly create numerous growth platforms and to increase revenue, profit and market share in diverse markets.
Larry joined Hospitality Partners in Bethesda, MD in 2000 as Director of Operations, was promoted to Vice President of Operations & Corporate Services in 2003, and was named President for the newly formed Donohoe Hospitality Services in 2005. He led a multi-branded portfolio of hotels and ensured the delivery of corporate services in the areas of human resources, food and beverage, accounting, sales/marketing, information systems and development. During his tenure with Hospitality Partners, he led the portfolio through a long-enduring economic recession, the challenges of September 11, and frequent terrorism alerts to achieve the highest sales in company history. He has consistently improved revenue and net operating income by optimizing people and processes, defining clear performance objectives, and improving the mix of business to increase room rates and drive food and beverage revenues.
Prior to joining Hospitality Partners, Larry served as Vice President & General Manager of Smith Corporate Living, the corporate housing subsidiary of Charles E. Smith Residential Realty. While there, he restructured operations in Chicago and Washington, D.C., and wrote a comprehensive acquisition-based growth strategy to deliver 4-fold growth.
Larry launched his hospitality career in 1974 at the corporate level with Marriott International and subsequently served in field positions with Marriott Hotels, Resorts & Suites. Over the course of his 24 years with Marriott, he served as General Manager of U.S. and international hotels, including the Tysons Corner Marriott (at the time, one of the most profitable suburban hotels in the U.S.) and the Marriott Plaza Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina (Marriott’s first property in South America and an 85-year-old historic landmark). He also spent several years in human resources at the corporate level where he held progressively responsible executive positions, including Senior Vice President of Human Resources for Marriott Hotels, Resorts and Suites for 5 years.
A Pennsylvania native, Larry relocated to the Washington, D.C. area in 1969 after serving four years in the U.S. Marine Corps. He earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government & Politics from the University of Maryland, and attended the Advanced Human Resources Development Program at the University of Michigan.
