Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG), an Atlanta-based, privately-owned third-party hotel operator and investor, has hired Mike “Woody” Woodward as executive vice president and chief growth officer.
In his new role as a member of HVMG’s executive team, Woodward will lead the organization’s growth and investment team and be responsible for strategies that lead to both third-party management agreements and property acquisitions; he will also have a strong focus on owner and investor relationships.
Prior to joining HVMG, Woodward was senior vice president of franchise development for Focus Brands, a developer of global food service brands such as Schlotzsky’s, Carvel, Cinnabon, Moe’s Southwest Grill, McAlister’s Deli and Auntie Anne’s. Previously, Woodward was senior vice president of franchise development for Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, where he was promoted several times during his 16-year tenure and was responsible for the growth of 20 hotel brands. Woodward also has held sales management positions with Pfizer and Phoenix Life Insurance Company.
“From the restaurant industry to hotels, Woody has been a rising star and thus far has had a phenomenal hospitality career, implementing highly successful sales and growth strategies across multiple brands and companies,” said Robert Cole, CEO at HVMG. “With an extensive track record of success sourcing new opportunities, building teams and both cultivating new and maximizing existing relationships, his ingenuity and tenacity have led to almost unprecedented growth with the two hospitality companies he had been with over the past 18 years. Woody’s expertise, enthusiasm, authenticity and competitive nature are just a few of his key attributes that we thought would be ideal and a great fit as we ambitiously pursue our growth objectives in the coming years, and I am thrilled to welcome Woody to our team.”
;
