Robert McDowell

Robert McDowell is an accomplished executive in the hospitality and travel industry with extensive experience in commercial operations, marketing, and distribution. Here are key details about his professional background:

Current Roles

Robert McDowell currently holds two significant positions:

1. Industry Advisory Board Member at Thayer Ventures: In this role, which he has held since 2022, McDowell provides counsel to travel and transportation entrepreneurs.13

2. Chief Commercial Officer at Choice Hotels International: McDowell has been in this position since 2016, overseeing digital commerce, loyalty programs, revenue management, procurement, and customer care.2

Professional Experience

McDowell's career spans several notable companies in the travel industry:

• Choice Hotels International: Joined in 2011 as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Distribution before being promoted to Chief Commercial Officer in 2016.2
• United Airlines: Spent nearly 15 years in various roles, including Managing Director of Distribution and eCommerce.2
• C&H International: Served as Chief Operating Officer for this $600 million international travel agency.2
• Roomkey: Former Board Member.1

Education

• MBA in International Business and Finance from the University of Notre Dame
• BS in Business Administration from the New York Institute of Technology1

Achievements

During his tenure at Choice Hotels, McDowell has:

• Developed and executed the company's customer acquisition strategy
• Built an industry-leading revenue management platform
• Relaunched Choice Privileges, now a top-rated and fastest-growing loyalty program in the industry
• Continued to evolve Choice's digital platform2

Robert McDowell is known for building high-performing teams focused on customer engagement, leveraging technology innovation, market research, and data to drive bottom-line performance.2