Kaleb Dockall

More than three years ago, Doug Lange, our then-CIO Brian Kirkland, and I started shaping what an AI strategy should look like at Choice Hotels — grounded in lean principles and a simple lens: people, process, technology. In that order. Great to see that work featured in Forbes this week. Two ideas from the article that were core to what we built together: "Every associate is a builder." We believed from the start that the best AI use cases wouldn't come from the top down — they'd come from the people closest to the work. And AI as an "operational teammate" for our franchise owners — not AI theater. Better insights, more efficient operations, real value on property. As Doug put it: "We're not looking for AI to replace the people component of what we do. We're looking to find the right ways where we can leverage AI to really enable what our associates do best." The article calls it treating AI as an innovation operating system. That framing is exactly right — the next phase of enterprise AI won't be won by whoever runs the most pilots, but by whoever builds the organizational muscle to scale what works. Proud of this strategy, and grateful for the partnership, Doug — and for the foundation Brian helped lay before moving on from Choice. Here's to what's next. https://lnkd.in/gjWrVZGz #AI #Innovation #EnterpriseStrategy #Hospitality #ChoiceHotels #AIStrategy #Leadership

Today is my last day at Choice Hotels. After more than 10 years with the company, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on the journey and the incredible people who made it so meaningful. When I joined Choice, I saw an opportunity to help transform technology into a strategic business advantage. What followed became one of the most rewarding chapters of my career. Over the past decade, I had the privilege of working alongside exceptional teams to modernize core platforms, accelerate our cloud journey, strengthen cybersecurity, expand our digital capabilities, unlock the power of data, and most recently help shape how AI can create value across the enterprise. Together, we embraced innovation, transformed the technology foundation of the company, and delivered capabilities that drove growth, improved operations, and positioned Choice to lead into the next era of AI. I’m proud of what we built together. But technology was never the most important part of the story. The real story has always been the people. I have been fortunate to work alongside outstanding leaders, talented teams, trusted partners, and colleagues who care deeply about serving hotel owners and guests. The passion, resilience, creativity, and commitment I witnessed every day are what made this work so meaningful, what made coming to work each day such a privilege. It is what I will miss most. Thank you for your partnership, your trust, your support, and your willingness to tackle ambitious challenges together. I will be rooting for you from the sidelines. I’m excited about the next chapter and will share more when the time is right. For now, just thank you. 💛

It was a great experience to be at Pike & Rose recently for the start of the Choice Hotels International Emerging Leaders Program (ELP). A sincere thank you to Choice Hotels for the opportunity and to Hawthorne Union for facilitating such a well organized session. I’ve already gained a lot of valuable information, and I’m looking forward to continuing the journey as the program progresses. 

Choice Hotels International Hotels has promoted Tony Pallas to Chief Technology Officer, placing him in charge of enterprise technology, engineering, and SkyTouch Technology, the company's hotel operations and property management platform. Pallas has been at Choice Hotels for more than a decade. As Chief Commercial and Technology Officer for the hotel property management system business, he grew annual revenues by 68% and EBITDA by nearly 100%. He also served as executive sponsor and chief architect for CHARLIE, an AI-powered solution the company unveiled at its annual convention last month. In his new role, Pallas will support the continued development of Choice Hotels' broader AI-enabled portfolio, including Business Direct, EasyBid, and RAISE, tools designed to help hotel owners capture demand and improve operational efficiency. Pallas reports to Anna Scozzafava, Chief Data, AI and Technology Officer, who described the appointment as central to the company's ability to scale innovation quickly and deliver long-term value for franchisees and guests. Read more: https://lnkd.in/d4nVXh7n

Choice Hotels International has appointed Tony Pallas as chief technology officer. Pallas is tasked with leading enterprise technology, engineering and SkyTouch Technology, Choice’s hotel operations and property management technology platform. The appointment comes after Choice partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) on an enterprisewide artificial intelligence deployment and debuted a slate of AI-powered tools in recent months. https://lnkd.in/gcXjFpwj

One lesson has followed me through nearly 30 years in hospitality: Every role matters, every person contributes, and great leadership begins with serving others. Yesterday, I celebrated 20 years with Choice Hotels and found myself reflecting on where that lesson began. At 15 years old, through a youth apprenticeship program, I had the opportunity to work in nearly every corner of an independent hotel in Superior, Wisconsin, from cleaning rooms and working banquet events to the front desk and supporting hotel leadership. That experience taught me something I've never forgotten: no matter the title, every person plays a role in creating success. That lesson was tested during Hurricane Katrina while I was leading the evacuation of a Choice-branded hotel in New Orleans in 2005. It was a powerful reminder that leadership matters most during times of uncertainty. Years later, while earning my MBA at The College of St. Scholastica, I focused on Change Leadership. What I've learned through both study and experience is that successful change rarely happens because of a process or a system. It happens because people understand the purpose, feel supported, and care enough to make it successful. I've seen that firsthand over the past 18 months as teams across Choice came together to support the transition to our new learning platform. Technology, Strategic Sourcing, Operations, Learning, and many others have navigated challenges, supported one another, and remained focused on serving our franchisees and hotel teams while continuing to stabilize and improve the experience. What has kept me at Choice for 20 years isn't our size or scale. It's the people. Time and again, I've seen teams step up, support one another, and stay focused on helping franchisees succeed, especially when the work is hard. I'm grateful for every mentor, including my current and past leaders. I've been fortunate to work with people who shared their knowledge, encouraged my growth, and challenged me to be better. The teammates, franchisees, and hotel associates I've met along the way have made this journey far more rewarding than I could have imagined. And while I'm proud of the work, the most rewarding part has been the relationships I've built, the opportunity to help others grow, and raising my two amazing boys, now teenagers, while doing work I genuinely love. After nearly 30 years in hospitality, that same lesson still stands out: put people first. Everything else tends to follow. Especially now, when so much is changing, that lesson feels more relevant than ever. What's one lesson your career has taught you that still guides you today?

After nearly 9 years at Choice Hotels, I’m stepping into my next chapter. I am incredibly proud of the impact we made—from transforming the accounting function and reducing our global close from over 20 days to 8 days with a strong analytical review, to supporting key acquisitions and implementing Oracle Fusion across the finance organization. I’ve had the privilege of building and working alongside exceptional teams, navigating complex challenges, and contributing to meaningful growth for the business. The relationships, lessons, and shared successes throughout this journey are what I will value most. The corporate accounting team drives change with a focus on strong results and controls, excellence in process and Choice values. I am incredibly proud of their high performance and heart! ❤️ As I look ahead, I’m excited to explore new opportunities where I can continue to drive transformation, build high-performing teams, and partner with leadership to support strategic growth. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey.

🎓 I’m proud to share that I’ve earned my Bachelor of Arts in General Studies with a concentration in Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University! This journey wasn’t the traditional path and definitely not the easiest one. Like many people, I went to college right out of high school without really knowing what I wanted to be when I “grew up,” and I floundered for a while trying to find direction. Coming back to finish my degree later in life, while working, gave me a completely different perspective. Over the past year, I’ve learned from far more than just text books. I’ve strengthened my ability to persevere, to stay focused on long-term goals, and to keep moving forward even when life is overly full. I’m especially grateful for the support of friends, family, and coworkers who encouraged me along the way. Having people around you who support one another and help each other succeed makes all the difference, and I could not have done this without that community. To anyone thinking about going back to school or pursuing a goal later in life to invest in yourself, you can do it. One assignment, one late night, one step at a time. And now… I might actually get a full night’s sleep again. 😄 #Gratitude #LifelongLearning #Leadership #SNHU #CareerGrowth #Graduation

After nearly 21 years with Choice Hotels International, including the past nine as President and CEO, today I announced that I am stepping down from my role. Leading Choice Hotels International has been the greatest privilege of my career. Together, we transformed and strengthened the business — expanding our portfolio from 11 to 22 brands, growing our presence in upscale and extended stay, strengthening our international platform, advancing franchisee-focused technology initiatives and building a stronger, more resilient business positioned for long-term growth. Most importantly, I want to thank our associates, franchisees, guests, partners, and shareholders for their trust, support, and partnership over the years. I have full confidence in Dom and the leadership team, and I look forward to continuing to support the company during the transition. Thank you.