Choice Hotels Promotes Tony Pallas to CTO as AI Expansion Accelerates
Choice Hotels International promoted technology executive Tony Pallas to chief technology officer on Monday, positioning him to lead the hospitality company's AI development as it scales new capabilities across its operations.
Pallas will report to Anna Scozzafava, Choice Hotels' chief data, AI and technology officer. He spent the past decade modernizing the company's technology infrastructure and most recently served as chief commercial and technology officer for its property management system business.
The promotion comes as Patrick Pacious stepped down as president and CEO last month after nearly 21 years with the company. Dominic Dragisich, chief growth and strategy officer, became interim CEO on May 20.
What Pallas Will Oversee
As CTO, Pallas will continue supporting AI development and adoption while leading enterprise technology and SkyTouch Technology, Choice Hotels' hotel operations and property management platform.
Pallas served as executive sponsor and chief architect for Charlie, an AI-powered virtual teammate the company launched last month alongside other AI-enabled tools designed to improve operational efficiency for hotel owners.
Building on Early Cloud Investments
Choice Hotels began migrating its infrastructure and data to the cloud years ago, a decision that now provides the foundation for deploying AI at scale. The company standardized on AWS and extended capabilities through Salesforce partnerships to deploy intelligent agents across its organization.
Last month's product launches included EasyBid, an AI tool that processes requests for proposals. The platform cut response times to RFPs by 30% and generated additional business for franchisees, according to Pacious during the company's April earnings call.
Choice Hotels reported total revenue of $340.6 million in the first quarter of 2026, a company record.
Industry-Wide AI Adoption
Choice Hotels is among major hospitality chains expanding AI capabilities. Marriott International plans to scale AI in 2026, while Hilton partnered with Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic to expand its offerings, including the Hilton AI Planner, which provides information about properties and local attractions.
For hospitality professionals looking to understand how AI is reshaping operations and guest experiences, resources on AI for Hospitality & Events cover practical applications across the sector. Leadership considering AI strategy may benefit from the AI Learning Path for CTOs.
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