Martin Stitt, who until recently held a senior position with Marriott International, will oversee hotel owner, operator and development firm Hotel Equities’ growing Canadian portfolio.

The appointent of Martin Stitt to the position of senior vice president of operations, Canada paves the way for the company to enjoy continued in-market growth.

A proven track record

In his new role, Stitt will work alongside Hotel Equities’ Edmonton-based Canadian regional team, which offers corporate support encompassing operations, F&B, sales and marketing, revenue generation, accounting and human resources to the firm’s 26 managed hotels across the country. He can draw on more than 30 years of experience in the industry, spanning everything from select-service and extended-stay to resort, full-service and luxury.

Stitt most recently served as area VP, Canada for Marriott International, a role he held from 2015 to 2020. During this time, he successfully led the integration of Delta Hotels and Starwood Hotels for Western Canada, expanding the portfolio from five to 26 managed properties.

“Martin brings over two decades of servant and performance-based hospitality leadership to our Canadian team,” said Bryan DeCort, chief operating officer for Hotel Equities. “He is owner-centric, associate-focused and has an excellent reputation for driving results. His depth of hospitality experience and skills will immediately strengthen Hotel Equities as we continue to grow our footprint throughout Canada.”

Identifying new opportunities for Hotel Equities

Stitt will work closely with the firm’s senior vice president of business development in Canada, Ryan McRae. Together, they will identify areas of opportunity for Hotel Equities, lending expertise while strategically expanding the firm’s portfolio.

“We have heard from hoteliers in Canada who are interested in conversion opportunities and many with stalled construction projects who would benefit from our development services expertise,” said McRae. “Having Martin in-market as a resource to hoteliers will be a huge benefit to HE and our clients as the industry rebounds and gains momentum.”

“I am excited to join the Hotel Equities team as we move into a time of strong recovery,” added Stitt. “This is a terrific opportunity to build on Hotel Equities’ renowned culture and make a distinct difference for our owners, associates and guests while simultaneously growing our portfolio in Canada.”

Stitt earned his MBA and Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Guelph and received the University of Guelph George D Bedell Alumni Award for Industry and Community Leadership in 2014. He now contributes to the development of leaders as chair of the policy advisory board for the School of Hospitality, Food, and Tourism Management, as well as providing customer experience advisory services to the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.

On top of this, Stitt has participated on boards including the Hotel Association of Canada, Vancouver Hotel Association, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, Tourism Calgary and the Greater Toronto Hotel Association.

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