US aparthotel brand gains new leader

Pictured: Christian Lee, CEO, Mint House.
High tech aparthotel brand Mint House has made a personnel swap at the top.

The New York-based firm has appointed Christian Lee as its new CEO to further scale and drive its next phase of growth.

Leadership reshuffle

Lee was recruited by Mint House founder and previous CEO, Will Lucas, who will now become chairman of the board.

Mint House operates over 25 properties across 16 US markets, serving business and leisure travellers with design-forward spaces that offer the amenities and conveniences of a home with the service, consistency and reliability of a high-end hotel.

Extensive career

Lee’s career spans 25 years of operations, finance, strategy, and corporate development roles at both disruptive startups and Fortune 100 companies.

He previously served as chief financial officer of Transfix, a transportation solutions provider with digital brokerage capabilities and logistics software offerings, where he oversaw all finance functions, ESG reporting, and strategic initiatives. In his time at Transfix, the company grew net revenues over 80% per year, executed with strong cost discipline, and launched multiple new product lines. 

WeWork experience

Prior to joining Transfix, Lee served as MD of WeWork Asia, based in Shanghai. He grew the business from four locations to more than 200 across 25 cities in 10 countries through a combination of organic growth, acquisitions, and partnerships. He also served as WeWork’s global chief financial officer in New York where he oversaw all finance functions. 

Previously, Lee led corporate development at Time Warner Cable where he played an integral role in Time Warner Cable’s spin-off into a public company and the eventual merger with Charter. Lee serves on various alumni boards at Carleton College and on the board of Bronxworks, a non-profit serving the needs of residents of the Bronx.

Unique position

Lee commented: “I’m thrilled to join Mint House – the company’s unique position at the intersection of real estate and hospitality, powered by technology, has created immense value for both markets.

“The past few years have ushered forward a new era for travellers – one that Mint House was built for. By providing guests with a seamless experience for trips that blend work and leisure, and landlords with a higher NOI than they see traditionally, Mint House is positioned to lead in this market.”

Upscale translation

Founder and chairman Lucas added: “Mint House has successfully translated the upscale hotel experience into apartment-style living. With the travel rebound and evolving guest expectations, our accommodations are in high-demand.

“Over the last 2 years I have built a great relationship with Christian, and believe he is the perfect leader to continue to expand our geographic footprint and bring the Mint House experience to more travellers around the country.”

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