BWH Hotel Group has announced that Larry Cuculic will assume the role of president and CEO this December.
For the past 12 years, Cuculic has been the company's senior vice president and general counsel. He will assume his new role on Dec. 1, 2021, according to a company news release.
Cuculic will take over the company from David Kong, who announced his retirement as president and CEO on Sept. 14 after 20 years with the company.
Kong joined BWH — then known as Best Western Hotels & Resorts — in 2001 and became CEO in 2004. He has had one of the longest runs for a top executive in the hotel industry.
In a recent interview with Hotel News Now conducted at the 2021 Americas Lodging Investment Summit, Kong told HNN's Sean McCracken that hotel industry leaders must show concern about the current working conditions for line-level employees.
"The truth is, it's really hard to work in the hotel business now," he said. "You think about the supply shortages, and you think about the difficult guests that we all encounter on a daily basis. People are just more difficult these days. And if you're working on the front desk, you get yelled at left and right, and you're not going to find it to be too much fun working in that kind of environment."
In a separate video interview with HNN after Kong announced he would be retiring at the end of the year, he shared his advice for the company's next CEO.
"You recognize this organization is very different," he said. "It's a major hotel company with a global presence, like many other big hotel companies — and it's also a member organization. My advice to the new person would be you have to respect the organization for what it is. It's unique. It's special. It's different."
In the news release, Kong said that he has been inspired by Cuculic's leadership.
“I have worked alongside Larry for 12 years and have been continually inspired by his thoughtful leadership and strategic thinking. Throughout his tenure, Larry has gained valuable experience through a wide range of responsibilities, including our central reservations and contact centers. He is conversant in many areas of our company and is well liked and respected throughout the organization. Larry is the ideal candidate for the role of president and CEO," Kong said.
Kong added that Cuculic is "the right person to lead our organization through the recovery phase of the pandemic and to capitalize on new opportunities ahead."
Prior to joining BWH, Cuculic served as the senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for Wabash National Corporation, among other roles.
As of Oct. 7, BWH's global network includes approximately 4,700 hotels across 100 countries and territories, with 18 brands across every chain scale segment.