Sonesta International Hotels Corp. has named John Murray, a director of Sonesta since 2018, as president and CEO effective April 1. Murray has been a managing trustee, president and CEO of Service Properties Trust, which owns a 34 percent interest in Sonesta, since 2018 and a member of Service Properties Trust's management team since its initial public offering in 1995. He currently serves on the Urban Land Institute Development Council and the American Hotel Lodging Association Hotel Investment Roundtable.
Murray succeeds Carlos Flores, who is resigning from his position of the past seven years effective March 31 to relocate his family back to California. Following his resignation, Flores will continue with Sonesta as an advisor to Murray and the company.
"I am very excited to assume the role of president and CEO at Sonesta, which is well poised for further growth and expansion,” Murray said in a statement. “As Sonesta has greatly expanded its number of hotels over the last few years under Carlos's leadership, it has also enhanced the depth, quality, and experience of the Sonesta team. We are grateful to Carlos for his tremendous contribution to Sonesta. I look forward to working closely with the talented leadership team, whom I know well, and our more than 6,000 dedicated employees to continue Sonesta's growth, enhance Sonesta's brand awareness and deliver an exceptional guest experience."
In connection with his transition to president and CEO of Sonesta, Murray will resign from his roles as president and CEO of Service Properties Trust and president and CEO of Industrial Logistics Properties Trust. He will continue to serve as a managing trustee on the boards of Service Properties Trust and ILPT and also will continue to serve as EVP of The RMR Group and a member of RMR's executive operating committee. Sonesta, Service Properties Trust and Industrial Logistics Properties Trust are clients of RMR, a U.S.-based alternative asset management company.
Sonesta has 1,200 properties with 100,000 guestrooms across 15 brands in eight countries. Nearly 900 of these properties are franchised across the U.S. and Canada.