One of the longest runs for a top executive in the hotel industry is slated to come to an end this year, with BWH Hotel Group President and CEO David Kong announcing he plans to retire at the end of 2021.
Kong joined the company — then known as Best Western Hotels & Resorts — in 2001 and ascended to the chief executive role in 2004.
During Kong's tenure with the company, BWH's portfolio has grown from a single eponymous brand to include 18 brands with 4,500 properties in 100 countries and has expanded into franchising after historically being structured only as a membership organization.
The company plans to announce its next chief executive during its annual convention in early October.
In the news release announcing Kong's planned departure, BWH Hotel Group Chairman Ishwar Naran praised the departing executive as "a once in a lifetime leader whose contributions to Best Western and BWH Hotel Group are truly immeasurable."
"It has been the honor of my career to work alongside David and witness first-hand his remarkable passion and dedication to our industry," he said. "David has always led by example and, most importantly, cared deeply about those he serves from hoteliers, to colleagues, associates, guests and communities."
Kong's career in hospitality began as a dishwasher and busboy after emigrating from Hong Kong to the U.S.
In a recent interview with Hotel News Now conducted at the 2021 Americas Lodging Investment Summit, Kong said hotel industry leaders should be concerned about the current working conditions for line-level employees and the long-lasting impacts that will have on recruitment.
"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."
Kong is currently the longest tenured chief executive among the major hotel brands, and his tenure was not without some hurdles, including a failed attempt in 2019 to discard the company's nonprofit membership structure in favor of a for-profit fully franchised structure in North America — a move that was defeated by Best Western owners.
In the announcement of his planned retirement, Kong said he's thankful for the opportunities working in hotels has provided him.
"This industry has empowered me to dream boldly about the future and to pursue those dreams without hesitation. I feel blessed to have been surrounded by exceptional teams throughout my career and through sheer passion and dedication, we have chased bold dreams and achieved what many might have considered impossible," Kong said. "I feel very fortunate to have played a role in building BWH Hotel Group into the brand it is today. I have always wanted to move on at my peak. With our caring culture, our extraordinary hoteliers, executive team, and corporate staff, I have no doubt the best is yet to come for BWH Hotel Group."