Red Roof President Zack Gharib on his hospitality journey and the future of the company
It was love at first sight. “I was fascinated by the whole package – the physical structure, the beautiful setting, the great service, the friendly people who made the whole experience,” he recalled. The episode left an everlasting mark on Gharib’s personal development and career path, as he came to the U.S. as an immigrant a few years later and worked his way up through the hotel industry.
Little could Gharib have dreamed that he would eventually end up living in Columbus, OH, thousands of miles away from his childhood home, as the president of Red Roof, an iconic American hotel chain with more than 700 hotels – the role he took on in May of this year.
Building on a distinguished tenure of executive service, Gharib, is energized about the future of the Red Roof brand.
PEOPLE FIRST
Red Roof President Zack Gharib
Gharib’s career path has taken him through some of the most esteemed companies in the industry, including White Lodging, Marriott, Highgate Hotels, and La Quinta by Wyndham.
If there’s one thing he’s learned, it’s people come first.
“The first thing I realized upon walking in the company’s doors at Red Roof was the incredible human assets our brand enjoys – our corporate team, partners, and amazing franchise community that makes Red Roof tick,” he said.
With hundreds of franchisees in 42 states and women ownership at more than 40% of its properties, Red Roof represents a snapshot of diverse hotel franchising at its best.
“At Red Roof, we speak about ‘genuine relationships, real results,’ which is what drives our growth and our company culture,” Gharib said.
The company headquarters sits proudly on several wooded acres in the heart of America’s heartland, serving as a hub of activity for its 200-plus employees, many of whom live in or near the Columbus Red Roof epicenter.
Many of Red Roof’s employees have been with the company for decades. One of them, Fouad Malouf – recently promoted to chief operating officer upon Gharib’s appointment as president – has served more than 40 years with the brand.
“On meeting and getting to know the Red Roof team, I saw immediately the incredible level of dedication, loyalty, and expertise we have at the company,” Gharib said. “It was easy to realize we truly have an amazing group of people who are passionate about hospitality and serving our franchisees at the highest level.”
Gharib’s top priorities as president include finding new ways to deepen staff’s connection with the company to build synergies and drive strong results; doubling down on product quality and consistency; expanding the reach of the brand across national media outlets and platforms; utilizing enhanced technology and AI systems to improve the guest experience and drive more revenue; and, above all, accelerating the franchise growth of the brand.
A RAPIDLY EXPANDING HOMETOWNE BRAND
Red Roof’s portfolio of brands includes Red Roof and Red Roof PLUS+, HomeTowne Studios by Red Roof, The Red Collection, and Red Roof’s dual-branded properties. Red Roof now has more than 60,000 rooms in nearly 700 properties in the U.S. and internationally in Japan. The brand celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023.
Franchise growth continues at a solid pace, with more than 50 franchised properties expected to open in 2024, a trend Gharib and his franchise development team intend to accelerate.
Matt Hostetler, Red Roof’s chief development officer, believes Gharib arrived at a uniquely pivotal and dynamic moment for the brand.
“The past five years have been an incredible ride,” Hostetler said. “We successfully pivoted to continue to grow our business and serve guests in unprecedented new ways during the pandemic. Since then, we’ve seen continued growth even with the challenges presented by the rising costs of labor, materials to build new hotels, and high interest rates.”
Hostetler believes Gharib’s dynamic approach to franchise partnership will keep Red Roof’s growth steady and accelerating, as a new generation of franchise owners come to the fore.
“Zack is a perfect match and leader for the new generation of hotel franchisee, because he has been there and done it,” Hostetler said.
Gharib’s industry roles have included senior positions in hotel franchise operations and development – at one point along the way, he even owned a franchised retail outlet of his own.
“I can identify with the needs and aspirations of hotel owners looking to build security and a better life for themselves and their families,” he said. “There’s nothing more American than starting a franchise business, becoming an entrepreneur, and/or buying a plot of land and building value on it, for one’s family, one’s business, and the community.”
“YOUR JOB IS TO TAKE CARE OF THEM”
Reflecting on his journey to date, Gharib reflects on the words of the late Bill Marriott, whom he had the opportunity to meet while working as a young manager at White Lodging Services. During the opening of the Marriott hotel in downtown Indianapolis, Mr. Marriott approached Zack while surrounded by his housekeeping team and said, “Zack, your first and main responsibility is to always take care of this team.”
The words have resonated with him during his entire career and have carried him to the C-suite at one of North America’s premier hotel brands. He reminds himself of them every day.
“We will build quickly, expand aggressively, and take Red Roof’s genuine relationships and real results to the next level by elevating everything we do,” he said. “People will be at the heart of it every day, and that is who we are here to serve.”
