Tom Magnuson, who with his wife co-founded Magnuson Hotels as a home-based business in 2003 and grew it to more than 2,000 hotels globally, is stepping down as CEO effective immediately. His replacement is Adnan Malik, the company’s current chief revenue officer, who has been with the company for five years.
“It has been an incredible journey leading Magnuson Hotels for the past 21 years. I am immensely proud of what we’ve achieved together as a team,” Magnuson said. “As I step down from the CEO position, I’m filled with gratitude for the experiences, challenges, and growth we’ve embraced, and for the people I have met along this path. I am confident in the talented individuals who will continue to drive Magnuson Hotels towards even greater success.”
Magnuson said he would be “transitioning to a new chapter.”
“I am honored and excited to lead Magnuson Hotels into its next phase,” said Malik. “Under Thomas’ exceptional leadership, the brand has flourished, and I am committed to building upon this strong foundation by driving innovation. We will continue our commitment to deliver results for hotel owners and exceed expectations of hotel guests.”
Co-founder Melissa Magnuson will continue in her role as chairman. “We all take tremendous pride in what Magnuson Hotels has achieved under Thomas’ CEO tenure. With Adnan’s appointment, we are confident in his ability to lead the company towards continued growth and success, maintaining our commitment to excellence,” she said.
Magnuson Hotels has a long relationship with AAHOA and its members, with Tom Magnuson being a regular at the organization’s annual conventions. Of his departure, Laura Lee Blake, AAHOA president and CEO, said: “We commend Tom Magnuson for his outstanding tenure as the founder and CEO of Magnuson Hotels. Tom’s commitment to excellence has significantly impacted the hospitality landscape. The legacy of innovation and dedication he leaves behind was truly visionary, especially his commitment to Asian American hoteliers and seeking fairness in the franchising system. As he transitions from his role, we express gratitude for his leadership and wish him continued success in his future pursuits.”
In 2015, Magnuson unveiled its first rebrand around three brands: Magnuson Grand, Magnuson Hotels and M Star Hotels. Magnuson Hotels’ new identity played an important role in exporting the American brand worldwide as it seeked out new growth opportunities abroad.
“By partnering with Jin Jiang and Louvre Hotels, the Magnuson Hotel brands will be directly available for corporate, leisure and travel agent bookings from China and 50 other countries,” said CEO Thomas Magnuson. “As our combined companies now represent nearly 5,600 hotels and over 500,000 rooms, we expect the impact to be significant for our US hotel affiliates.”
In 2017, it went live with a global distribution alliance between itself, Chinese hotel operator Jin Jiang Hotels and Louvre Hotels Group in Europe, which resulted in a consortium of more than 8,000 hotels worldwide. Hotels participating in the alliance include franchisees of Louvre Hotels Group, affiliates of Magnuson Hotels, and company-owned Jin Jiang Hotels. Hotels affiliated with Magnuson and Louvre Hotels also gained access to Jin Jiang Hotels’ rewards club.
Magnuson Hotels is headquartered in London and Spokane, Wash.