MARCEL VERBAAS

CEO & chairman, XENIA HOTELS & RESORTS, ORLANDO

As leader of a real estate investment trust, Verbaas oversees a diverse portfolio of lodging properties. Xenia Hotels & Resorts owns 39 hotels operated under the Marriott, Hyatt, Kimpton, Fairmont, Loews and Hilton flags, among others.

Verbaas earned a master’s degree in business economics from Erasmus University of Rotterdam in the Netherlands before joining Stormont Trice Development, a private hotel development company. He joined CNL Financial Group in 2000 and was vice president of real estate finance and senior vice president of project finance with CNL hospitality corporation, the former adviser to CNL Hotel and Resorts.

From 2003-04, he served as senior vice president and chief investment officer for CNL Retirement, where he oversaw more than $2.5 billion in acquisitions. From 2004-07, he was senior vice president and chief investment officer for CNL Hotels & Resorts, a real estate investment trust where he was responsible for investment activities, acquisitions and dispositions. He joined Xenia in 2007 and was president and CEO until 2017, when he was elected chairman. Verbaas serves on the dean’s advisory board at Rosen College of Hospitality Management.