Marriott International Expands Canadian Senior Leadership Team

Marriott International has added a new member to its Canadian senior leadership team. 

Susie Grynol will join Marriott as market vice-president, Eastern Canada, effective June 3, 2024. Grynol will be a key member of the Canadian leadership team supporting Managed by Marriott hotels, Select and Premium brands in Canada.

Most recently, Grynol served as the president and CEO of the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC). She has held this role since 2016.

Marriott also announced the expansion of Keri Robinson’s role as area vice-president, U.S. Western Mountain Pacific and Western Canada, effective May 18, 2024. 

Robinson, who has been in the industry for more than 35 years, will be responsible for delivering full P&L accountability and supporting efforts to drive an exceptional customer experience for Managed by Marriott hotels within the region. She has previous experience leading full service, managed properties in Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton with Starwood (which Marriott acquired in 2016).

Both positions will report to Paul Cahill, senior vice-president, Canada operations.

“Susie brings deep knowledge of the hospitality industry, strong leadership skills, and award-winning government relations experience to Marriott, while Keri has demonstrated results in the U.S. Western Mountain Pacific region and is set-up for success based on her previous experience as a leader in the Western Canada region,” said Cahill.

In a statement, HAC expressed gratitude to Grynol for her achievements during her tenure as CEO, wishing her continued success in her future endeavors. 

“Susie’s leadership and deep commitment to the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic was monumental,” the hotel association said. “As the founder of the Coalition of Hardest Hit Businesses, she led a group of more than 200 business associations through a series of government and public relations campaigns, which resulted in $23 billion in relief for hotels and tourism businesses.”

The search for Grynol’s successor at HAC is ongoing. In the interim, the association’s board will work with the leadership team to ensure a smooth transition. 

“It has been the honour of my lifetime to serve as president and CEO of the Hotel Association of Canada,” Grynol said. “I am immensely proud of the accomplishments we have achieved together and grateful for the unwavering support of our members, board, staff, and partners.”