USA, New Orleans, Louisiana. March 28, 2024

Expotel Hospitality, a prominent full-service third-party hotel management company, announced today that Bret Chittenden, formerly the firm's Chief Operating Officer, has become its new President. Expotel Hospitality Chairman George Newton made the announcement.

"I want to thank Mr. Newton and late Mr. Burrus for a lifetime of building value in me through conversations and lessons geared both professionally and personally," said Chittenden. "I am surrounded by the best people in the hospitality business and without the hard work of all the people at Expotel Hospitality over the years, I would not have the opportunity to be where I am today," stated Chittenden.

As President, Bret will be responsible for driving the overall development and growth of the company. Bret will continue to lead the company's owned and managed portfolio; establish policies that promote the company's culture and vision, as well as oversee the operations of the company; manage and assist in the development of the firm's executive leadership team; work closely with the Expotel development and real estate investment committee; and serve as Expotel Hospitality's liaison to brand partners and industry groups.

A native of New Orleans, Bret has more than 28 years of experience in the hospitality industry, including serving currently on the Board of Directors of Greater New Orleans Hotel & Lodging, Board of Directors Jefferson Parish Convention & Visitors Bureau, Alumni Board of Directors Holy Cross School, and Secretary of the Tigers Den Booster Club. He served as Chairman of the Board and President of the Louisiana Hotel & Lodging Association 2016-2022. Bret has been with Burrus Investment Group 1996-1999 and Expotel 1999-2024 since its inception. Bret has been part of the core team and was instrumental in building an initial portfolio of eight owned and managed properties, which subsequently grew to include more than twenty third-party managed hotels in ten states.

"I'm honored to take on this role in support of Expotel hotels, partners, team members and the owners that we represent," Chittenden said. "Operational challenges are continuing throughout 2024 in our industry, and it is a tough time to recruit and bring team members back into the hospitality industry when they had to step away in 2020 to find other ways to make a living.

"Our core principles must remain the same throughout, clean and comfortable rooms, operating mechanicals, outstanding customer service and valuing our team members daily."

George Newton, Expotel Chairman, said, "Expotel could not be in better hands. Bret is the best at driving results for hotel owners that I have ever seen in my nearly 50 years in the hospitality business."