David Pepper

Chief Development Officer, Choice Hotels Intl

Search every verified David Pepper interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. David Pepper, chief development officer at Choice Hotels International, has also been active as a political commentator and author. In late 2025, he appeared on multiple programs to discuss threats to democracy, focusing on state-level actions. On a December 2025 broadcast, he described ongoing redistricting efforts in Indiana as "Jim Crow style voter suppression" and argued that the outcome of elections could be influenced by threats of violence. He also criticized the qualifications of military leadership under President Trump, stating that "putting someone unqualified and unhinged in charge of the military makes our service members less safe." In a November 2025 Q&A with Indivisible Central Ohio, Pepper said the attack on democracy has been "going on for decades" and is driven by groups like ALEC and the Koch brothers. He advocated for contesting every election district, saying "running and contesting everywhere is how you begin to restore democracy." In his professional capacity, Pepper discussed hotel development trends in a May 2025 interview. He noted that new construction remains muted due to high interest rates and construction costs, but that Choice Hotels is seeing strong activity in conversions and extended-stay properties. He stated that "half of the hotels under construction in Choice are extended stay products" and that "in uncertain economic times, owners don't want uncertain brands," which he said benefits larger hotel companies.