Chief Marketing Officer, Choice Hotels Intl
Search every verified Noha Abdalla interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Noha Abdalla, Chief Marketing Officer at Choice Hotels International, discussed the company's strategy and consumer trends in two podcast appearances in September and October 2024. Abdalla stated that Choice Hotels' loyalty program, Choice Privileges, has over 63 million members and that the company aims to use data from the program to identify when members may be in the market for travel and make relevant recommendations. She described the company as having been known for midscale and economy hotels but diversifying into upscale and extended stay, including the purchase of Radisson Hotels Americas. Abdalla said Choice Hotels has identified five long-term trends impacting its business: rising wages, remote work, reshoring and rebuilding America, road trips, and retirement. Abdalla noted that a campaign launching January 8, 2025, would feature Keegan-Michael Key as a spokesperson, based on the insight that consumers have different travel needs for different occasions and that Choice Hotels has a brand for each occasion. She also discussed the "crumbling of the cookie" and the power of first-party data as an opportunity for brands to build direct relationships with consumers, and mentioned a partnership with Amazon to help with customer identity. Abdalla said that while economic challenges and inflation exist, travel is an area consumers are not willing to give up, and they are thinking creatively about how to make trips more economical.
“We have a loyalty program Choice Privileges that has over 63 million members and our opportunity is to use the data that we have about them in conjunction with other data to get to know who they are, what their passions, interests, likes are, to try to see the signals of when they might be in the market for travel and...”
“The opportunity to join Choice Hotels was one that I jumped at right as when I talked to the CEO and the board and understood kind of the transformation that Choice Hotels was looking to make it got me really excited. The company is really good at franchising and wants to become really good at guest strategy, loyalty,...”
“Choice Hotels has been known for hotels in the midscale and economy space but over time has diversified into upscale and extended stay. We were at the time purchasing Rison Hotels Americas which was really an opportunity to grow the upscale business on behalf of the company.”
“We have 22 brands all over the country and the world and we undoubtedly have something that's in the right place, the right price point for you depending on what you're looking for and what that tripcation is.”
“People took for granted the opportunity they had pre-COVID to travel and they really didn't want to lose that opportunity again. While there may be economic challenges and inflation, travel is one area consumers aren't willing to give up, so they're thinking creatively about how to make trips more economical.”
“The crumbling of the cookie and the power of first-party data is an opportunity for brands to drive an even deeper direct relationship with consumers. We have a loyalty program, Choice Privileges, with over 63 million members, and we use data to understand their passions and interests to make relevant travel recommenda...”
“We have been working very closely with a partner, Amazon, to help with customer identity so when you come to our website or we see you on a digital platform, we can put together the right pieces of information to identify who you might be and put in front of you the right offer.”
“When you're at a crossroads in your career and trying to decide should I go left or should I go right, often times there's not a right and wrong answer, it's just a different path and you're going to learn and grow from whichever path you take.”
“We at Choice Hotels have identified five long-term trends impacting our business: Rising wages, remote work, reshoring and rebuilding America, road trips, and retirement. These trends position us well to take advantage of emerging market opportunities.”
“The campaign launching January 8th will feature Keegan Michael Key as our spokesperson because of his approachable, charismatic nature and great sense of humor. The campaign is built on the insight that there are many different versions of you and Choice Hotels has a brand for every occasion.”
Join us on The Speed of Culture as we welcome Noha Abdalla, CMO of Choice Hotels. Discover how Choice Hotels navigates ...
Join us on The Speed of Culture as we welcome Noha Abdalla, CMO of Choice Hotels. Discover how Choice Hotels navigates ...
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