Lodgian, one of the nation’s largest independent owners and operators of full-service hotels, today announced that Edward J. Rohling, age 51, has been elected to the position of chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors. He joined the company July 15 as president. He replaces W. Thomas Parrington, who has stepped down as chief executive officer and resigned from the board, as part of the planned transition. Parrington will remain active in the hospitality industry. “Tom did a remarkable job in turning our company around,” Rohling said. “We are wrapping up a $100-million plus renovation program and our portfolio is in highly competitive condition, with properties located in strong and growing markets. In addition, the company has significantly strengthened its balance sheet. Now that Lodgian is in good physical condition, I will focus my efforts on improving operating results through strategic operating plans and retaining and attracting the best people to operate our hotels.”
Rohling has nearly 25 years of hotel experience in operations, marketing, asset management, development and acquisitions. Prior to joining Lodgian, he was the founder and principal of The Rohling Company, Hotel Equity Advisors, which provided acquisition, disposition, consulting and asset management services for more than 100 American and European hotels, working with such clients as Blackstone Real Estate Acquisitions L.L.C. and Apollo Real Estate Advisors.
Previously, Rohling was a general partner of Harvey Hotels, a predecessor of Bristol Hotels & Resorts, and one of the founders of Bristol Hotels, a New York Stock Exchange-listed company. During his 16-year tenure with the companies, Rohling served in a number of operating and executive capacities, concluding his career there as senior vice president of corporate development, where he oversaw acquisitions. He played a key role in his company’s acquisition of United Inns, a New York Stock Exchange-listed hospitality company that owned 26 hotels, and the 1997 acquisition of a portfolio of 45 Holiday Inn hotels and 15 management contracts from Bass PLC.
Prior to Bristol Hotels, Rohling spent five years with the Marriott Corporation. He is the past president and chairman of the Hotel Association of Greater Dallas. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
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