The IHG Owners Association, which represents the interests of IHG Hotels & Resorts franchisees worldwide, announced today that Steve Sickel has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, effective November 24. Sickel will lead the Association’s mission to strengthen returns on members’ investments in IHG hotels and provide advice and counsel to IHG. He succeeds John Muehlbauer, who announced his retirement earlier this year after a 30-year career in hospitality, including five years as CEO. Muehlbauer drove tens of millions in value to owners, including last year’s loyalty and IHG Ignite fee reductions, and will remain through year-end for a smooth transition.
The Association launched a CEO search committee with owner volunteers and partnered with Bristol Associates, a hospitality talent placement firm. The committee selected Sickel, an experienced executive with a track record of growth, innovation, and leadership in global hospitality and travel organizations. Sickel spent 13 years at IHG in senior roles, including Global Head of Revenue Delivery, overseeing IHG One Rewards, distribution marketing, digital marketing, pricing, revenue management, and the System Fund. He also served as CEO of RoomKey, an online travel distribution joint venture among major hospitality companies, where he designed strategies to lower third-party distribution costs. Most recently, he was Partner and Chief Marketing Officer at The Mallet Group, a loyalty marketing consultancy. Recognized by HSMAI as one of the “Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Hospitality,” Sickel brings a strong background to propel the Association forward.
“I am so excited to step into this role and to have the opportunity to lead the Association and represent members worldwide,” said Sickel. “John has set a strong foundation of value creation and advocacy, and I look forward to building on that momentum. My focus will be on strengthening relationships with IHG hotel owners, IHG leadership and key industry constituents; developing and advocating for win-win solutions that improve the long-term value for our members; and harnessing our collective voice to drive meaningful impact with IHG and the hospitality industry.”
Mark Zipperer, 2025 Chair of the Association’s Global Board of Directors, commented, “Steve’s deep knowledge of IHG, combined with his broad industry expertise and reputation as a collaborative problem-solver, make him the ideal choice for this role. We are excited to welcome him into the Association at such an important time for our industry.” The Association extended its gratitude to Muehlbauer for his leadership and dedication.
The IHG Owners Association, originally established by Holiday Inn founder Kemmons Wilson in 1955, is a global not-for-profit representing over 5,000 owners of IHG Hotels & Resorts properties. It advocates on behalf of members to IHG leadership on standards and initiatives related to hotel operations and industry issues. The IHG family of brands includes Six Senses, Regent, InterContinental, Vignette Collection, Kimpton, Hotel Indigo, voco, Ruby, HUALUXE, Crowne Plaza, Iberostar Beachfront Resorts, EVEN, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn, Garner, avid, Atwell Suites, Staybridge Suites, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, and Candlewood Suites. For more information, visit www.owners.org.
