John Belden

John started his career as a hotel consultant for Laventhol & Horwath, with successive stints at The Residence Inn Company and Holiday Corporation, where he was as a member of the founding concept team for Homewood Suites.

John joined Davidson Hotels & Resorts in 1989 and led the Business Development team during a period of unprecedented growth for the company, overseeing new management, acquisition and development opportunities for the company, as well as asset management and asset disposition responsibilities. John became President and CEO in 2006 and has helped shape Davidson into one of the strongest and most respected lodging companies in the industry. In early 2016, John helped launch Pivot hotels & Resorts, Davidson’s lifestyle and luxury operating division.

John currently serves on Marriott’s MINA Board, the Sheraton Owner’s Advisory Council, the Hilton Owner’s Advisory Council, the Hyatt Full-Service Hotel Franchise Advisory Committee and the Board of Directors for Give Kids the World. John was named Michigan State University’s Industry Leader of the Year in 2010 and was inducted into its Alumni Hall of Fame in 2016. In 2018, the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association presented John with the J. Patrick Leahy Lifetime Achievement Award. John obtained a degree from the Business College at Michigan State University with an emphasis in Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management.