Lodging Dynamics Names Kristie Byrd Chief Operating Officer

Byrd, who most recently served as chief commercial officer, will lead operations across the company's premium, lifestyle and destination-driven portfolio as it enters its next phase of growth.

PROVO, Utah, Oct. 20, 2026 - Lodging Dynamics, a hotel management company, today announced the appointment of Kristie Byrd as chief operating officer. Byrd will unite hotel operations, commercial strategy, human resources and technology under one enterprise plan. The goal is stronger hotel performance and long-term value for owners.

Byrd brings more than 30 years of hospitality experience across the Marriott, Hilton, Choice, Hyatt and IHG brand families. She joined Lodging Dynamics in 2025 as vice president of sales. In that role she put sales, revenue management, marketing and business development under one commercial strategy. After her promotion to chief commercial officer, she added hotel operations, human resources and technology, setting the foundation for her new role.

Her appointment comes amid strong results. Portfolio GOPAR is up 8.7% year over year, a gain achieved alongside the rollout of the company's AI-enabled finance workflows. Lodging Dynamics also received Marriott International's Partnership Circle Award, Marriott's highest recognition for its franchise, ownership and management partners. Marriott recognized the company's managed hotels for strong guest Intent to Recommend scores in Q2 2026. The portfolio spans Marriott, Hilton and independent hotels, from Canopy by Hilton Scottsdale Old Town to Wilde Resort & Spa in Sedona.

"Growth alone is not the goal. Creating value for our owners is," said Jamie Caraher, president and chief executive officer of Lodging Dynamics. "We are strengthening our leadership infrastructure ahead of growth, not after it. Kristie has been integral to the results we are delivering today and to translating strategy into disciplined hotel-level execution. As COO, she will hold every hotel we add to the same standard as the ones we manage today, with a continued focus on performance and long-term value for our owners."

In her new role, Byrd will focus on two priorities:

• AI workflows. She will scale the AI workflows already in use across finance, commercial strategy, human resources and training. They help teams spot trends sooner, work more accurately and spend more time leading their people and serving owners and guests.

• Services beyond management. She will grow the company's owner-service platform past traditional hotel management. Lodging Dynamics now offers targeted consulting and advisory services across operations, revenue management, sales, marketing and food and beverage. Owners can work with the company at any stage of an asset's life cycle, from focused performance improvement and specialized commercial support to full hotel management.

"Lodging Dynamics has built meaningful momentum because our people care deeply about their hotels, owners and one another," said Byrd. "Lifestyle and destination hotels ask more of an operator. Guests come for the experience, and that experience is built by team members who have clear priorities, strong systems and the support to deliver. As we grow, we will stay focused on what already distinguishes Lodging Dynamics: accountable leadership, trusted partnerships and a genuine heart for hospitality."