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SPRING 2026
Craig Strickler

President of Americas, Valor Hospitality

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Craig joined Valor as Director of Operations in 2018, bringing more than 20 years of broad, hands-on experience across virtually every facet of the hospitality industry. A graduate of Webber International University,  he earned a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management while attending on a basketball scholarship.

Building a career with Hyatt over a 13 year period,  Craig progressed through the Rooms Division, holding leadership roles in housekeeping, front office, reservations, revenue management, and security. His tenure over five hotels across the United States and the Caribbean, gave him deep operational exposure in diverse markets and asset types.

Later, transitioning from brand-managed operations to third-party management, Craig became one of the first corporate leaders at Kokua Hospitality in Chicago. As director of hotel openings and transitions, he led new acquisitions and major renovations. During the 2008 downturn, Craig returned to on-property leadership as general manager of two downtown Chicago hotels, before moving back as Kokua’s vice president of business development as the company expanded.

In 2015, Craig joined Charlestowne Hotels as regional director of operations, overseeing hotel operations from pre-opening development through post-opening stabilization. He played a key role in the launch of Graduate Hotels, leading operations for five of the brand’s first six properties. His experience at Charlestowne included luxury inns, independent hotels, and branded assets across multiple U.S. markets.

Today at Valor Hospitality, Craig oversees all facets of operations across the Americas. He is deeply committed to developing people and building strong leadership pipelines, spending much of his time mentoring emerging leaders while guiding Valor’s strategy for growth, operational excellence, and long-term performance.