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Steve Sickel Image Credit IHG Owners Association
Steve Sickel has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the IHG Owners Association, effective November 24.
The IHG Owners Association announced the appointment of Steve Sickel as its new Chief Executive Officer. Sickel will assume the role on November 24, succeeding John Muehlbauer, who will retire at the end of 2025 after a 30-year career in hospitality and travel, including five years as the Association’s leader.
The transition follows a search process conducted by a committee of owner volunteers in collaboration with Bristol Associates, a hospitality talent placement firm. Sickel’s selection is based on his extensive experience in the hospitality and travel sectors, including a 13-year tenure at IHG, where he held senior roles, culminating as Global Head of Revenue Delivery. His responsibilities included overseeing IHG’s commercial strategies, such as IHG One Rewards, Distribution Marketing, Digital Marketing, Pricing, and Revenue Management.
In addition to his work at IHG, Sickel served as CEO of RoomKey, an online travel distribution company, and as Partner & Chief Marketing Officer at The Mallet Group, a loyalty marketing consultancy. Sickel’s industry recognition includes being named one of the “Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Hospitality” by the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI).
Muehlbauer will remain with the Association through the end of the year to ensure a smooth transition. His tenure was marked by initiatives that generated significant value for owners, including loyalty and fee reductions. The Association expressed gratitude for his leadership and dedication.
The IHG Owners Association represents over 5,000 owners of IHG Hotels & Resorts properties globally. The organization focuses on advocating for its members to improve returns on their investments in IHG hotels, working with IHG leadership on standards and initiatives related to hotel operations and broader industry issues.
The IHG Owners Association was established in 1955 and continues to serve as a global, not-for-profit organization representing the interests of IHG franchisees worldwide.
