Meyer Jabara Hotels, a leading hotel ownership and management company, announces the appointment of Lauren Perez as Senior Vice President Human Resources, a strategic leadership role that will support the company’s continued expansion and reinforce its people-first culture across a growing portfolio.
In her new position, Perez will oversee enterprise-wide HR strategy, including talent development, recruitment, compliance, and cultural initiatives designed to strengthen associate engagement and operational performance. She will play a key role in aligning workforce strategy with MJH’s ambitious growth plans while ensuring a seamless onboarding experience for new properties and teams.
“Lauren brings a rare and incredibly valuable perspective to our organization,” said Justin Jabara, President of Meyer Jabara Hotels. “She has walked in the shoes of our operators, having served as a General Manager, and led teams across every department in a hotel. That experience, combined with her deep HR expertise, makes her uniquely equipped to support our people and our properties. We’re delighted to welcome her to the Meyer Jabara family and are eager to see the impact she will make as we continue to grow.”
Perez joins MJH with more than 25 years of progressive hospitality leadership experience. A bilingual HR executive, she has led human resources strategy across multi-state portfolios encompassing more than 30 properties and 3,000 associates. Her background includes extensive experience in labor relations, compliance governance, and large-scale acquisition integration, as well as leading onboarding initiatives for dozens of newly acquired hotels. She is a native of Rhode Island and will operate from the Providence (R.I.) Marriott Downtown, a Meyer Jabara owned and operated hotel.
Front Lines to Strategic Leadership
Unique to Perez’s hospitality journey is her rise through the ranks of hotel operations. After an early start in health and fitness, she quickly transitioned into hotel leadership, taking on roles ranging from Executive Housekeeper and Front Office Manager to General Manager of multiple high-performing properties. This hands-on operational experience informs her approach to HR, allowing her to bridge the gap between corporate strategy and on-property execution.
Throughout her career, Perez has demonstrated a strong ability to stabilize and integrate newly acquired hotels, streamline HR processes, and foster cultures where associates feel engaged, supported, and motivated to grow. She has also worked in both union and non-union environments, bringing a balanced and fair approach to employee relations.
Driving Growth Through People and Process
Perez is tasked with modernizing HR systems and processes. She will focus on streamlining platforms, enhancing accessibility, and improving efficiency across the portfolio. She will also play a critical role in supporting the company’s expansion strategy and leveraging her experience onboarding more than 50 hotels in recent years to ensure smooth transitions and strong cultural alignment.
Perez was drawn to MJH’s reputation for its distinctive culture and legacy of associate engagement. She sees significant opportunity to build on that foundation while helping the company scale thoughtfully.
“Meyer Jabara Hotels is a place where culture isn’t just talked about . . . it’s felt,” Perez said. “There’s a genuine sense of belonging and teamwork that sets this organization apart. I’m excited to be part of a company where people are the priority and to help continue building an environment where associates can thrive and grow their careers.”
With Perez’s appointment, Meyer Jabara Hotels reinforces its commitment to investing in people as the cornerstone of its success. The company is well positioned for continued momentum in an increasingly competitive hospitality landscape.
