First Hospitality, a national hotel operating, management, and development company, announces the appointment of Jack Meakin as vice president of business development. Meakin brings nearly a decade of hospitality development experience, driving third-party management agreement growth, cultivating strategic partnerships, and expanding hotel portfolios nationwide.
As vice president of business development, Meakin will focus on accelerating First Hospitality’s portfolio growth by forging new owner relationships and identifying strategic opportunities that strengthen the company’s presence nationwide. He will lead all phases of the development process in collaboration with internal development and operations teams and evaluate investment opportunities to secure new hotel management agreements.
“At First Hospitality, we’re intentional about building a team of leaders who share our ownership mindset and passion for creating lasting partnerships,” said Kathleen Hollis, chief growth officer of First Hospitality. “Jack’s proven ability to build strong owner relationships, close meaningful opportunities, and think strategically makes him an exceptional addition to our growing business development team. His energy, experience, and owner-first approach will be instrumental as we continue expanding our portfolio.”
Prior to joining First Hospitality, Meakin served as vice president of business development, Midwest & Southeast, at Hotel Equities, where he led third-party management growth initiatives and collaborated with executive leadership on forecasting and strategic planning. Meakin also spent three years as regional director of business development, Midwest & Southeast, where he directed development efforts across a 15-state territory and secured 28 third-party management agreements. He began his tenure at Hotel Equities as a management trainee at the Residence Inn by Marriott in Dunwoody, Georgia.
“We’re pleased to welcome Jack to First Hospitality at an exciting time for our company,” said David Duncan, president and CEO of First Hospitality. “As we continue to expand our portfolio, his leadership and focus on cultivating strong ownership relationships will help us identify opportunities that align with our vision and support our continued growth as an industry leader.”
Meakin earned a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from the University of South Carolina. Outside of work, he enjoys the outdoors, travel, and sports.
