He replaces CEO Gary DeLapp, who has been with Extended
Stay for 15 years. The role will be Donald's first leadership position in the
hotel industry, following his tenure at Starbucks from 2002 to 2008 as well as
several years as an executive in the grocery industry. Extended Stay Hotels,
which has 685 properties in the United States and Canada, in 2010 emerged from
Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection when an
investment group that included Blackstone Real Estate Partners acquired it.