Meet Our Advisory Council Members
Heather Vandergriff brings nearly 30 years of hospitality experience to her role as Chairperson of the Advisory Council for the Extended Stay Lodging Association. As Director of Hotel Openings & Operations Training at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, she leads strategic initiatives that support hotel openings, training deployment, and operational excellence across a diverse brand portfolio.
Heather’s career spans hotel operations, leadership development, and large-scale program implementation. She has successfully guided top-performing teams, led multi-brand training strategies, and championed inclusive approaches to learning and change management. Her deep understanding of owner and operator needs has made her a trusted partner in launching and elevating extended stay hotel experiences.
Known for her collaborative leadership and focus on practical, audience-centered solutions, Heather is passionate about driving industry-wide progress and knowledge sharing. She is especially proud to serve alongside fellow leaders on the Advisory Council to elevate the voice of the extended stay segment.
When not collaborating with hotel teams or traveling to support new openings, Heather enjoys time with her family and the peaceful surroundings of her home in Conifer, Colorado.
Cathy is a distinguished Multi-Unit Hotel Real Estate Asset Management Executive, certified as a CHA, CHSP, and CHRM. With extensive experience in strategically managing and optimizing diverse hospitality asset portfolios, Cathy excels at driving revenue growth, enhancing profitability, and improving asset value across multi-site environments.
Most recently, as Regional Vice President of Upscale Operations at Choice Hotels International, Cathy was tasked with the groundbreaking initiative of launching a new F&B Department and a Strategic Ramp role, significantly boosting incremental revenues and reducing the time for hotels to reach fair share. Her leadership also ensured exceptional owner relations and retention for over 400 upscale properties.
Prior to this, as Sr. Director of Brand Operations Performance Support for Cambria Hotels, Cathy led the successful asset management of Choice Hotels' wholly-owned properties, consistently outperforming budgeted EBITDA and driving significant Cap rate improvements. Her strategic oversight contributed to the successful opening of over 50 hotels and Cambria's first-ever J.D. Power award for guest satisfaction.
Cathy's expertise extends to comprehensive financial performance optimization, capital expenditure planning, market analysis, risk management, and building high-performing teams. Her career highlights include driving multi-million dollar revenue generation, guiding successful hotel acquisitions and dispositions, and developing and implementing strategic initiatives that align with owner objectives and maximize returns. She is adept at fostering strong stakeholder relationships and ensuring operational excellence across all levels.
Cathy has a BBA in Finance from Georgia Southwestern State University
