Robert C. Hazard, Jr. is the retired former chairman of Creative Hotel Associates and Choice Hotels International. During Bob’s tenure at Choice, the system grew to one of the world’s largest franchise lodging chains in the world. He now volunteers his time as Associate Editor of his hometown newspaper, The Montecito Journal.
Bob served as president and CEO of Choice from 1980 to 1991 and chairman and CEO from 1991 to 1996. Under Hazard’s leadership, Choice pioneered the concept of brand segmentation with the introduction of Comfort Inns in 1981. Before joining Choice, Bob served as chief executive officer of Best Western International for seven years.
A cum laude graduate of Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of International Affairs, he served in the U.S. Air Force, and later IBM and American Express. He is the former dean of the American Hotel & Motel Association’s Presidents Academy. Father of five grown children and grandfather of nine, Bob and his wife Victoria currently reside in Montecito, California.
Bob Hazard 
It is about time that people outside of Santa Barbara can get the benefit of Bob’s well-researched but somewhat controversial opinions.
The best leader of any organization, of which I”ve held employment!! I truly say I appreciate the opportunity of being a part of his shared knowledge.