**The big picture:** Patrick Cimerola, Chief Human Resources Officer at Choice Hotels International, will retire at the end of 2026 after 25 years with the company. **Why it matters:** This executive transition marks a significant leadership change in a major hospitality franchisor, impacting its long-standing people strategy and talent development. **Between the lines:** - Cimerola guided Choice Hotels through CEO transitions, major acquisitions, and the COVID-19 pandemic. - He will serve as a special advisor through 2026 to ensure a smooth leadership transition. - The company will conduct an executive search for his successor. **Staffing & HR impact:** The departure of a long-tenured CHRO necessitates a strategic talent acquisition effort to find a successor who can maintain and evolve the company's established HR framework and culture. This transition could influence future HR priorities and talent management approaches within the organization. **The bottom line:** Choice Hotels faces the challenge of replacing a foundational HR leader while maintaining its