Phil Payne has been named Board Chairperson at BWH Hotels
BWH Hotels today announced that its Board of Directors has elected Phil Payne as Board Chairperson for 2024. Payne, who previously served as Board Vice Chairperson, brings decades of hospitality experience and over 40 years of BWH Hotels ownership to his role as Chairperson.
Alongside his brothers, Payne has owned and operated six BWH Hotels properties since 1982 — offering the Board a unique perspective as an owner, operator and industry veteran. During his time as an owner, Payne also served as managing member of Best Western Plus Rio Grande Inn, Best Western Governor for Western New Mexico, and member of the brand's Reservation & Technology Advisory Committee.
Alongside his tenure with BWH Hotels, Payne draws on a variety of experience across other industries. During his professional career, he worked as a CPA and attorney and co-founded a CPA firm in Alaska, and he designed and wrote tax, accounting and financial software systems for various firms.
Payne graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He later went on to receive a Juris Doctorate from Pepperdine University School of Law.
In addition to electing Payne as Chairperson of the Board, the Board of Directors also elected Steve Wahrlich as Vice-Chairperson and Viral ("Victor") Patel as Secretary-Treasurer.