Rlj Lodging Trust Appoints Nikhil Bhalla as Chief Financial Officer
RLJ Lodging Trust (the "Company") announced the appointment of Nikhil Bhalla as Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Since joining the Company in 2015, Nikhil has held a variety of leadership positions, most recently serving as Senior Vice President of Finance and Treasurer. During his tenure at RLJ, Nikhil has demonstrated exceptional leadership across multiple critical areas, including corporate strategy, treasury, investor relations, as well as financial planning and analysis functions.
"Nikhil has made many contributions to the success of RLJ and has been an invaluable member of our leadership team for over a decade, consistently demonstrating strategic insight, financial acumen, and operational excellence, making him the ideal choice for CFO," said Leslie D. Hale, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. "His deep understanding of our industry, institutional knowledge, combined with broad financial expertise, makes him well suited to continue to capitalize on our strong balance sheet, advance our financial strategy and support our growth initiatives. This promotion also reflects the strength and depth of our internal talent pipeline, and our ability to develop and advance exceptional leaders from within our organization."
"I'm honored to assume this expanded role and excited about the opportunities ahead for RLJ," said Nikhil. "Having worked closely with our talented team, I look forward to continuing to build on our strong financial foundation while supporting our strategic initiatives and delivering value for our shareholders."
Prior to joining RLJ, Nikhil served as Vice President of Equity Research at FBR Capital Markets & Co. Earlier in his career, he held positions at Host Hotels & Resorts and CB Richard Ellis, building extensive experience in hospitality and real estate sectors. He earned his master's degree in management from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
