James F. Risoleo
Summary
James F. Risoleo is Host Hotels & Resorts’ President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, serving as CEO since January 2017 after joining Host in 1996. ([hosthotels.com](https://www.hosthotels.com/our-company/leadership))
Biography
Risoleo has spent roughly three decades at Host Hotels & Resorts, where he began as senior vice president for acquisitions and later became executive vice president and chief investment officer. He led Host’s European business activities beginning in 2012 and added responsibility for the company’s West Coast investment activities in 2015 before becoming CEO. ([hosthotels.com](https://www.hosthotels.com/our-company/leadership)) Before joining Host, Risoleo was vice president of development at Interstate Hotels Corporation and a senior vice president of commercial real estate at Westinghouse Electric Corporation. He holds a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from Duquesne University. He has also held industry leadership roles, including serving as a past chairman of Nareit and as a member of the executive committee of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. ([hosthotels.com](https://www.hosthotels.com/our-company/leadership))
Notable achievements
- Led Host’s transition to a new CEO in January 2017 after two decades in senior investment and operating roles. ([ir.hosthotels.com](https://ir.hosthotels.com/news-releases/news-release-details/w-edward-walter-president-and-chief-executive-officer-host))
- Oversaw a portfolio-repositioning strategy that included selling Host’s interest in its European joint venture and acquiring properties such as 1 Hotel South Beach. ([hosthotels.com](https://www.hosthotels.com/Press-Releases/2019/PressRelease_21511?utm_source=openai))
- Directed major acquisitions during the lodging recovery, including the Hyatt Regency Austin and Four Seasons Resort Orlando for a combined approximately $771 million. ([hosthotels.com](https://www.hosthotels.com/Press-Releases/2021/PressRelease_23666?utm_source=openai))
- In 2025, Host sold approximately $1.4 billion of real estate across five properties while reporting 3.8% full-year comparable RevPAR growth. ([ir.hosthotels.com](https://ir.hosthotels.com/news-releases/news-release-details/host-hotels-resorts-inc-reports-results-2025?utm_source=openai))
- Served as chair of Nareit’s 2021 Executive Board, adding an industry-policy leadership role to his company responsibilities. ([hosthotels.com](https://www.hosthotels.com/News/Company-News/2020/Members-of-Hosts-Management-Team-Elected-to-Nareits-2021-Executive-Board?utm_source=openai))
Problem areas / controversies
- Host’s hotel operations faced severe disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic, creating a major test for management’s liquidity, operating model and capital allocation decisions. ([ir.hosthotels.com](https://ir.hosthotels.com/news-releases/news-release-details/host-hotels-resorts-inc-appoints-sourav-ghosh-chief-financial))
- The August 2023 Maui wildfires materially affected Host’s Maui properties; recovery continued into 2025, while the company’s results also reflected the loss of prior-year business-interruption proceeds. ([edgar.secdatabase.com](https://edgar.secdatabase.com/263/107075025000071/filing-main.htm?utm_source=openai))
- Higher wages and benefits reduced Host’s 2025 operating margin and limited comparable hotel EBITDA growth relative to revenue growth. ([ir.hosthotels.com](https://ir.hosthotels.com/news-releases/news-release-details/host-hotels-resorts-inc-reports-results-2025?utm_source=openai))
- Executive compensation has drawn criticism from labor-oriented shareholder advocates; AFL-CIO’s Paywatch reported Risoleo’s 2024 total compensation at approximately $16.4 million and highlighted the CEO-to-median-worker pay ratio. ([aflcio.org](https://aflcio.org/paywatch/HST?utm_source=openai))
- The public filings and reputable sources reviewed did not identify a major personal regulatory enforcement action or comparable individual controversy involving Risoleo.