Thomas M. Penny, III is President of Donohoe Hospitality, where he leads a high- performing, diverse portfolio of hotels aligned with some of the most respected brands in the industry. A results-driven executive, Mr. Penny is known for consistently delivering best-in-class financial performance and for building a purpose-driven culture that pairs operational excellence with genuine inclusion and opportunity for growth.

Since joining Donohoe in 1996, Mr. Penny has risen steadily through the organization—starting in food and beverage and going on to lead several of the company’s flagship properties. Over the past nine years, he has reshaped Donohoe Hospitality’s leadership landscape, recruiting and promoting dynamic talent into the Home Office and elevating a new generation of property-level leaders to run the company’s lifestyle-oriented full- and select-service hotels.

Under his direction, the division has delivered sustained, best-in-class results: integrating business intelligence tools and a reimagined incentive structure that rewards innovation and accountability, expanding the portfolio by fifteen hotels across markets including Baltimore, Las Vegas, and Reston, and guiding the company through some of the most challenging moments in its history.

Mr. Penny’s influence extends well beyond Donohoe. In addition to serving on the Board of the Donohoe Companies, he is a sought-after voice in the hospitality industry, serving on the boards of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), The Residence Inn Association (TRIA), the Cambria Franchise Advisory Council, and the Hotel Association of Washington, DC (HAWDC). Through this board service, he helps shape the policies, standards, and strategic priorities that guide the industry forward—and is a vocal advocate for greater diversity in hotel ownership and executive leadership, often reminding peers that “boardrooms should reflect the diversity of our break rooms.”

Mr. Penny’s commitment to service extends into the community as well. He serves on the boards of Livingstone College, the Marriott-Sorenson Center for Hospitality Leadership at Howard University, the Greater Washington Community Foundation, and the National Academy Foundation (NAF)—channeling his experience and resources into expanding access to education, mentorship, and career opportunity for the next generation of hospitality leaders. At Donohoe, his leadership philosophy centers on empowering talent, encouraging entrepreneurial thinking, and cultivating a collaborative, innovative culture that consistently exceeds stakeholder expectations.