NICOLE SHANKS
Apr 24, 2026 1 min read
Nicole Shanks serves as Chief People Officer for Sonesta International Hotels Corporation, where she leads the company’s human resources strategy across its multi-brand portfolio. In this role, she is responsible for talent acquisition, total rewards, employee relations, and HR operations, aligning people strategies with business performance and long-term growth.
A seasoned hospitality executive with more than 20 years of experience, Nicole is recognized for her expertise in building scalable HR infrastructure, driving organizational transformation, and fostering high-performing, service-driven cultures. Prior to Sonesta, she held senior human resources leadership roles with Controlled Contamination Services, Texas Western Hospitality, and Omni Hotels & Resorts, where she supported growth across private equity, REIT-owned, and privately owned organizations.
Nicole earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Georgia State University and holds a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification.
ABOUT SONESTA
About Sonesta International Hotels
Sonesta is the 8th largest hotel company in the U.S. according to Smith Travel Research (STR) with approximately 1,100 properties totaling 100,000 guest rooms across 13 brands in 10 countries. Sonesta owns, manages and/or franchises under The Royal Sonesta®; The James™, Classico Collection by Sonesta™, Sonesta Hotels, Resorts & Cruises®; MOD Collection by Sonesta™, Sonesta Select®; Sonesta Essential®, Sonesta ES Suites®, Sonesta Simply Suites®, Red Lion Hotels, Inns & Suites by Sonesta®; Signature Inn® by Sonesta; Americas Best Value Inn by Sonesta™ and Canadas Best Value Inn by Sonesta™. Redefining hospitality through its award-winning Sonesta Travel Pass loyalty program, Sonesta offers guests the opportunity to earn and redeem points for unparalleled value and personalized experiences. Sonesta Travel Pass members receive the best rates, earn immediate points towards free nights, and accelerated status progression based on stays. Join now at https://www.sonesta.com/join-travel-pass. For more information about Sonesta visit Sonesta.com or to join our portfolio visit Franchise.Sonesta.com, email development@Sonesta.com or call 617.658.1596.
