Colin Macdonald

Right Place, Right Attitude, Right Purpose

Colin Macdonald’s path to leading US & Canada Operations for IHG Hotels & Resorts is anything but conventional. Growing up with a sister who has autism, he credits his family’s resilience as the bedrock of his leadership philosophy - a reminder that what matters extends beyond career and paycheck. Studying philosophy, then launching into the 2008 financial crisis, Colin moved from private equity to media to hospitality guided by what he calls “right place, right time, right attitude.”

Over 12 years at IHG, he has broadened his aperture - strategy, chief of staff, operations - stepping into roles without direct experience and carrying that lesson into team-building by prioritizing diverse thinking over familiarity. Board work, charitable involvement, and picking up the phone have built a network rooted in genuine curiosity. He applies that lens inward too, reframing self-doubt as self-awareness and pushing his team to seek feedback that drives growth.

Notable Quotes/Highlights

• “It really started with the family dynamics I grew up in . . . it gave me a totally different perspective on what mattered in life.”
• ‍“Right place, right time, right attitude.”
• “It changes your self-doubt into self-awareness.”
• “I need people who can be strategic and think about new ways to do the work that we’re doing.”
• “It doesn’t take a lot to care for other people . . . if you do that genuinely, usually good things will come from that.”
  

Closing Reflection

Colin’s story shows how unconventional paths and curiosity become a leader’s greatest assets. From philosophy to private equity to North American hotel operations, his journey underscores the power of leaning into the unexpected. Whether cycling 200 miles for No Kid Hungry or mentoring the next generation, he leads with the conviction that caring for others is hospitality’s core. His parting message - it doesn’t take much to genuinely care - is as simple and powerful as leadership advice gets.

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