John McKibbon III, chairman, McKibbon Hospitality and McKibbon Places, has been named the 2025 recipient of the Hunter Conference Award for Excellence and Inspiration. He will receive the award during the 36th Hunter Hotel Investment Conference at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.
The award honors a hotelier who exemplifies exceptional leadership, citizenship and innovation.
“I’m very humbled and honored to receive this award,” said McKibbon. “As I’ve shared previously, there are countless individuals who have inspired me and supported me, shaping my career and bringing me to where I am today. I’m incredibly grateful.”
Lee Hunter, chairman, Hunter Hotel Investment Conference, said of McKibbon, “John’s contributions to the hospitality industry are nothing short of transformational. He has set a remarkable standard for leadership and innovation while fostering a culture of integrity and service. John’s vision and relentless dedication have not only redefined what is possible in our industry, but have also inspired countless others to pursue excellence and give back to their communities. He is the embodiment of what this award represents.”
McKibbon’s hospitality career began in 1977 when he joined the family business, and he took over leadership of the company in the early 1990s. Under his direction, McKibbon Hospitality has grown to a portfolio of more than 100 properties.
When asked about his career highlights, McKibbon chose the conversion of the Days Inn Athens to a Courtyard by Marriott property and becoming one of Marriott’s first franchisee partners in the process.
“That really opened the door for our longstanding relationship with Marriott and helped grow our small family company into a national real estate and hotel management company,” the third-generation hotelier said. “Another career highlight would be developing Kimpton Hotel Arras—Kimpton’s first franchised hotel—in Asheville, NC. This was my final development project before passing the torch to the next generation of McKibbon leaders, including my son, J.B. McKibbon IV, who now serves as president of McKibbon Equities.”
McKibbon was also the first hotelier to bring hospitality accounting online by founding M3, a leading provider of hotel accounting software.
“In the late ’80s, when personal computers became useful, I hired a programmer to write an accounting program so we could replace our expensive main frame,” he said. “In the ’90s, as the internet was gaining traction, we rewrote the program and became one of the first companies to use cloud computing. Today, M3 supports more than 8,000 properties.”
He is also a staunch advocate for education and mentorship, partnering with his alma mater, Florida International University and the University of South Florida “to create teaching labs and special programs where students can immerse themselves in hands-on experiences at McKibbon hotels.”
Besides offering support to the next wave of industry professionals, McKibbon also gives back to the community and special causes through the McKibbon Family Foundation.
“My wife, Letitia, and I are very passionate about a variety of causes including homelessness, education, family services, the arts, disaster relief, animal welfare and much more,” he said. “We created the McKibbon Family Foundation in order to support these causes and give back to the communities that we—as well as our associates—call home.”
