White Lodging is pleased to announce Jason Druso as its new vice president of restaurants, working on improving the company's food and beverage operations and revenue growth of its outlets.

White Lodging is a fully integrated hotel ownership, development, and operations company focused on developing and operating premium-branded hotels in growing urban markets across the United States.

Its portfolio consists of more than 160 hotels in 21 states and encompasses representation of the following brands: Marriott International, Inc., Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Global, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Preferred Hotel Group, and InterContinental Hotel Group.

"The strength of our restaurants is one of the differentiators for White Lodging," says Keith Daub, COO Full Service. "We are excited to have someone of Jason's experience and caliber to head up this initiative."

Druso is a graduate from Miami University in Ohio with a bachelor's degree in fFinance and marketing where he also played football. Upon graduation, he went to work for Jeff Ruby's Culinary Entertainment, a regional restaurant operator. 

He started out learning the business working in various hourly and supervisor positions and at age 24 was promoted to Assistant General Manager at Waterfront, a 300-seat steak and seafood restaurant with 5,000 square feet of banquet space.  

Druso was later promoted to assistant general manager during the opening of Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse. He then went on to be promoted again to opening general manager at Carlo and Johnny, a 215-seat steakhouse, which under his management won numerous awards. 

While managing Carlo & Johnny he became the corporate director of openings. Druso opened three more restaurants for Jeff Ruby: Tropicana, Coconut Grove, and Jeff Ruby's at Belterra Casino. In addition, while at the restaurant, he passed Level II Sommelier Exam, Court of Master Sommeliers.

Druso went on to be a restaurant consultant and open his own restaurant, Aqua, for five years before selling the business and moving into the hotel business. He was assistant general manager of the Marriott Cincinnati Northeast before being promoted to general manager at the Holiday Inn Cincinnati Riverfront, and then was promoted to the opening general manager of the urban Residence Inn Cincinnati Downtown and Top of the Park rooftop event space.

"I'm excited to start my dream job with White Lodging," Druso says.