G. J. “Jay” Shinn is the CEO of Magnolia Lodging, LLC. Since the company’s 1998 inception with father-and-son business partners Wayne and Matthew Newton, Shinn’s 25+ years of industry experience have grown Magnolia Lodging into an organization distinguished by its continued success.

An active member of the Homewood Suites Advisory Council, Shinn’s previous industry leadership positions include seats on the Boards of Directors for the Greater Dallas Hotel Association and the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association. Shinn operates the company’s hotels with an award-winning culture and demand for excellence that yield results: Magnolia’s Homewood Suites by Hilton properties consistently rank within the top 10 percent the brand for year-end balanced scorecards. Shinn was named the 2006 Homewood Suites by Hilton Developer of the Year, and the Homewood Suites by Hilton Plano/Richardson property was recognized as a Homewood Hotel of the Year in 2005. The Hilton Garden Inn Dallas/Richardson received the 2009 HotelWorld Award for Best Lobby/Public Space – Limited Service. All three Magnolia Lodging Homewood Suites hotels placed in the top five brand-wide for the 2011 balanced score card; furthermore, the Homewood Suites Dallas/Allen was named the Top Performing New Hotel of 2011. (Please visit the awards page for a complete list of awards and recognition)

An accomplished artist with ongoing national exhibitions and international residencies, Shinn applies an artistic eye for design, detail and style to the entire Magnolia portfolio. Design palettes and materials are carefully selected to create modern and inviting environments for the business, leisure and local guest. Four of the company’s five current hotels feature extensive collections of original artwork, including painting, prints, photography, sculpture and video installations. The Homewood Suites Plano/Richardson, Dallas/Allen, and the Hilton Garden Inn Dallas/Richardson all feature the Texas Icons portraiture, a collection of celebrities, athletes, musicians, and politicians who were either born or lived in the state of Texas.

Shinn received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Kansas City Art Institute and is designated by the American Lodging Association as a CHA.