A Charleston-Based Appointment
CHARLESTON, South Carolina — The Indigo Road Hospitality Group announced the appointment of Catherine Woods as chief marketing officer on 14 October 2026. Woods is based in Charleston. She joins the company's executive leadership team and reports to Steve Palmer, founder and chief visionary officer.
The Remit
Woods leads marketing across IRHG's restaurants, hotels, bars, coffee shops, private membership clubs, event venues and lifestyle experiences. She works with operations, development and executive leadership to strengthen the company's individual brands.
Her remit spans brand development and strategy, integrated marketing, public relations, partnerships and programming. The release gives the remit an emphasis on storytelling, creative execution and initiatives that support the company's business and growth objectives.
The Hotels in the Collection
IRHG's own hotel page lists seven open properties under an Open Hotels heading. Marshall House sits in Savannah. Hermitage Farm is in Louisville. Post House is in Charleston. The Flat Iron is in Asheville. The George is in Georgetown. Snowbird Mountain Lodge is in Robbinsville. Skyline Lodge is in Highlands.
Three further properties sit under a Hotels Coming Soon heading. The Haigler Hotel is in Camden, Hotel Merrydelle is in Jacksonville and The Chambray is in Atlanta. Woods's remit covers the hotels on that roster alongside the group's restaurants, bars, coffee shops, membership clubs and event venues.
Palmer on the Appointment
"Every concept has its own identity, and that individuality is part of what makes each experience special," Palmer said. "Catherine is a creative and talented marketer who understands how to elevate that individuality through strong marketing strategies while keeping sight of the business behind the brand."
He described that combination as valuable as the company continues to invest in its individual brands and the group.
Woods's Background
Woods brings more than 16 years of experience in corporate marketing and brand strategy. Before joining IRHG she held marketing leadership roles at Belmond, part of LVMH, and most recently served as vice president of marketing for Beemok Hospitality Collection.
Her background includes integrated marketing, partnerships and experiential activations. The release lists collaborations spanning American Express, Resy, Daniel Humm Hospitality, Over the Moon, Krewe, Jenni Kayne, Schumacher and Wölffer Estate.
Woods on the Move
"I was drawn to The Indigo Road Hospitality Group because it's a company with a strong sense of purpose and a genuine commitment to its people and the communities it serves," Woods said. "There's tremendous opportunity to build on that foundation, strengthening what makes each brand distinctive and telling those stories in more compelling ways."
The Seat She Takes
The release does not name a predecessor. Trade coverage in July 2024 reported that IRHG created the chief marketing officer role for Katharine Ames, who took it on as a newly created position reporting to Palmer.
IRHG's own leadership page now lists Catherine Woods with the title Marketing. The page carries no entry for Katharine Ames.