Matthew Mering

Executive Vice President of Hospitality at Waterton

In his current position, Matthew's day-to-day responsibilities include growing the Outbound Hotels brand through overseeing and advancing the existing hotels, as well as acquiring and investing in new properties within the portfolio. In doing so, he combines his personal connection to the outdoors to conceptualize a brand that celebrates local communities and destinations while catering to travelers seeking a blend of outdoor activities and comfortable accommodations. Matthew enjoys working alongside a diverse group of people, valuing collaboration and the opportunity to learn from others while building a brand from the ground up.

Prior to his current role at Waterton, Matthew's professional journey encompassed various experiences in the hospitality space. He began his career as a bartender at Club Med in Cancun and later founded Reserve Nightclub in Chicago from 2002 to 2006. Following that, he transitioned into Hotel Investment as the Director of Development at Salita Development. Alongside his real estate ventures, Matthew opened a hotel and two restaurants in Chicago, including The Bedford and Carriage House, which received accolades as some of the best new restaurants in the country. From 2013 to 2019, he served as the VP of Acquisitions at Graves Hospitality in Minneapolis, working closely with Marriott on the launch of the Moxy brand. During his tenure, Matthew successfully opened several hotels in Portland, San Francisco, and Minneapolis, and Michigan.
Raised in Northern Michigan, Matthew developed a deep love for nature and adventure from an early age. He pursued his undergraduate studies at Michigan State University and went on to earn an MBA from the University of Chicago. In addition to his affinity for hospitality, travel, and the food and beverage business, Matthew enjoys engaging in outdoor activities such as skiing and hiking. When he's not working or exploring the great outdoors, he cherishes quality time with his wife and two sons.