JQH veteran exits O'Reilly Hospitality

Longtime John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts vice president Scott Tarwater has stepped down as chief development officer at O’Reilly Hospitality Management LLC after two years, according to O’Reilly CEO Tim O’Reilly.

O’Reilly said differences of opinion on how to move the hotel development and management firm forward led to Tarwater’s departure.

“Scott and I had a difference of opinion on the direction of the company, and we shook hands and parted ways as friends. Scott is a very quality hospitality professional and individual, and we will miss him and wish him well,” O’Reilly said in an email. “My understanding is that he will remain active in the industry, but I don’t know the details.”

Tarwater, who left the company three weeks ago, according to O’Reilly, did not respond to calls for comment.

Tarwater joined Springfield-based O’Reilly Hospitality in June 2011 after working for more than 20 years with JQH Hotels’ founder John Q. Hammons. The vice president left JQH in late 2010, along with several members of the design team, following Jacquie Dowdy’s rise to CEO. Within months of Tarwater arriving at O’Reilly, JQH Hotels architects Steve Minton and David Horst and four JQH managers also joined O’Reilly.