Document:

EX-10.1

 Exhibit 10.1 

Jonathan Halkyard 
 President and Chief Executive Officer 

Extended Stay America, Inc. and ESH Hospitality, Inc. 
 11525 N.
Community House Rd., Suite 100 
 Charlotte, NC 28277 
 Dear
Jonathan: 
 Following up our previous discussion, this letter agreement confirms the terms of your continued employment during the transition period from
your leadership to Bruce Haase (the “CEO”). 
 By counter-signing below, you hereby resign from your positions as President and Chief Executive
Officer of Extended Stay America, Inc. (“ESA”) and ESH Hospitality, Inc. (“ESH”), your positions on the ESA and ESH boards of directors, and your officer positions in ESA’s various subsidiaries. As of November 21, 2019,
the following terms will become effective: 
  

			
	New Title:	  	Senior Advisor, reporting to the CEO. You will be an employee of ESA and not an independent contractor.
		
	Advisory Term:	  	November 21, 2019 through February 25, 2020. Your separation date shall be February 25, 2020 (“Separation Date”).
		
	Duties:	  	Assistance and advice as needed and requested by the CEO to support his transition into the roles as President and Chief Executive Officer of ESA and ESH. There is no minimum hour commitment on your part.
		
	Place of Work:	  	You will work remotely.
		
	Compensation:	  	The compensation for your employment during the Advisory Term will be continued vesting of your outstanding RSUs as described below. You will not be entitled to receive any other compensation for your employment during the Advisory
Term, other than pursuant to applicable employee benefits plans, programs or policies, in accordance with their terms and conditions.
		
	Benefits:	  	During the Advisory Term, you will continue to be eligible to participate in ESA’s standard benefits program through your employment other than ESA’s 401(k) plan.
		
	Reimbursement:	  	ESA will continue to reimburse you in accordance with ESA’s expense reimbursement policy for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by you during the
Advisory Term performing services as requested by the CEO.
		
	Performance RSUs:	  	Subject to your execution and non-revocation of this letter agreement and Exhibit A attached hereto, 3,978 RSUs will remain eligible to vest as of December 31st 2019 based on actual Adjusted EBITDA results for the 2019 calendar year and 12,056 RSUs will remain eligible to vest based on actual rTSR results for the applicable performance period, in each case,
in accordance with your RSU award agreements and provided you are employed by ESA on each such vesting date. For the sake of clarity, any RSUs with respect to which the applicable performance period will not end prior to the Separation Date shall be
forfeited immediately for no consideration.

			
	Time Based RSUs:	  	Subject to your execution and non-revocation of this letter agreement and Exhibit A attached hereto, 32,013 time-vesting RSUs that are scheduled to vest on February 7, 2020, 29,796
time-vesting RSUs that are scheduled to vest on February 23, 2020, and 3,410 time-vesting RSUs that are scheduled to vest on February 21, 2020, in each case, will vest as scheduled provided you are employed by ESA on each such vesting
date.
		
	Additional RSU Terms:	  	You will be entitled to receive distributions (or distribution equivalents) with respect to the above-referenced RSUs pursuant to the terms and conditions of the applicable award agreement. If your employment is terminated by ESA
without Cause (as defined in the Severance Plan) prior to the applicable vesting date, you will vest in the above-referenced RSUs on your employment termination date (or as of December 31, 2019, if later).
		
	Severance:	  	 You acknowledge that you are a participant under ESA’s Executive Severance Plan (“Severance Plan”). In accordance with
Section 4 of the Severance Plan, subject to (i) your execution and non-revocation of this letter agreement and the general release in Exhibit A, (ii) your continued compliance with the
restrictive covenants in Section 6 of the Severance Plan, and (iii) your continued employment through January 17, 2020 (unless your employment is terminated by ESA without Cause (as defined in the Severance Plan) prior to such date),
you shall be entitled to the following (the benefits provided for in subsections (a), (b) and (c) referred to herein as the “Severance Benefits”):
  

(a) a cash payment in the amount of $2,781,000 equal to the sum of (i) one and one-half (1.5x) times your Annual
Base Salary (as defined in the Severance Plan) as of November 21, 2019 and (i) one and one-half (1.5x) times your Target Bonus (as defined in the Severance Plan) as of November 21, 2019, payable
in a single lump sum on January 17, 2020;
  
 (b) subject to your timely election
of healthcare continuation under COBRA, reimbursement for COBRA premiums for the one year period following your employment termination date or until you cease COBRA coverage, to the extent such premiums exceed the amount that you would have paid as
an active employee during such period; provided, that, ESA reserves the right to modify this benefit to the extent it is not permitted to be provided by law or not permitted to be provided without penalty to ESA;
and

			
		
		  	(c) payment for executive outplacement services provided by a firm to be determined by ESA in its sole discretion for a period of six (6) months following your employment termination date.

  

			
	Restrictive Covenants:	  	You will be subject to, and required to comply with, the covenants and other provisions contained in Section 6 of the Severance Plan.
		
	Code Section 409A:	  	You and ESA acknowledge and agree that as of November 21, 2019 you will commence transition services as an employee of ESA at a rate that is less than 20% of the average level of bona fide services provided by you to ESA over
the 36-month period immediately preceding such date. Consequently, it is intended that as of November 21, 2019 you shall incur a “separation from service” with ESA within the meaning of
Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder (including for purposes of ESA’s Deferred Compensation Plan).
		
	Withholding:	  	ESA shall be entitled to deduct or withhold, or may require you to remit to ESA, at least the minimum statutory amount to satisfy federal, state or local taxes required by law or regulation to be withheld with respect to any benefit
provided hereunder.
		
	Release:	  	 In consideration of the payments and benefits that you shall receive under this letter agreement and the Severance Plan, and in consideration
of the mutual consideration contained in this letter agreement, the Severance Plan and acknowledged by you in the participation agreement to the Severance Plan, you shall execute a release of claims attached hereto as Exhibit A following your
receipt of this letter agreement.
  
 You shall reaffirm the release set forth in this
section by executing a reaffirmation in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Reaffirmation”) on the day after the Separation Date. You further acknowledge that if you sign the Reaffirmation on the day after the Separation
Date, it will be voluntary without any duress or compulsion by ESA. If you do not execute the Reaffirmation, all RSUs that become vested pursuant to this letter agreement shall be immediately forfeited for no consideration and be of no further force
and effect, but the remainder of this letter agreement shall continue in full force. The date that the Reaffirmation becomes effective herein is referred to as the “Final Release Effective Date.”

 Jonathan, please sign below to reflect your agreement to the terms outlined in this memorandum and return to
my attention. 
  

			
	 /s/ Jonathan Halkyard

	Jonathan Halkyard
	Date: November 21, 2019
	
	 /s/ Christopher Dekle

	Christopher Dekle
	General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
	Extended Stay America, Inc.
	Date: November 21, 2019
	
	 /s/ Christopher Dekle

	Christopher Dekle
	General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
	ESH Hospitality, Inc.
	Date: November 21, 2019

 Exhibit A 

General Release 

Jonathan Halkyard (“Participant”) and Extended Stay America, Inc. (the “Company”), for and in consideration
of the payments and benefits that Participant shall receive under the Extended Stay America, Inc. Executive Severance Plan (the “Plan”), and in consideration of the mutual consideration contained in the Plan and acknowledged by the
Participant in the Participation Agreement to the Plan, Participant and the Company hereby execute the following General Release (“Release”) and agree as follows (capitalized terms not defined below shall have the meaning set forth
in the Plan): 
 1.    Participant, on behalf of Participant, Participant’s agents, assignees, attorneys,
successors, assigns, heirs and executors, to, and Participant does hereby fully and completely forever release each of the Company and those parties for which Participant has provided services in connection with his or her employment by the Company,
including without limitation, their respective Affiliates, predecessors and successors and all of their respective past and/or present officers, directors, partners, members, managing members, managers, executives, agents, representatives,
administrators, attorneys, insurers and fiduciaries in their individual and/or representative capacities (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Released Parties”), from any and all causes of action, suits, agreements,
promises, damages, disputes, controversies, contentions, differences, judgments, claims, debts, dues, sums of money, accounts, reckonings, bonds, bills, specialties, covenants, contracts, variances, trespasses, extents, executions and demands of any
kind whatsoever, which Participant or Participant’s heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns ever had, now have or may have against the Released Parties or any of them, in law, admiralty or equity, whether known or unknown to
Participant, for, upon, or by reason of, any matter, action, omission, course or thing whatsoever occurring up to the date this Release is signed by Participant, including, without limitation, in connection with or in relationship to
Participant’s employment or other service relationship with the Company or its respective Affiliates, the termination of any such employment or service relationship and any applicable employment, compensatory or equity arrangement with the
Company or its respective Affiliates (such released claims are collectively referred to herein as the “Released Claims”). 

2.    The Released Claims include, without limitation, (i) any and all claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Civil Rights Act of 1971, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family
and Medical Leave Act of 1993, and any and all other federal, state or local laws, statutes, rules and regulations pertaining to employment or otherwise, and (ii) any claims for wrongful discharge, breach of contract, fraud, misrepresentation
or any compensation claims, or any other claims under any statute, rule, regulation or under the common law, including compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorney’s fees, costs, expenses and all claims for any other type of damage or
relief. The Released Claims shall not include any claims (i) to entitlements under the Plan, (ii) for indemnification, advancement of expenses and other right to benefit from the exculpatory provisions pursuant under the organizational
documents of the Company or any indemnification agreement with Participant, (iii) any right to accrued salary or vacation, or entitlements under any employee benefit plan maintained by the Company, (iv) with respect to Participant’s
rights in his capacity as an equity holder of the Company and its Affiliates, and to payments or benefits under any equity award agreement between the undersigned and the Company, (v) for workers’ compensation or unemployment benefits,
(vi) to bring to the attention of the Equal Employment Opportunity claims of discrimination, harassment or retaliation; provided, however, that Participant does release Participant’s right to secure damages for any alleged
discriminatory, harassing or retaliatory treatment or (vii) to assert any other rights that may not be waived by an employee under applicable law. 

 3.    This means that, by signing this Release, Participant shall have
waived any right which Participant may have had to bring a lawsuit or make any claim against the Released Parties based on the Released Claims. If any government agency brings any claim or conducts any investigation against the Company, nothing in
this Release forbids Participant from cooperating in such proceedings, but by this Release, Participant waives and agrees to relinquish any damages or other individual relief that may be awarded as a result of any such proceedings. 

4.    Participant agrees to make himself or herself reasonably available to the Company in connection with any claims,
disputes, investigations, regulatory examinations or actions, lawsuits or administrative proceedings relating to matters in which Participant was involved during the period in which Participant was an officer of the Company, and to provide
information to the Company, and otherwise cooperate with the Company in the investigation, defense or prosecution of such actions. 

5.    Participant represents that he or she has read carefully and fully understands the terms of this Release, and that
Participant has been advised to consult with an attorney and has had the opportunity to consult with an attorney prior to signing this Release. Participant acknowledges that he is executing this Release voluntarily and knowingly and that he has not
relied on any representations, promises or agreements of any kind made to Participant in connection with Participant’s decision to accept the terms of this Release, other than those set forth in this Release. 

6.    Participant acknowledges that Participant has been given at least twenty-one
(21) days to consider whether Participant wants to sign this Release and that the Age Discrimination in Employment Act gives Participant the right to revoke this Release within seven (7) days after it is signed, and Participant understands
that Participant will not receive any payments due him or her under the Plan until such seven (7) day revocation period (the “Revocation Period”) has passed and then, only if Participant has not revoked this Release. Upon such
revocation, this Release and the provisions entitling him or her to future benefits under the Plan shall be null and void and of no further force and effect. To the extent Participant has executed this Release within less than twenty-one (21) days after its delivery to Participant, Participant hereby acknowledges that his or her decision to execute this Release prior to the expiration of such
twenty-one (21) day period was entirely voluntary. 
  

	
	 /s/ Jonathan Halkyard

	Participant
	
	 November 21, 2019

	Date

 Exhibit B 

Reaffirmation 
 Reference is hereby made
to the letter agreement (“Agreement”), between the undersigned, Extended Stay America, Inc. (“ESA”), and ESH Hospitality, Inc. (“ESH”, together with ESA, the “Company”), dated as of
November 21, 2019, which Agreement contemplates the execution by the undersigned of this Reaffirmation (this “Reaffirmation”). It is acknowledged and agreed that this Reaffirmation will be part of and subject to the terms of
the Agreement, and capitalized terms in this Reaffirmation will be as defined in the Agreement unless otherwise defined herein. 
 The undersigned hereby
states, affirms, and agrees as follows: 
 A.    The release of claims in the Agreement is hereby reaffirmed in
full as if fully set forth herein and executed as of the date hereof. 
 B.    The execution of this
Reaffirmation is without any admission of liability by the Company. 
 C.    The undersigned has considered and
understands the terms of this Reaffirmation, the consideration he will receive if he enters into this Reaffirmation and does not revoke it, and what rights and benefits he is giving up, up to and including the date he signs, including his rights
under the ADEA. The undersigned has hereby been advised to consult an attorney about the contents and meaning of this Reaffirmation, and has had the opportunity to do so to his satisfaction. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that he knowingly
and voluntarily has entered into this Reaffirmation agreement with complete understanding of all relevant facts, and that he was neither fraudulently induced nor coerced to enter into this Reaffirmation. 

 

			
	                                    
                                         
         
	 Name:
	 	Jonathan Halkyard
		
	 Date:EX-10.2

 Exhibit 10.2 

Bruce Haase 
 Dear Bruce: 

We are pleased to offer you employment with Extended Stay of America, Inc. (“ESA”) and on the following terms: 

 

			
	Position:	  	President and Chief Executive Officer of ESA. You will also be the President and Chief Executive Officer of ESH Hospitality, Inc. (“ESH”). On the Effective Date, you will be appointed to the Board of Directors of
ESA.
		
	Effective Date:	  	November 22, 2019.
		
	Reporting to:	  	The Boards of Directors of ESA and ESH (the “Boards”).
		
	Base Compensation:	  	 For the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on December 31, 2021, cash compensation at the rate of $100,000 per annum to
be paid in accordance with ESA’s normal payroll practices.
  
 As of
December 2, 2019, you will be granted restricted stock units (“RSUs”) in respect of 175,000 Paired Shares (as defined in the LTIP) under the terms of the Amended and Restated ESA Long-Term Incentive Plan (the
“LTIP”). The RSUs will vest in respect of 7,000 Paired Shares on the last day of each calendar month beginning on December 2, 2019 and ending on December 31, 2021, subject to your continued service on each vesting date.
Each of the RSUs that have become vested shall be settled in Paired Shares, in each case, on the earlier of (x) your termination of employment for any reason, (y) a Change in Control (as such term is defined in the LTIP), but only if such
Change in Control constitutes a “change in the ownership or effective control of” or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of” of the Company within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal
Revenue Code (the “Code”) which shall be interpreted in a consistent manner in accordance with the definition of a “change in control” under Code Section 409A, or (z) the 15th day of March in calendar year 2022.
  

If your employment is terminated by ESA without Cause (as defined in the LTIP) before the last day of a calendar month, then the 7,000 RSUs applicable to that
given month will vest on a pro rata basis through your termination date.
  
 You and the
Boards shall discuss the form and amount of your base compensation for periods following December 31, 2021.

			
		
	Annual Bonus Eligibility:	  	You will not be eligible for ESA’s annual bonus plan in respect of any period prior to December 31, 2021.
		
	Sign-On Equity Grant:	  	 As soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Date, pursuant to the LTIP, you will be granted time-vesting RSUs in respect of 100,000
Paired Shares, which shall vest pro-rata on each of the first three anniversaries of the Effective Date, subject to your continued service on each vesting date. In the first quarter of 2020, you will be
granted performance-vesting RSUs in respect of 100,000 Paired Shares, which will vest on the basis of the same performance metrics applicable to the awards granted to the other senior executives of ESA at the same time.

 
 If, within 24 months following a Change in Control, your employment is terminated by ESA
without Cause (as defined in the LTIP) or by you for Good Reason (as defined in the Severance Plan and amended herein), then the RSUs will become fully vested (with the performance RSUs vesting at the target level of performance).

		
	Annual Equity Grants:	  	Commencing in 2021, you will be eligible for equity grants pursuant to the LTIP in amount determined by the Boards or the Compensation Committees thereof and shall be granted in such form as is consistent with those applicable to
the equity awards granted to the other senior executives of ESA.
		
	Treatment of Prior Equity Awards and Director Quarterly Fees:	  	Any equity awards that were previously granted to you will continue to vest in accordance with its terms. Any quarterly fees that you are owed for services as a director of ESH prior to the Effective Date shall be paid in cash on a pro-rated basis based on the date on which your employment commences.
		
	Benefits/Vacation:	  	You will be eligible to participate in ESA’s benefit plan(s) and ESA will provide you with an opportunity to obtain life insurance as mutually agreed. You will be eligible for vacation in accordance with ESA’s
policy.
		
	Severance:	  	You will become a participant in ESA’s Executive Severance Plan (the “Severance Plan”) and by execution of this offer letter, this offer letter shall constitute your Participation Agreement (as defined in the
Severance Plan) effective as of the Effective Date by which you agree to be bound by and subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Severance Plan; provided, however, that the cash severance benefit you will be entitled to if you experience a
Qualifying Termination (as defined in the Severance Plan), on or before December 31, 2021, will be $2,700,000 through December 31, 2021 and thereafter as mutually agreed to with the Boards, subject to your execution and non-revocation of a
Release Agreement (as defined in the Severance Plan). If you experience a Qualifying Termination after December 31, 2021, your severance amount will be 150% of your “base compensation” as agreed between you and the Boards and if there
is no agreement on your base compensation, the amount shall be no less than $2,700,000.

			
		
		  	 Under the definition of Good Reason under the Severance Plan, for the period commencing after December 31, 2021, a “material
diminution in Participant’s base salary” will be replaced with a “material diminution in the total value of Participant’s annual Base Compensation (i.e., 7,000 x 12 x ESA’s closing share price on December 2, 2019 plus
$100,000)”, unless the parties mutually agree in writing otherwise.
  
 Upon a
termination of your employment with ESA, at the request of the Boards, you will resign as a director of ESA and ESH.

		
	Restrictive Covenants:	  	You will be subject to the covenants and other provisions contained in Section 6 of ESA’s Executive Severance Plan.
		
	Survival of ESH Director Agreements:	  	Your rights under any agreements entered into relating to your services as a director of ESH shall survive the execution of this offer letter and remain in full force and effect.
		
	Dispute Resolution/Governing Law:	  	This offer letter shall be governed by the laws of Delaware. Any dispute, controversy or claim between that arises out of or relates to this offer letter, your employment with ESA, or any termination of such employment, shall be
determined by final, binding, and confidential arbitration held and conducted by JAMS, Inc. (“JAMS”), under its then-applicable JAMS Employment Arbitration Rules and Procedures. The arbitrator’s fees and any filing and
administrative fees and costs owed will be divided equally between you and ESA.
		
	Section 280G Cutback:	  	To the extent that you would otherwise be eligible to receive a payment or benefit pursuant to the terms of this offer letter or any equity compensation or other agreement with ESA or any subsidiary or otherwise in connection with,
or arising out of, your employment with ESA or a change in ownership or effective control of ESA or of a substantial portion of its assets (any such payment or benefit, a “Parachute Payment”), that is determined would be subject to
excise tax imposed by Code Section 4999 (the “Excise Tax”), then ESA shall pay you whichever of the following two alternative forms of payment would result in your receipt, on an
after-tax basis, of the greater amount of the Parachute Payment notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Parachute Payment may be subject to the Excise Tax: (1) payment in full of the entire amount
of the Parachute Payment (a “Full Payment”), or (2) payment of only a part of the Parachute Payment so that you receive the largest payment possible without the imposition of the Excise Tax (a “Reduced
Payment”). The parties agree that you are not entitled to any tax gross ups under any circumstances in relation to any Parachute Payments under Code Section 280G.

			
		
	Treatment under Code Section 409A:	  	The intent of the parties is that payments and benefits under this offer letter comply with or are exempt from Code Section 409A and the regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder and, accordingly, to the maximum extent
permitted, this offer letter shall be interpreted to be exempt from Section 409A or in compliance therewith, as applicable.

 By signing below in accepting this offer set forth in this offer letter, you represent, warrant and agree that (i) you
are not subject to any contract, arrangement, policy or understanding, or to any statute, governmental rule or regulation, that in any way limits your ability to enter into and fully perform the your obligations under this offer letter,
(ii) you are not otherwise unable to enter into and fully perform your obligations under this offer letter, (iii) you are not in default under, or in breach of, any agreement requiring you to preserve the confidentiality of any
information, client lists, trade secrets or other confidential information or agreements not to compete or interfere with any prior employer including, but not limited to, any employment agreement, and (iv) neither the execution and delivery of
this offer letter nor the performance by you of your obligations hereunder will conflict with, result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, any confidentiality or non-competition agreement or any
employment agreement to which you are a party or to which you may be subject and during your employment with ESA you will preserve the confidentiality of all information with respect to which you have an obligation of confidentiality to any other
person. In the event of a breach of any representation or covenant in this paragraph, ESA may terminate this offer letter and your employment with ESA without any liability to you and you shall indemnify ESA for any liability it may incur as a
result of any such breach. 
 Your employment with ESA will be “at will” meaning that it can be terminated with or without cause, and with or
without notice, at any time, at the option of either ESA or you, except as otherwise prohibited by law. The terms of this offer letter, therefore, do not and are not intended to create either an expressed and/or implied contract of employment with
ESA. 
 If the terms set forth in this offer letter are acceptable to you, please sign below where indicated and return an executed version to me. 

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. 

Sincerely, 
  

	
	 /s/ Christopher Dekle

	 Christopher Dekle

	 General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

 Agreed and Accepted this 21 day of November, 2019 

/s/ Bruce Haase                     

Bruce Haase

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