Document:

exv10w20

EXHIBIT 10.20

December 9, 2009

William J. Tennis, Esq.

8113 River Falls Drive

Potomac, MD 20854

Re: DiamondRock Offer Letter

Dear Bill:

We are pleased to offer you the position of Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate
Secretary of DiamondRock Hospitality Company. This letter outlines the general responsibilities of
the position as well as the basic terms of compensation.

General Responsibilities

The Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary is the chief legal officer of
DiamondRock Hospitality Company (the “Company”), accountable for all legal activities of the
Company.

The General Counsel is a key member of leadership and the executive team and is a proactive advisor
to the CEO, Chairman and the Board of Directors with the ability to handle matters in an
appropriately confidential and productive manner. The General Counsel provides senior executives
with a full range of legal expertise and options in furtherance of the Company’s goals and
objectives.

Principal legal responsibilities and processes managed by the Executive Vice President, General
Counsel and Corporate Secretary will be comparable to those performed by General Counsels in other
similar public companies.

The Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary is responsible for motivating
and leading the members of the legal department, including providing mentoring, coaching and
direction. He or she should foster a success-oriented, accountable environment within the legal
department. He or she also needs to manage the legal budget of the Company.

In addition, the Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate is responsible for
obtaining all insurance that is procured directly by the Company.

The Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary reports to the Chief
Executive Officer and is a member of the Company’s Executive Committee.

Compensation

The position will have the following compensation components. The Company reserves the right, at
the discretion of the Board of Directors, to modify these terms in the future subject to
limitations in the Severance Agreement. Additionally, the Compensation Committee of the Company
will need to formally approve the terms of these compensation terms at its meeting on December 15,
2009. Each of the members of the Compensation Committee has been advised of these terms.

Base Salary: The position pays a base salary twice a month in an amount that annualized equates to
$305,000.00.

Bonus: The cash bonus for the position is targeted at 66% of the actual amount of base pay received
in a fiscal year. There is a threshold and a maximum bonus of 33% and 100%, respectively, of base
pay received in a fiscal year. The design of the cash bonus program will be at the discretion of
the Chief Executive Officer with approval by the Compensation Committee of the Company; however the
design of the program shall be substantially the same as for the other executives of the Company.

Long-Term Incentive: The Company will award you $500,000 of equity based incentive compensation at
the same date as the other senior executives receive their grants at the meeting of the board of
directors scheduled for the end of February 2010. The design and vesting schedule will be
finalized at that same board meeting; however, your design and vesting schedule shall be the same
as for the other executives of the Company.

Severance Agreement: The Company will provide you with a severance agreement substantially the same
as in place for its former General Counsel except that it will not provide for any tax gross up
provisions. The referenced agreement has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
and is available for your review on their website.

 

 

Other Benefits: In addition to the compensation terms outlined above, the Company will provide you
with the same benefits as are currently in place for the Company’s Chief Financial Officer.

In conclusion, we look forward to you becoming a member of our team and hope that you find these
terms agreeable. Once you accept this offer, we can mutually agree on a starting date no later
than January 4, 2010.

Regards,

	 	 	 
	/s/ Mark W. Brugger
 

Mark W. Brugger

	 	 
	Chief Executive Officer
	 	 

Accepted:

	 	 	 
	/s/ William J. Tennis
 

William J. Tennisexv10w21

EXHIBIT 10.21

[Executive]

SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

     THIS SEVERANCE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made this [     ] day of [                    ], by
DiamondRock Hospitality Company, a Maryland corporation (the “REIT”), with its principal place of
business at 6903 Rockledge Drive, Suite 800, Bethesda, Maryland 20817 and [                    ], residing
at [                    ] (the “Executive”).

     1. Purpose

     The REIT considers it essential to the best interests of its stockholders to promote and
preserve the continuous employment of key management personnel. The Board of Directors of the REIT
(the “Board of Directors”) recognizes that, as in the case with many corporations, the possibility
of a termination of employment exists and that such possibility, and the uncertainty and questions
that it may raise among management, may result in the distraction of key management personnel to
the detriment of the REIT and its stockholders. Therefore, the Board of Directors has determined
that appropriate steps should be taken to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and
dedication of members of the REIT’s key management. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed
as creating an express or implied contract of employment and, except as otherwise agreed in writing
between the Executive and the REIT, the Executive shall not have any right to be retained in the
employ of the REIT.

     2. Definitions

          (a) Accrued Salary. “Accrued Salary” shall mean accrued and unpaid base salary through the
Date of Termination. In addition, in the event the Executive’s annual bonus for the REIT’s most
recently completed fiscal year has not yet been paid to the Executive, then Accrued Salary also
shall include such prior fiscal year’s earned, accrued and unpaid bonus.

          (b) Cause. “Cause” for termination shall mean a determination by the Board of Directors in
good faith that any of the following events has occurred: (i) indictment of the Executive of, or
the conviction or entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere by the Executive to any felony, or
any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude; (ii) the Executive engaging in conduct which
constitutes a material breach of a fiduciary duty or duty of loyalty, including without limitation,
misappropriation of funds or property of the REIT, DiamondRock Hospitality Limited Partnership (the
“Operating Partnership”) and their subsidiaries (the REIT, the Operating Partnership and their
subsidiaries are hereinafter referred to as the “DiamondRock Group”) other than an occasional and
de minimis use of Company property for personal purposes; (iii) the Executive’s willful failure or
gross negligence in the performance of his assigned duties for the DiamondRock Group, which failure
or gross negligence continues for more than 5 days following the Executive’s receipt of written or
electronic notice of such willful failure or gross negligence from the Board of Directors; (iv) any
act or omission of the Executive
that has a demonstrated and material adverse impact on the DiamondRock Group’s reputation for
honesty and fair dealing or any other conduct of the Executive that would reasonably be expected to
result in injury to the reputation of the DiamondRock Group; or (v) willful failure to cooperate
with a bona fide internal investigation or an investigation by regulatory or law enforcement
authorities, after being instructed by the REIT to cooperate, or the willful

 

 

destruction or failure
to preserve documents or other materials known to be relevant to such investigation or the willful
inducement of others to fail to cooperate, destroy or fail to produce documents or other materials.

     For purposes of this Section 2(b), any act, or failure to act, based upon authority given
pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors or based upon the written advice of
counsel for the DiamondRock Group shall be conclusively presumed to be done, or omitted to be done,
by the Executive in good faith and in the best interests of the DiamondRock Group. The cessation
of employment of the Executive shall not be deemed to be for Cause unless and until there shall
have been delivered to the Executive a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of
the Board of Directors, finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board of Directors, the
Executive has engaged in the conduct described in this Section 2(b); provided, that if the
Executive is a member of the Board of Directors, the Executive shall not vote on such resolution.

          (c) Change in Control. “Change in Control” shall mean any of the following events:

	 	(i)	 	The conclusion of the acquisition (whether by a
merger or otherwise) by any Person (other than a Qualified Affiliate),
in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, of
Beneficial Ownership of more than 50% of (1) the REIT’s outstanding
common stock (the “Common Stock”) or (2) the combined voting power of
the REIT’s outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors (the “Outstanding Voting Securities”);
	 
	 	(ii)	 	The merger or consolidation of the REIT with or
into any other Person other than a Qualified Affiliate, if the
directors immediately prior to the merger or consolidation cease to be
the majority of the Board of Directors at anytime within 12 months of
the completion of the merger or consolidation;
	 
	 	(iii)	 	Any one or a series of related sales or
conveyances to any Person or Persons (including a liquidation or
dissolution) other than any one or more Qualified Affiliates of all or
substantially all of the assets of the REIT or the Operating
Partnership; or
	 
	 	(iv)	 	Incumbent Directors cease, for any reason, to
be a majority of the members of the Board of Directors, where an
“Incumbent Director” is (1) an individual who is a member of the Board
of Directors on the effective date of this Agreement or (2) any new
director whose appointment by the Board of Directors or whose
nomination for election by the stockholders was approved by a
majority of the persons who were already Incumbent Directors at the
time of such appointment, election or approval, other than any
individual who assumes office initially as a result of an actual or

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	 	 	 	threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal
of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or
consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board of
Directors or as a result of an agreement to avoid or settle such a
contest or solicitation.

     A Change in Control shall also be deemed to have occurred upon the completion of a tender
offer for the REIT’s securities representing more than 50% of the Outstanding Voting Securities,
other than a tender offer by a Qualified Affiliate.

     For purposes of this definition of Change in Control, the following definitions shall apply:
(A) “Beneficial Ownership,” “Beneficially Owned” and “Beneficially Owns” shall have the meanings
provided in Exchange Act Rule 13d-3; (B) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended; (C) “Person” shall mean any individual, entity, or group (within the meaning of
Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), including any natural person, corporation,
trust, association, company, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, legal entity of
any kind, government, or political subdivision, agency or instrumentality of a government, as well
as two or more Persons acting as a partnership, limited partnership, syndicate or other group for
the purpose of acquiring, holding or disposing of the REIT’s securities; and (D) “Qualified
Affiliate” shall mean (I) any directly or indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of the REIT or the
Operating Partnership; (II) any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by
the REIT or the Operating Partnership or by any entity controlled by the REIT or the Operating
Partnership; or (III) any Person consisting in whole or in part of the Executive or one or more
individuals who are then the REIT’s Chief Executive Officer or any other named executive officer
(as defined in Item 402 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933) of the REIT as
indicated in its most recent securities filing made before the date of the transaction.

          (d) Date of Termination. “Date of Termination” shall mean the actual date of the Executive’s
termination of employment with the REIT.

          (e) Disability. “Disability” shall mean if the Executive is unable to engage in any
substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment
which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not
less than 12 months.

          (f) Good Reason. “Good Reason” for termination shall mean the occurrence of one of the
following events, without the Executive’s prior written consent, provided such event is not
corrected within 15 days following the Board of Director’s receipt of written or electronic notice
of such event: (i) a material diminution in the Executive’s duties or responsibilities or any
material demotion from the Executive’s current position at the REIT, including, without limitation:
(A) if the Executive is the CEO, either discontinuing his direct
reporting to the Board of Directors or a committee thereof or discontinuing the direct
reporting to the CEO by each of the senior executives responsible for finance, legal, acquisition
and operations or (B) if the Executive is not the CEO, discontinuing the Executive reporting
directly to the CEO or (C) if the Executive is the Chief Accounting Officer, discontinuing the
Executive’s reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer or to the Chief Executive Officer;

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(ii) if the Executive is a member of the Board of Directors, the failure of the REIT or its
affiliates to nominate the Executive as a Director of the REIT; (iii) a requirement that the
Executive work principally from a location outside the 50 mile radius from the REIT’s address,
except for required travel on the REIT’s business to the extent substantially consistent with the
Executive’s business travel obligations on the date hereof; (iv) failure to pay the Executive any
compensation, benefits or to honor any indemnification agreement to which the Executive is entitled
within 30 days of the date due; or (v) the occurrence of any of the following events or conditions
in the year immediately following a Change in Control: (A) a reduction in the Executive’s annual
base salary or annual bonus opportunity as in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control;
(B) the failure of the REIT to obtain an agreement, reasonably satisfactory to the Executive, from
any successor or assign of the REIT to assume and agree to adopt this Agreement for a period of at
least two years from the Change in Control.

          (g) Restricted Period. The “Restricted Period” shall mean, the Executive’s employment with the
REIT, which period may be extended for an additional period of 12 months if the Executive is
entitled to, and receives, the Cash Severance specified under Section 3(b)(2) hereof.

          (h) Retirement. As used in this Agreement, “Retirement” shall mean a retirement by the
Executive if the Executive has been designated as an eligible retiree by the Board of Directors, in
the Board’s sole discretion.

     3. Effect of Termination

          (a) Any Termination. If the Executive’s employment with the REIT terminates for any reason,
the Executive shall be entitled to any Accrued Salary. The Executive shall have no rights or
claims against the DiamondRock Group except to receive the payments and benefits described in this
Section 3. The REIT shall have no further obligations to Executive except as otherwise expressly
provided under this Agreement, provided any such termination shall not adversely affect or alter
Executive’s rights under any employee benefit plan of the REIT in which Executive, at the Date of
Termination, has a vested interest, unless otherwise provided in such employee benefit plan or any
agreement or other instrument attendant thereto.

     None of the benefits described in this Section 3 (other than Accrued Salary) will be payable
unless the Executive has signed a general release which has become irrevocable, satisfactory to the
REIT in the reasonable exercise of its discretion, releasing the DiamondRock Group, its affiliates
including the REIT, and their officers, directors and employees, from any and all claims or
potential claims arising from or related to the Executive’s employment or termination of
employment. In addition, the benefits described in this Section 3 (other than Accrued Salary) are
conditioned upon the Executive’s ongoing compliance with his/her restrictions, covenants and
promises under Sections 4, 5, 6 and 7 below (as applicable).

          (b) Termination by the REIT without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason. If the REIT
terminates the Executive’s employment without Cause, or the Executive terminates his employment for
Good Reason so as to constitute, in either case, a separation from service for purposes of Code
Section 409A, then in addition to the benefits under Section 3(a) above, the Executive shall be
entitled to receive the following:

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	 	(i)	 	a pro-rata bonus for the fiscal year determined
through the Date of Termination and calculated based on the target
bonus for such fiscal year to be paid within 90 days after the Date of
Termination;
	 
	 	(ii)	 	an amount equal to (A) two times (B) the sum of
(I) the Executive’s base salary in effect immediately prior to the Date
of Termination, and (II) the Executive’s target annual bonus
(collectively, the “Cash Severance”) to be paid within 90 days after
the date of Termination;
	 
	 	(iii)	 	continued payment by the REIT for health
insurance coverage for the Executive and the Executive’s spouse and
dependents for 18 months, consistent with COBRA following the Date of
Termination to the same extent that the REIT paid for such coverage
immediately prior to the termination of the Executive’s employment and
subject to the eligibility requirements and other terms and conditions
of such insurance coverage, provided that if any such insurance
coverage shall become unavailable and/or the REIT’s insurer refuses to
continue coverage during the 18 month period, the REIT thereafter shall
be obliged only to pay monthly to the Executive an amount which, after
reduction for applicable income and employment taxes, is equal to the
monthly COBRA premium for such insurance for the remainder of such
severance period.
	 
	 	(iv)	 	vesting as of the Date of Termination of 100%
of all unvested time-based restricted stock awards, to the extent
permitted by law. The treatment of equity compensation awards that are
not time based vesting (such as restricted stock which vests based on
one or more performance metrics) granted after the effective date of
this agreement will be specified in the individual grant agreements
and/or the applicable plans covering such awards.

          (c) Termination In the Event of Death or Disability. If the Executive’s employment terminates
because of the Executive’s death or Disability, then in addition to the benefits under Section 3(a)
above, the Executive (or his estate or other legal representatives, as the case may be) shall be
entitled to receive:

	 	(i)	 	a pro-rata bonus, payable within 90 days after
the Date of Termination, for the fiscal year determined through the
Date of Termination and calculated based on the target bonus for such fiscal
year;
	 
	 	(ii)	 	continued payment by the REIT for health
insurance coverage for the Executive and the Executive’s spouse and
dependents for 18 months, consistent with COBRA, following the Date of
Termination to the same extent that the REIT paid for such

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	 	 	 	coverage immediately prior to the termination of the Executive’s employment and
subject to the eligibility requirements and other terms and conditions
of such insurance coverage, provided that if any such insurance
coverage shall become unavailable and/or the REIT’s insurer refuses to
continue coverage during the 18 month period, the REIT thereafter shall
be obliged only to pay monthly to the Executive an amount which, after
reduction for applicable income and employment taxes, is equal to the
monthly COBRA premium for such insurance for the remainder of such
severance period.
	 
	 	(iii)	 	vesting as of the Date of Termination of 100%
of all unvested time-based restricted stock awards, to the extent
permitted by law. The treatment of equity compensation awards that are
not time based vesting (such as restricted stock which vests based on
one or more performance metrics) granted after the effective date of
this agreement will be specified in the individual grant agreements
and/or the applicable plans covering such awards.

          (d) Termination In the Event of Retirement. If the Executive’s employment terminates because
of his Retirement, then in addition to the benefits under Section 3(a) above, the Executive shall
be entitled to receive the following:

	 	(i)	 	a pro-rata bonus, payable within 90 days after
the date of termination, for the fiscal year determined through the
Date of Termination and calculated based on the target bonus for such
fiscal year; and
	 
	 	(ii)	 	notwithstanding the Retirement by the
Executive, all unvested time-based restricted stock awards shall
continue to vest at the times and on the terms as set forth in the
relevant restricted stock award agreements as if the Executive remained
continuously employed by the REIT from the Date of Termination through
each such vesting date. The treatment of non-time-based equity
compensation awards (such as restricted stock which vests based on one
or more performance metrics) granted after the effective date of this
agreement will be specified in individual grant agreements and/or the
applicable plans covering such awards.

          (e) In the event the Executive’s termination of employment occurs in connection with or
following a Change in Control, and in the event that any payment made pursuant to Section 3 hereof
or any insurance benefits, accelerated vesting, pro-rated bonus or other benefit payable to the
Executive under this Agreement or otherwise (the “Severance Payments”), are subject to the excise
tax imposed by Section 4999 (as it may be amended or replaced) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the “Excise Tax”); then

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	 	(i)	 	If the reduction of the Severance Payments to
the maximum amount that could be paid to the Executive without giving
rise to the Excise Tax (the “Safe Harbor Cap”) would provide the
Executive with a greater after tax benefit than if such amounts were
not reduced, then the amounts payable to the Executive under this
Agreement shall be reduced (but not below zero) to the Safe Harbor Cap.
The reduction of the amounts payable hereunder, if applicable, shall
be made by reducing first the payments of cash orginating under Section
3 (a)-3(d) hereof, and then by reducing other payments to the extent
permitted by any applicable plan and/or agreement.
	 
	 	(ii)	 	If the reduction for the Severance Payments to
the Safe Harbor Cap would not result in a greater after tax result to
the Executive, no amounts payable under this agreement shall be reduced
pursuant to this provision.
	 
	 	(iii)	 	The determination of whether the Excise Tax is
payable and the amount thereof shall be made in writing in good faith
by a nationally recognized independent certified public accounting firm
selected by the REIT and approved by the Executive, such approval not
to be unreasonably withheld (the “Accounting Firm”). For purposes of
making the calculations required by this Section 3(e), to the extent
not otherwise specified herein, reasonable assumptions and
approximations may be made with respect to applicable taxes and
reasonable, good faith interpretations of the Code may be relied upon.
The REIT and the Executive shall furnish such information and documents
as may be reasonably requested in connection with the performance of
the calculations under this Section 3(e). The REIT shall bear all
costs incurred in connection with the performance of the calculations
contemplated by this Section 3(e).

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     4. Non-Disparagement

     The Executive agrees that he/she will not, whether during or after the Executive’s employment
with the REIT, make any statement, orally or in writing, regardless of whether such statement is
truthful, nor take any action, that (a) in any way could disparage the DiamondRock Group or any
officers, executives, directors, partners, managers, members, principals, employees,
representatives, or agents of the DiamondRock Group, or which foreseeably could or reasonably could
be expected to harm the reputation or goodwill of any of those persons or entities, or (b) in any
way, directly or indirectly, could knowingly cause, encourage or condone the making of such
statements or the taking of such actions by anyone else.

     5. Non-Competition

          (a) Non-Competition. Subject to Section 5(b) hereof, the Executive agrees that during the
Restricted Period the Executive shall not, without the prior express written consent of the REIT,
directly or indirectly, anywhere in the United States, own an interest in, join, operate, control
or participate in, or be connected as an owner, officer, executive, employee, partner, member,
manager, shareholder, or principal of or with, any lodging-oriented real estate investment company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive may own up to one percent (1%) of the outstanding
stock of a real estate investment company. The restrictions of this Section 5(a) shall not apply
if the Executive’s employment with the REIT is terminated without cause by the Company or the
Executive effective during the 12 month period immediately following a Change in Control.

          (b) Board’s Discretion. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, the Board of Directors
retains the right, in its sole discretion, to shorten or eliminate the post-employment Restricted
Period for any Executive.

     6. Non-Solicitation of Employees. The Executive agrees that while he/she is employed as an
employee of the REIT and for a period of 12 months after the termination of the Employee’s
employment with the REIT for whatever reason, the Employee shall not, without the express written
consent of the REIT, hire, solicit, recruit, induce or procure (or assist or encourage any other
person or entity to hire, solicit, recruit, induce or procure), directly or indirectly or on behalf
of himself or any other person or entity, any officer, executive, director, partner, principal,
member, or non-clerical employee of the DiamondRock Group or any person who was an officer,
executive, director, partner, principal, member, or non-clerical employee of the DiamondRock Group
at any time during the final year of the Executive’s employment with the REIT, to work for the
Executive or any person or entity with which the Executive is or intends to be affiliated or
otherwise directly or indirectly encourage any such person to terminate his or her employment or
other relationship with the DiamondRock Group without the prior express written consent of the
REIT. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, the foregoing shall not restrain the Executive
from hiring, soliciting, recruiting, inducing or procuring any person to work for the Executive or
any person or entity with which the Executive is or intends to be affiliated if such person was
either terminated by the REIT or such person resigned for Good Reason. In addition, the Board of
Directors retains the right, in its sole discretion, to release any Executive from its obligations
under this Section.

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     7. Injunctive Relief. The Executive understands that the restrictions contained in Section 4,
5 and 6 of this Agreement are intended to protect the REIT’s interests in its proprietary
information, goodwill, and its employee and investor relationships, and agrees that such
restrictions (and the scope and duration thereof) are necessary, reasonable and appropriate for
this purpose. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that it would be difficult to measure any
damages caused to the REIT which might result from any breach by the Executive of his promises and
obligations under Sections 4, 5 and/or 6, that the REIT would be irreparably harmed by such breach,
and that, in any event, money damages would be an inadequate remedy for any such breach.
Therefore, the Executive agrees and consents that the REIT shall be entitled to an injunction or
other appropriate equitable relief (in addition to all other remedies it may have for damages or
otherwise) to restrain any such breach or threatened breach without showing or proving any actual
damage to the REIT; and the REIT shall be entitled to an award of its attorneys fees and costs
incurred in enforcing the Executive’s obligations under Sections 4, 5 and/or 6.

     8. Miscellaneous

          (a) 409A. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, if the Executive is a “key employee” (as
defined in Section 416(i) of the Code without regard to paragraph (5) thereof) and any of the
REIT’s stock is publicly traded on an established securities market or otherwise, to the extent
necessary to avoid any penalties under Section 409A of the Code, any payment hereunder may not be
made before the date that is six months after the date of separation from service.

          (b) Tax Withholding. All payments made by the REIT under this Agreement shall be net of any
tax or other amounts required to be withheld by the REIT under applicable law.

          (c) No Mitigation. The REIT agrees that, if the Executive’s employment by the REIT is
terminated during the term of this Agreement, the Executive is not required to seek other
employment or to attempt in any way to reduce any amounts payable to the Executive by the REIT
pursuant to Section 3 hereof. Further, the amount of any payment provided for in this Agreement
shall not be reduced by any compensation earned by the Executive as the result of employment by
another employer, by retirement benefits, by offset against any amount claimed to be owed by the
Executive to the REIT or otherwise.

          (d) No Offset. The REIT’s obligation to make the payments provided for in this Agreement and
otherwise perform its obligations hereunder shall not be affected by any circumstances, including,
without limitation, any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which the REIT,
the Operating Partnership or any of their subsidiaries may have against the Executive or others
unless such set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense, or other right arises from the Executive
engaging in conduct which constitutes a material breach of a fiduciary duty or duty of loyalty,
including without limitation, misappropriation of funds or property of the Operating Partnership
and their subsidiaries.

          (e) Litigation and Regulatory Cooperation. During and after Executive’s employment, Executive
shall reasonably cooperate with the REIT in the defense or prosecution

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of any claims or actions now in existence or which may be brought in the future against or on
behalf of the REIT which relate to events or occurrences that transpired while Executive was
employed by the REIT; provided, however, that such cooperation shall not materially and adversely
affect Executive or expose Executive to an increased probability of civil or criminal litigation.
Executive’s cooperation in connection with such claims or actions shall include, but not be limited
to, being available to meet with counsel to prepare for discovery or trial and to act as a witness
on behalf of the REIT at mutually convenient times. During and after Executive’s employment,
Executive also shall cooperate fully with the REIT in connection with any investigation or review
of any federal, state or local regulatory authority as any such investigation or review relates to
events or occurrences that transpired while Executive was employed by the REIT. The REIT shall
also provide Executive with compensation on an hourly basis (to be derived from the sum of his Base
Salary and average annual incentive compensation) for requested litigation and regulatory
cooperation that occurs after his termination of employment, and reimburse Executive for all costs
and expenses incurred in connection with his performance under this Section 8(e), including, but
not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.

          (f) Notices. All notices required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and
shall be deemed effective (i) upon personal delivery, (ii) upon deposit with the United States
Postal Service, by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or (iii) in the case of facsimile
transmission or delivery by nationally recognized overnight delivery service, when received,
addressed as follows:

	 	(i)	 	If to the REIT, to:
	 
	 	 	 	DiamondRock Hospitality Company

6903 Rockledge Drive, Suite 800

Bethesda, MD 20817

Facsimile: (240) 744-1199

Attn: 1) Lead Director; 2) Chairman of the Board and 3) Chairman of
the Compensation Committee
	 
	 	(ii)	 	If to the Executive, to:

or to such other address or addresses as either party shall designate to the other in writing from
time to time by like notice.

          (g) Pronouns. Whenever the context may require, any pronouns used in this Agreement shall
include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular forms of nouns and
pronouns shall include the plural, and vice versa.

          (h) Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and
supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, whether written or oral, relating to the
subject matter of this Agreement, including without limitation the employment agreement dated as of
                    . For the avoidance of doubt, such employment agreement is hereby terminated and
the Executive hereby waives any rights that he may have under such agreement.

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          (i) Amendment. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written instrument
executed by both the REIT and the Executive.

          (j) Governing Law and Forum. This Agreement shall be construed, interpreted and enforced in
accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to its conflicts of laws
principles, by a court of competent jurisdiction located within the State of Maryland.

          (k) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
both parties and their respective successors and assigns, including any entity with which or into
which the REIT may be merged or which may succeed to its assets or business or any entity to which
the REIT may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement; provided, however, that the
obligations of the Executive are personal and shall not be assigned or delegated by him.

          (l) Waiver. No delays or omission by the REIT or the Executive in exercising any right under
this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of that or any other right. A waiver or consent given by
the REIT or the Executive on any one occasion shall be effective only in that instance and shall
not be construed as a bar or waiver of any right on any other occasion.

          (m) Captions. The captions appearing in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only
and in no way define, limit or affect the scope or substance of any section of this Agreement.

          (n) Severability. In case any provision of this Agreement shall be held by a court or
arbitrator with jurisdiction over the parties to this Agreement to be invalid, illegal or otherwise
unenforceable, such provision shall be restated to reflect as nearly as possible the original
intentions of the parties in accordance with applicable law, and the validity, legality and
enforceability of the remaining provisions shall in no way be affected or impaired thereby. In the
event that any portion or provision of this Agreement (including, without limitation, any portion
or provision of Sections 4, 5, and/or 6) is determined by a court or arbitrator of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable by reason of excessive scope as to
geographic, temporal or functional coverage, such provision will be reformed and deemed to extend
only over the maximum geographic, temporal and functional scope as to which it may be enforceable
and shall be enforced by said court or arbitrator accordingly.

          (o) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first
above written.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	DIAMONDROCK HOSPITALITY COMPANY	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 

	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	EXECUTIVE	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 

- 12 -

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