Alexander (Alex) Brown is the Founder & President of CXN Travel and Recover Hospitality. Alex grew up in a family business that has owned and operated hotels since the 1960s. For more than a decade, Alex worked in hospitality management, in both the rooms and food & beverage divisions. As a person in long-term addiction recovery, Alex knows the stresses of both corporate and leisure travel; and has witnessed the toll addiction has taken on individuals, families, communities and on the hospitality industry at-large.
Alex's own recovery journey began in 2017, after completing the sale of his family's 5-star boutique hotel. Motivated to address the addiction epidemic, especially as it relates to the hospitality industry, Alex left the day-to-day operations of the hotel business to enroll in an addiction counseling program. Concurrently, he spent two years helping to build and manage a wellness coaching team for a health-technology company. During this time, Alex witnessed people in early recovery struggle to maintain connection and accountability when traveling. Many individuals chose not to travel or dine out, due to the stressful environment; a hesitancy that often extends to family members. Wanting to create a more clinically-informed solution, Alex pursued graduate education in social work where he realized the science behind the stresses of travel for those who have struggled with a variety of mental health concerns. Through the establishment of Recover Hospitality in 2021, Alex works to develop a network of hotels and restaurants that are supportive of mental health, for both guests and staff. In 2022, Alex founded CXN Travel to provide guidance and support for individuals traveling outside of the Recover Hospitality network. Alex uses his personal experience in recovery, extensive hospitality knowledge, and coaching experience to limit temptations and add individualized support for travelers who prioritize mental health & wellbeing. Alex received his Master's in Social Work from Boston College with a clinical mental health concentration and certification in neurobiology for social work. He graduated magna cum laude from Rollins College, with a BA in economics and international business. He has also completed the UMass Boston Addiction Counselor Education Program and holds numerous professional coaching designations.