speakers ali abidi - alis conference · industry. mr. alter is past president of the holiday inn...

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SPEAKERS as of January 17, 2017

Ali Abidi PwC Ali Abidi is a principal and technology consulting lead for PwC’s Hospitality & Leisure practice. With over 20 years of international consulting experience across a multitude of industries, Ali has spent the last six years advising hospitality clients through business transformation and system implementations, in both the front and back office, focusing on guest experience technology, ERP integration, and data management strategies. As new technologies continue to emerge, Ali is focused in driving innovation for his clients through cloud, big data, internet of things, and advanced analytics. After earning his degree in Computer Science, Ali began his career with KPMG in London in the mid-90’s, leading efforts to improve customer experiences through bespoke eBusiness and CRM integrated solutions. Ali further developed his career in the USA, spending several years focused on profitability improvement strategies, enterprise portfolio management, and program and change management engagements. With brief stints in Philadelphia and Boston, Ali eventually settled down in the NY metro area and currently resides in Ridgewood, NJ with his wife, Heather, and two children, Chloe and Sebastian.

Robert A. Alter Seaview Investors, LLC Robert Alter, Founder & Chairman Emeritus of Sunstone Hotel Investors, is one of the premier hotel investment and management executives in the industry, is currently President of Seaview Investors, LLC, a real estate investment management company that operates hotels in Southern California and Colorado. Seaview Investors is involved in the Operations and Management of four hotels. Most recently, Seaview acquired a 215,000 square-foot office building near LAX and converted it into a 231-room Residence Inn by Marriott, which opened in March 2015. In 2013, Seaview purchased Pueblo Marriott and converted, repositioned, and fully renovated the hotel as a 166-room Courtyard by Marriott. Over the past eight years, Seaview Investors has overseen extensive renovations at the Embassy Suites LAX and the Residence Inn by Marriott Beverly Hills. Mr. Alter has been a hotel owner since 1976 when he used his childhood savings to purchase a 28-room hotel in Steamboat Springs, CO. Mr. Alter continues to analyze investment opportunities in all sectors of the hotel industry. Mr. Alter is past president of the Holiday Inn Franchise Association; former member of the Marriott Franchise board; &, past President of the IAHI and is on its Board of Directors. He was also on the Board of Directors of MINA; served as Chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee for the American Hotel & Lodging Association; and, was Chairman of AHLA PAC. Mr. Alter is a graduate of Cornell University School of Hotel Administration.

Jim Amorosia G6 Hospitality Jim Amorosia is the President, Chief Executive Officer of G6 Hospitality LLC, the parent company of the iconic brands Motel 6, Studio 6, Hotel 6, and Estudio 6. He assumed this role in 2011 and is responsible for overseeing all strategic direction of these brands. With more than 30 years of experience in hospitality, Amorosia is recognized as a leader in the Economy and Limited Service lodging segments. He joined Motel 6 in 1985 and has held various management positions. Amorosia was appointed President and Chief Operations Officer for Motel 6 and Studio 6 in 2007, which he held until his promotion in 2011 to President, Chief Executive Officer. Under his leadership, the enterprise has achieved significant milestones, including the growth of its portfolio to more than 1,350 properties across the U.S. and Canada. Additionally, Amorosia led its international expansion, with the introduction of two new brands, Hotel 6 and Estudio 6, in Latin America. Amorosia joined the AH&LA Board of Directors in 2015. He is a two-term commissioner with the California Board of Travel and Tourism, and a past director of the Bay Area Urban League. Amorosia holds a Bachelor’s degree from the Crane School of Music and a Master of Business Administration degree from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.

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Gary Axelrod Latham & Watkins LLP Gary Axelrod is a partner in the Real Estate Group of Latham & Watkins in Chicago, as well as Co-chair of the Hospitality, Gaming and Leisure industry group. Mr. Axelrod’s practice focuses on complex business transactions in the real estate, hospitality, gaming and leisure industries. His clients include real estate private equity sponsors and funds, REITs, institutional investors, operating companies, and entrepreneurial developers engaged in all aspects of real estate investment and development. In addition, Mr. Axelrod has extensive experience in complex asset-level and corporate-level restructurings. He regularly represents owners and operators in connection with the sale, acquisition, development, financing, ownership and management of hotel, resort and gaming properties. He also represents corporate, venture capital and other private equity clients in bankruptcies, restructurings, mergers, acquisitions and dispositions involving portfolio companies and their real estate assets. His practice also has a substantial cross-border element, including projects in Baghdad, China, Dubai, India, Abu Dhabi and Mexico. Mr. Axelrod is frequently recognized by Chambers for both his hospitality and real estate acumen, and praised for his depth of industry expertise. Mr. Axelrod serves on the Advisory Boards for Hospitality and Real Estate Law360 and was licensed as a certified public accountant in 1994.

Geoff Ballotti Wyndham Hotel Group Geoff Ballotti is the president and chief executive officer of Wyndham Hotel Group, the world’s largest and most diverse hotel company with approximately 7,540 hotels and 650,200 rooms in 71 countries. He is responsible for the company’s strategic direction, operation, growth and performance. Previously, Ballotti served six years as president and chief executive officer of Wyndham Exchange & Rentals where he oversaw a network of renowned accommodation brands serving over 3.7 million RCI® timeshare owners and millions of annual vacation renters. Prior to joining the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies (NYSE:WYN), Ballotti spent 20 years in various leadership positions at Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide. Previously, he was a Banking Officer in the commercial Real Estate Group at the Bank of New England. Ballotti has served on the board of directors for Christel House International and the Executive Committee of the American Resort & Development Association. He is active on the CEO Council of the American Hotel & Lodging Association and the U.S. Travel Association’s CEO Roundtable. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University at Colby College and a master’s degree from Harvard University.

Mike Barnello LaSalle Hotel Properties Michael D. Barnello is President and Chief Executive Officer of LaSalle Hotel Properties (NYSE: LHO) and has been with the company since its IPO in 1998. LaSalle Hotel Properties is a leading multi-operator real estate investment trust. The Company owns 46 properties, which are upscale, full-service hotels, totaling approximately 11,450 guest rooms in 13 markets in nine states and the District of Columbia. The Company focuses on owning, redeveloping and repositioning upscale, full-service hotels located in urban, resort and convention markets. LaSalle Hotel Properties seeks to grow through strategic relationships with premier lodging groups, including Hilton Hotels Corporation, Marriott International, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Outrigger Lodging Services, Noble House Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Benchmark Hospitality, Commune Hotels and Resorts, Destination Hotels, Davidson Hotel Company, Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group, LLC, Accor, HEI Hotels & Resorts, JRK Hotel Group, Inc., Viceroy Hotel Group, Highgate Hotels and Access Hotels & Resorts. Prior to 1998, as Senior Vice President of Jones Lang LaSalle, formerly LaSalle Partners, Inc., Mr. Barnello was instrumental in the creation of the Initial Public Offering of LaSalle Hotel Properties. Before joining LaSalle in 1995, Mr. Barnello was Vice President of VMS Realty Partners. He received a BS in Hotel Administration from Cornell University. Mr. Barnello resides in Bethesda, Maryland with his wife, Susie, and three children, Matthew, Olivia and Sophia.

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John A. Belden Davidson Hotels & Resorts John started his career as a hotel consultant for Laventhol & Horwath, thereafter transitioning to the franchise/development team at The Residence Inn Company. From there, he worked in the Development and Market Planning Division of Holiday Corporation providing development services primarily to the Embassy Suites and Holiday Inn systems, while concurrently working as a member of the Concept Development team for Homewood Suites. John joined Davidson in 1989 and led the Business Development team during a period of unprecedented growth for the company, overseeing new management, acquisition and development opportunities for the company, as well as asset management and asset disposition responsibilities. John became President and CEO in 2006 and has helped shape Davidson into one of the strongest and most respected lodging companies in the industry. John currently serves on Marriott’s MINA Board, the Sheraton Owner's Advisory Council, the Executive Board of ASFONA, the Hilton Owner's Advisory Council, the Hyatt Full-Service Hotel Franchise Advisory Committee and the Board of Directors for Give Kids the World. He is also a member of the Michigan State University Real Estate Investment Management Advisory Council, as an Appointed Director of the HRI School at Michigan State University. John was named Michigan State University’s Industry Leader of the Year in 2010 and was inducted into its Alumni Hall of Fame in 2016. John obtained a degree from the Business College at Michigan State University with an emphasis in Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management.

Andrea L. Belfanti ISHC Andrea Belfanti is the Executive Director for the International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC). Andrea has been with ISHC since 2009, has 20 years experience in the hospitality industry and has previously held positions with InterContinental Hotels Group, The High Museum of Art, Walt Disney World and Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge. Andrea earned her bachelor’s degree from the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Administration at the University of South Carolina. ISHC is a professional society with over 200 members with work experience in over 60 countries. Membership is by invitation only and members are owners, principals, directors and/or officers in their firms and are leaders in the industry in their respective areas of expertise.

Peter Benudiz Sidley Austin LLP Peter Benudiz is a partner at Sidley and co-leader of the global Real Estate practice. He is also leading the firm’s Global Hospitality group. He is regularly called upon to provide strategic advice and guidance to boards of directors and senior management of operating businesses on various cross-border and domestic matters. Peter has advised on billions of dollars of hospitality, real estate, corporate finance and M&A deals, including domestic and cross-border leveraged private equity deals. He has counseled some of the world’s leading financial institutions and private equity funds on the acquisition, financing and restructuring of major real estate and hotel projects. Peter’s numerous accolades include being ranked nationally in Band 1 for Leisure & Hospitality by Chambers USA since it began ranking lawyers nationally in the hospitality industry. He is also ranked in Real Estate (California) by Chambers USA and was named a top real estate transactional attorney by the Daily Journal (2013). Peter earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School, where he was a teaching fellow at the Harvard University Government Department. He graduated with an A.B. from the University of California, Berkeley.

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David P. Berg Carlson Hospitality Group

David P. Berg is chief executive officer of Carlson Hospitality Group. Berg leads the Carlson corporate center and its function and also leads and manages the global hotel business with the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group global executive team reporting to him. Most recently, Berg served as chief executive officer and chief customer service officer for the fastest growing reseller of Verizon services. Previously, he worked as executive vice president and president of Outback Steakhouse International, with full profit and loss responsibility for over 200 restaurants in 20 countries generating international system-wide revenues of over $700 million. Additionally, Berg served as chief operating officer of GNC with 7,200 retail locations around the world and revenues of $1.8 billion. Prior to that, he was executive vice president and chief operating officer of Best Buy International, leading the $13 billion international division for the global retailer. Berg currently serves on the board of directors for the Miller Retailing Center at the University of Florida, Planet Fitness, The Rezidor Hotel Group and Walker Art Center. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Emory University and a law degree, with honors, from the University Of Florida College Of Law.

David A. Berins Berins & Co., LLC David Berins is a 50-year veteran of the lodging industry, with a career encompassing operations, asset management, development, planning and consulting. Since 1974, David has provided senior-level asset management and advisory services to hotel owners, investors, management companies and lenders in areas such as strategic planning, development, operations and marketing. In addition to his role as a developer and senior lodging industry advisor, David also served as Senior Vice President - Research & Planning at Strategic Hotel Capital Incorporated in its formative years. Prior to resuming his consulting practice in 2009, David served as Managing Director of Cypress Hotels & Resorts overseeing six luxury hotel and resort developments in the Bahamas, California and Texas. From 1993 to 1998, David operated a highly-respected consulting practice under the name Berins Consulting Incorporated. That was preceded by four years as a partner in and the Worldwide Director of Hospitality Industry Consulting Services of Arthur Andersen. Prior to forming Berins & Co. in 1983, David was a Senior Principal and National Director of Management Advisory Services of the firm known as PKF Consulting, now CBRE Hotels. The early years of his career were spent in hands-on positions in operations and corporate planning in lodging, restaurants and foodservice.

Scott D. Berman PwC LLP Scott D. Berman is a Principal and the US Industry Leader for the Hospitality & Leisure subsector at PwC, leading the firm’s industry program focused on client service, industry perspective and research. Mr. Berman has over 30 years of diversified experience in the areas of commercial and financial diligence, market and business strategy and subject matter expert advisory within the hospitality, tourism and leisure sectors. In his 24 years at PwC, he has provided consulting services in over 40 countries across the Firm’s network and in all 50 States. Prior to joining PwC, Scott was the Director of Development for Hilton International where he was responsible for brand development and acquisition of existing properties in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean. Scott is an active member of the Urban Land Institute Hotel Development Council (HDC) and its former Chair; a member of the Advisory Board of the Cornell University Center for Hospitality Research; a member of the Executive Board of the Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association; Trustee of the American Resort Development Association; and, a member of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants. He sits on the planning and steering committees of both the NYU Hospitality Investment Conference and the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS). He has appeared on CNN and CNBC as an industry expert and is frequently quoted on hospitality issues in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The New York Times, Forbes and a variety of industry publications. He has recently written several academic journal articles for both the Cornell Quarterly and the Center for Hospitality Research. Scott holds a degree in Hotel Administration from Cornell University.

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Rick Besse Newmark Grubb Knight Frank Rick Besse is a senior managing director in the Hotel Investment Sales Group at Newmark Grubb Knight Frank. Mr. Besse is a 30-year veteran of the hospitality industry. He started his career with Pannel, Kerr, Forster and Company, an international CPA firm, writing hotel feasibility studies in the southeast United States. He then moved to the restaurant industry and spent eight years with Taco Bell, starting as a Real Estate Representative and working his way to Vice President of Development. He managed a staff of 18 real estate representatives and was responsible for the development of over 300 restaurants. Led by his entrepreneurial spirit, Mr. Besse formed The Winslow Group, which is a consulting/brokerage firm specializing in the hospitality industry. His firm represented many companies, both in the restaurant and hotel industry. Notable assignments include representing Marriott Corporation in its site selection process throughout the southwest for their company-owned limited service hotels. He represented a Dallas-based investment firm on the acquisition of 11 hotels. He was retained by Rock Resorts to review domestic resort locations for potential acquisitions or management contracts. In 1998, Mr. Besse formed an investment partnership and as Managing Partner, purchased and repositioned two historic hotels in the South Beach area of Miami Beach. The hotels were sold in mid-year 2001. Since 2001, Mr. Besse has had numerous consulting and brokerage assignments throughout the United States. Most recently, he was employed as a contractor for the FDIC and asset managed a $1.5 billion Hotel Loan portfolio. When the assignment began, the 114 loan portfolio had 42 hotels still under construction. The FDIC funded the necessary funds and all 42 of the hotels were completed. Additionally, many of the 114 loans had loan modifications, which were all asset managed by Mr. Besse's team. The portfolio was eventually sold on the open market. In 2010, Mr. Besse was appointed Receiver of a select service hotel in Richardson, Texas. Mr. Besse holds a BA and an MBA from the Hotel School at Michigan State University.

Aditya Bhoopathy Noble Investment Group Mr. Bhoopathy is a principal with primary responsibility for capital market relationships, asset dispositions, and transaction management. In addition, he leads contract documentation and closings related to new acquisitions, development and financing for all investments. Mr. Bhoopathy has more than 17 years of hospitality industry experience and has participated in over $1.9 billion worth of real estate transactions for the Noble organization since joining the firm in 1999. He became a partner in 2006 and is a regular panelist at lodging, investment, and financing conferences. Mr. Bhoopathy received a B.S. from the Cornell University School of Hospitality and is President of the Atlanta Hospitality Alliance and a member of the Urban Land Institute.

Jason Black Fundamental Advisors Jason Black is a Managing Director at Fundamental and a member of the Investment Team. At Fundamental Mr. Black has held leadership roles on several infrastructure, energy and hospitality investments. Prior to joining Fundamental, Mr. Black was an Associate in the Real Estate Group of GSO Capital Partners, the high-yield credit hedge fund subsidiary of The Blackstone Group. Mr. Black focused on investments in the real estate industry, including the analysis of private debt and equity investments, public securities and special situation/distressed opportunities. Prior to that, Mr. Black was an Analyst in the Real Estate Investment Banking Group of Goldman Sachs. His primary responsibilities included the underwriting and analysis of mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance advisory assignments in the real estate industry. Mr. Black graduated with an A.B. in Political Science from Duke University.

Roger Bloss RLHC Roger Bloss joined Red Lion Hotels Corporation in September 2016 in conjunction with the acquisition of Vantage Hospitality Group. Roger brings more than 40 years of hospitality experience. Prior to joining the company, he served in executive positions with several major hotel franchise companies and founded Vantage in 1996. Under his leadership, Vantage became a top 10 global hotel company. Roger was named Lodging Magazine’s “Innovator of the Year” in 2006 and 2010, as well as HSMAI’s “Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing” in 2009.

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Michael D. Bluhm Morgan Stanley As a Managing Director of Investment Banking at Morgan Stanley, Michael Bluhm is responsible for providing capital raising and financial advisory services within the real estate industry. Additionally, he is head of Morgan Stanley’s global lodging investment banking practice. Throughout his career he has been directly involved in more than $150 billion of public and private debt, equity and equity-linked offerings as well as a range of merger, acquisition and restructuring assignments, primarily with publicly traded companies. Michael is a member of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, International Council of Shopping Centers and the Urban Land Institute.

Jon E. Bortz Pebblebrook Hotel Trust Mr. Bortz is founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, a leading multi-tenant, multi-operator real estate investment trust (“REIT”), which was formed and went public in late 2009. Prior to forming Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, Mr. Bortz was Chairman and CEO of LaSalle Hotel Properties, which he founded in 1998. Previously, Mr. Bortz was Chairman and CEO of LaSalle Hotel Advisors, Inc., a division of Jones Lang LaSalle and founded LaSalle’s Hotel Group in 1993, overseeing all of LaSalle’s hotel investment and development activities. From January 1995, as Managing Director of LaSalle’s Investment Advisory division, Mr. Bortz was responsible for certain East Coast development projects, including the redevelopment of the historic Grand Central Terminal in New York City. From January 1990 to January 1995, he had responsibility for LaSalle’s Investment division’s East Coast development projects and workouts. Mr. Bortz holds a B.S. in Economics from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is also co-author of The Dow Jones-Irwin Guide to Real Estate Investing, revised second edition, 1982. Mr. Bortz serves on the Board of Trustees of Federal Realty Investment Trust, NAREIT’s Board of Governors, AH&LA’s Board of Directors, and Industry Real Estate Financing Advisory Council.

Jacques Brand PJT Partners Jacques E. Brand is a Partner in the Advisory group at PJT Partners based in New York. Prior to joining PJT, Mr. Brand was CEO of Deutsche Bank in the Americas and a member of the Firm’s Group Executive Committee. Since joining Deutsche Bank in 1999 from BT Alex. Brown, Mr. Brand has also held significant leadership positions including Global Head of Investment Banking Coverage and M&A, and Chairman of the Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation. Over the span of his 30-year Wall Street career beginning at Lehman Brothers in the 1980s, Mr. Brand has extensive experience in advising a broad base of clients on transformational M&A and capital-raising transactions in a range of global sectors including Real Estate, Hospitality and Gaming, and Financial Institutions. Mr. Brand received his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1990 and graduated magna cum laude from Boston University in 1982. Mr. Brand is Chairman of the Board of the American Institute of Contemporary German Studies that is affiliated with John Hopkins University. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and is also on the Board of philanthropic organizations including The Jewish Museum in New York and The Cancer Advisory Council at Columbia University Medical Center.

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Billy L. Brown LodgeCap, Inc Billy L. Brown has been developing commercial real estate projects across the United States since the early 1970’s. The emphasis has been working closely with franchisers as a developer/landlord for their franchisees. Brown began developing hospitality in the mid-1990’s and exclusively since the late 1990’s. By focusing on upper range select service hotels and using institutional grade third party management he has generally replicated the hands off, landlord approach to the hospitality industry. Brown has been involved in the development of more than one hundred hotel projects across the U.S. Brown maintains a close and mutually beneficial relationship with the brands that he develops. He believes that the brands bring a great deal of experience to the table and his job is to strategically apply those lessons learned to his hotels. Brown has been on the Starwood Hotel and Resorts Owner’s Advisory Board since 2007. He was awarded the Developer of the Year award by Starwood in 2009. He is currently on the Marriott Franchise Advisory Council for various select service hotels. He is a regular panelist/speaker at hospitality events such as the Lodging Conference and the ALIS Conference. He has been on the ALIS Planning Committee for several years. Brown has developed several LEED certified hotel projects including the first LEED certified new construction hotel in Colorado (LEED Silver) and the first new construction in Texas (also LEED Silver). Brown lives in Dallas, is married and has eight children, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. He is well educated, well-traveled and a genuinely bad golfer. He enjoys his family and he enjoys successfully developing profitable real estate projects.

Ron Brownstein Atlantic Media Company, National Journal, CNN Part journalist, part historian, and all shrewd political observer, Ron Brownstein explains the complexities of American politics with lucid precision. As the political director of Atlantic Media Company, the editorial director of National Journal, and a senior political and election analyst for CNN, he produces sharp analysis on politics, policy, the electorate, media, healthcare, and the range of issues informed by his strong sense of American political and national history. Twice a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, Brownstein was cited for “the clarity, consistency, and quality of his political reporting.” He appears regularly in the Atlantic and pens a bi-weekly column in National Journal and the Los Angeles Times. A prolific and penetrating columnist, Brownstein is, as the Economist said, “one of America’s best political journalists,” and the Washington Post called him “one of the gold-plated names of political journalism who can still shape big-pictures conventional wisdom.” Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, his speeches reflect the depth of his knowledge, making him one of the most trustworthy predictors of America’s future. Getting It Right, Time After Time. Before taking over the political coverage for Atlantic Media Company, Brownstein served as the national political correspondent and a columnist for the Los Angeles Times. In his years at the Times, he earned two finalist nods from the Pulitzer Prize Board for his coverage of the 1996 and 2004 presidential elections. His track record led former President Bill Clinton to cite Brownstein as the “one journalist who generally gets it right, explaining what the issues are and what’s going on in the country.” In addition, Brownstein served as chief political correspondent and columnist for U.S. News and World Report for seven months in 1998. He also appeared frequently on Meet the Press, This Week with George Stephanopolous, Face the Nation, the Newshour with Jim Lehrer, and Washington Week in Review. He has been a repeat guest on Charlie Rose (where he also served as a substitute host), Nightline, network morning programs, MSNBC, CNBC, and C-Span. He has also served as an election analyst for ABC. On the American Beat. Brownstein is the author or editor of six books, including The Power and The Glitter: The Hollywood-Washington Connection and Storming the Gates: Protest Politics and the Republican Revival. His previous book, Reagan’s Ruling Class: Portraits of the President’s Top 100 Officials, was a Washington Post best-seller for five weeks. He was editor and co-author of Selecting a President and Who’s Poisoning America, and his sixth book, The Second Civil War: How Extreme Partisanship Has Paralyzed Washington and Polarized America, was named one of the “10 books to curl up with” for 2007 by the New York Times. His articles on politics, public policy, books and culture have also appeared in a number of newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times Magazine, Esquire, Vanity Fair, the New Republic, the Financial Times, the Washington Monthly, the Wall Street Journal, the Times of London, the Times Literary Supplement, the Boston Globe, the Chicago Sun-Times, Newsday, and the Miami Herald.

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Mark Brugger DiamondRock Hospitality Mark W. Brugger has served as DiamondRock Hospitality’s Chief Executive Officer since September 1, 2008 and is a member of the Board of Directors. Previously he served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since DiamondRock’s formation in 2004 until he was promoted to Chief Executive Officer. In addition, he served as a director on the board of Chambers Street (NYSE: CSG) Previously, Mr. Brugger served as Vice President of Project Finance for Marriott International, Inc. from 2000 to 2004. At Marriott, Mr. Brugger also served as the Chief Executive Officer of their synthetic fuels company. From 1997 to 2000, Mr. Brugger served as Vice President of Investment Sales of Transwestern Commercial Services, formerly the Carey Winston Company. From 1995 to 1997, Mr. Brugger was the Land Development Director for Brookfield Residential Properties, Inc. (formerly Coscan Washington, Inc.). Mr. Brugger received a Juris Doctorate cum laude from American University Washington College School of Law in 1995 and a B.A. from the University of Maryland at College Park in 1992.

James E. Burba BHN Jim Burba is the co-founder and president of Burba Hotel Network LLC (BHN), the worldwide leader in developing and producing conferences for the hotel and tourism investment community. BHN hosts ten events each year around the world including: ALIS, ALIS Law, ALIS Summer Update, AOCAP, HICAP, HICAP UPDATE, HIFI, CHRIS, HOLA, and Hot.E. In 2008, BHN and Google teamed up to host Digital Discovery Day (D3) and in 2011, Burba was retained by the ITC, a joint agency of the UN and WTO to help organize WEDF which focused on tourism development in the least developed countries of the world. Actively involved in the hotel investment arena for 30 years, Burba was formerly: a principal at Pannell Kerr Forster, Senior Managing Director with Insignia/Hotel Partners, VP/Worldwide Director of Advisory Services at WATG, and President at Horwath HTL (US). A member of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) and the Industry Real Estate Finance Advisory Council (IREFAC), Burba has received numerous honors including the Educational Institute Lamp of Knowledge Award, IREFAC’s first Crystal Ball Award, and the ISHC Pioneer Award. In 2007, California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, re-appointed Burba to his second term on the California Travel & Tourism Commission and he recently served on its Executive Committee.

Alex Cabañas Benchmark Alex Cabañas is passionate about leading and growing a company that makes a profound difference in the lives of employees, guests, owners, industry partners and the community. His life mission since college has been to create opportunities for others to be successful. As CEO, Alex is focused on strategic planning, people development, pursuing growth and new opportunities, promoting the delivery of memorable customer service and ultimately being the best third-party management company in the industry, acting in the best interest of owners every day. Alex was previously President, business development & finance for Benchmark. During his tenure in business development roles over the last five years, the company added 22 properties to its management portfolio, expanded into the Caribbean and added to its presence in Tokyo. The company also acquired MTM Luxury Lodging, which led to the launch of Personal Luxury Resorts & Hotels. Alex Cabañas joined Benchmark Hospitality International in January 2006. Prior to joining Benchmark, he worked for The Boston Consulting Group from 2000 through 2005. While with BGC he worked with clients in a number of different industries including: travel and tourism, government, consumer/retail, telecommunications, e-commerce, financial services, and energy. His assignments included a variety of different tasks including: lodging investment proposal, market sizing and segmentation, competitive benchmarking, product development, process management, asset valuation, new business development and growth strategy. Alex earned his MBA at Harvard Business School and holds a BBA and MS in Finance from Texas A&M University. Alex is married to his perfectly-made-for-him wife, Heather and they have two energetic and out-going boys, Matthew and Eli. Alex enjoys his time with family, traveling and exploring together, any outdoor activity and is very involved in his church.

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Chris J. Cahill AccorHotels Chris J. Cahill, 62, is Canadian. He holds two Bachelor’s Degrees in Education and Political Science from the University of Ottawa, as well as a M.B.A. from the University of Toronto. Prior to his appointment, Chris worked as Executive Vice President Global Operations for Las Vegas Sands Corp, a publicly traded gaming Company with operations in the US, China and Singapore. Before joining Las Vegas Sands Corp, Chris served for 19 years (1993-2012) in various capacities at Fairmont Raffles Hotels International and its predecessor companies including President and Chief Operating Officer responsible for the operating performance of all brands globally. Earlier in his career, Chris developed a strong track record in all facets of hotel business (operations, sales and marketing) in cities across Canada during an 18 year period. He joined the Executive Committee on July 12th, 2016. Chris also serves on the Board of Directors of two Canadian real estate companies. He is Chairman at Temple Hotels Inc. and Board Director at Morguard Corporation.

Geraldine Calpin Hilton Geraldine Calpin is the Chief Marketing Officer at Hilton Worldwide where she sets the strategic direction for Hilton’s marketing organization, equipping Hilton and its 13 brands to meaningfully connect with guests and provide a best-in-class guest experience. She oversees a global team of marketing, communications, digital and eCommerce specialists. As CMO, Ms. Calpin launched the largest, boldest marketing campaign in Hilton history – “Stop Clicking Around” – to educate travelers on the benefits of joining Hilton HHonors and booking direct. Her leadership and vision have been recognized by CNN who named Ms. Calpin one of 11 people “changing the way we travel,” AFAR who deemed her a 2015 “Travel Vanguard,” and Advertising Age who named her a 2016 “Women to Watch.” Prior to her role as CMO, Ms. Calpin, a 14-year Hilton veteran, led Hilton’s Digital team as senior vice president and global head of Digital. Focused on purposeful innovation, her team enabled Hilton guests to turn their smartphones into the remote control to their entire stay through a suite of digital tools including digital check-in, room selection and Digital Key. Prior to joining Hilton, Ms. Calpin held various roles within the travel industry, including sales, planning, operations and marketing roles.

Anthony Capuano Marriott International Anthony Capuano is Marriott’s Executive Vice President and Global Chief Development Officer. He is responsible for the global development of all Marriott lodging brands and supervises offices in Bangkok, Barcelona, Beijing, Cape Town, Delhi, Dubai, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Jakarta, London, Mexico City, Moscow, Paris, Rome, São Paulo, Shanghai, Tokyo, Zagreb, Zurich and multiple offices across North America. Mr. Capuano began his Marriott International career in 1995 as part of the Market Planning and Feasibility team. Between 1997 and 2005, he led Marriott’s full service development efforts in the Western U.S. and Canada. In early 2008, his responsibilities expanded to include North America, the Caribbean and Latin America. In 2009, he assumed global Development responsibility for the Company. Mr. Capuano began his professional career in Laventhol and Horwath’s Boston-based Leisure Time Advisory Group. He then joined Kenneth Leventhal and Company’s hospitality consulting group in Los Angeles, CA. Mr. Capuano earned his bachelor’s degree in Hotel Administration from Cornell University. He is an active member of the Cornell Society of Hotelmen and a member of The Cornell School of Hotel Administration Dean’s Advisory Board. Mr. Capuano is also a member of the American Hotel and Lodging Association’s IREFAC Council.

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David P. Carey Outrigger Enterprises Group Mr. Carey joined Outrigger in 1986 as executive vice president and general counsel. He became president in 1988 and chief executive officer in 1993. Under his leadership, the Hawaii-based company has gone global, becoming one of the fastest growing, privately held hospitality companies In the Asia Pacific region. Outrigger is the largest full-service lodging and hospitality company in Hawaii, and currently operates, manages or has under development 38 hotels and resort condominiums representing over 8,000 rooms and condominium units in Hawaii, South East Asia, Guam and the South Pacific. Mr. Carey has a B.S. in electrical engineering from Stanford University, a J.D., cum laude, and an M.B.A. with distinction from Santa Clara University, and is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society. Mr. Carey moved to Honolulu In 1982, and was an attorney specializing in corporate and real estate law at Carlsmith Wichman Case Mukai and lchiki. Mr. Carey is a director or trustee of the James Campbell Company LLC, Punahou School, the Foundation for the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, Hawaii Business Roundtable, and Honolulu Festival. He is the Chair of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii Military Affairs Council (MAC) and a member of the Air Force Civic Leader Program, Chief Executives Organization, Hawaii Hotel & Lodging Association, Hawaii State Bar Association, Urban Land Institute, and the Young Presidents Organization/World Presidents Organization.

Mark Carrier B. F. Saul Company Hospitality Group Mark G. Carrier is the senior officer of the B. F. Saul Company Hospitality Group. The B. F. Saul Company is a privately held diversified real estate and finance concern based in the Washington DC area. The Hospitality Group owns and operates a portfolio of business class hotels, which are affiliated with Intercontinental Hotels Group, Marriott and Hilton and The Hay-Adams one of the nation’s finest hotels. He represents the company in relation to lenders, franchisors, clients, governmental agencies and industry associations. Carrier is the current Chairman of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, the nation’s advocacy organization for the hotel industry. He has served as Vice Chairman and Secretary- Treasurer of the AHLA and has a long tern engagement on various committees and task groups. Carrier is a past Chairman of the IHG Owners Association, the global franchise owners association of Intercontinental Hotels Group. He serves on Marriott’s Distribution Advisory Committee and Emerging Technology Advisory Group. He also serves on the Distribution Advisory Group for Hilton. Carrier is the Chairman of the Tyson’s Partnership. This organization represents the interests of the diverse stakeholders in Tysons, Virginia in the focused effort to turn the area into America’s Next Great City. Carrier is the Chairman Emeritus of Visit Fairfax, the county’s tourism promotion organization. Carrier is a member of the Cornell Hotel Society as well as the Cornell Real Estate Council. Carrier has received the Kemmons Wilson Service Award from the IHG Owners Association He was also named Virginia Hotelier of the Year by the Virginia Hotel and Travel Association.

Colin Carroll Ashford Inc. Mr. Carroll is Vice President of Investments of Ashford (NYSE MKT: AINC) and serves as the Vice President of Investments of both Ashford Hospitality Trust (NYSE: AHT) and Ashford Hospitality Prime (NYSE: AHP). Mr. Carroll’s role at Ashford focuses exclusively on hospitality investments across all segments and at all levels of the capital structure including direct hotel investments and mezzanine loans. Mr. Carroll’s responsibilities include sourcing and underwriting hotel investments including direct equity investments, joint venture equity, preferred equity, and mezzanine loans. During Mr. Carroll’s time at Ashford, he has been involved in numerous hotel equity transactions including its 2007 CNL and 2011 Highland Hospitality acquisitions. In addition, he has been responsible for the asset management of Ashford’s loan portfolio and assisted with capital raising activities of both equity and debt capital. Before joining Ashford, Mr. Carroll held roles with for ClubCorp, a leading owner and operator of premier destination resorts and private clubs, and Wyndham International, a fully integrated hotel enterprise that operated primarily in the upper upscale and luxury segments. Mr. Carroll received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Management from Texas A&M University and a Master of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University. Mr. Carroll is a Certified Public Accountant.

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James Carroll Crestline Hotels & Resorts James Carroll is the President & CEO of Crestline Hotels & Resorts. As CEO, he oversees the management of the Company’s portfolio of 106 managed properties in 28 states throughout the United States. With a dedicated team of over 5,000 associates, Crestline has grown to become one of the top ten hotel management companies in the country, and earned the elite status of being qualified to manage any of the Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Starwood or IHG products. During its 15+ year history, Crestline has been involved in all aspects of the hospitality business. Crestline formed, and spun out, multiple hotel real estate companies both domestically and internationally with equity value of over $2.0 billion, and performed asset management on portfolios in excess of 140 properties and $600 million in revenues. Mr. Carroll joined Crestline in 2004 from Dell, Inc. He served as Treasurer and CFO for Crestline prior to his promotion to President & CEO in 2010. Mr. Carroll holds the degree of Master in Business Administration from the Harvard Business School, and is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. Previously, he served as a Naval Aviator and Lieutenant in the United States Navy. Mr. Carroll serves on the Board of Directors for Armada Hoffler Properties, Inc. (NYSE: AHH) and for ServiceSource, Inc.

Roger Chacko Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group Roger Chacko serves as executive vice president and Global Branding and Commercial Officer for Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. Chacko reports to David P. Berg, the CEO of Carlson Hospitality Group. Chacko is responsible for all aspects of Commercial operations, Revenue Optimization, Sales, Marketing, Distribution, Channel Management and Brand performance worldwide for Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group and its brands including Quorvus Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson and Country Inns & Suites by Carlson. He also oversees the company’s loyalty program - Club Carlson; market research; brand management, creative services; guest experience management, digital marketing, and partnership marketing. Chacko has more than 25 years of experience in brand management, strategy development, and analytics in both developed and new and emerging markets with a number of global consumer centered and brand-led companies. Most recently he served as Chief Strategy Officer for Bloomin’ Brands Inc. where he co-developed the company’s international expansion plan, created the Analytics function, and set the foundation for new digital marketing capabilities. Prior to that, Chacko spent 25 years in a variety of senior roles with global companies including USAA, Danone, and Kellogg’s. Chacko holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Nigeria, a Masters of Business Administration in Marketing and Management Information Systems from Connecticut, a Master of Science degree in Management from MIT and, a Doctor of Philosophy in Management from Oklahoma.

Raj Chandnani WATG | Wimberly Interiors Raj Chandnani is Vice President, Strategy for WATG and Wimberly Interiors. He is responsible for guiding the company’s global outreach activities, implementing strategic initiatives, and positioning the firm as a leader in innovation. He has a wide range of industry expertise focusing on consumer trends, travel and tourism, branding strategies and hospitality real estate. Mr. Chandnani also collaborates with the firm’s clients, and provides strategic consulting for proposed developments, including visioning and conceptualization, competitive positioning, branding and operator selection. Chandnani has specialized in commercial real estate since 1994. Prior to joining WATG in 2001, Chandnani was as associate director with CBRE Hotels, where he spent six years in a variety of capacities including asset management, investment sales, financings and portfolio due diligence. He was previously with PKF Consulting in Los Angeles, and has also taught classes on strategic planning, financial management, real estate finance, hotel development, tourism and design at UCLA, USC, Cornell University and Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne. Mr. Chandnani is vice chair of the Urban Land Institute’s Hotel Development Council and has spoken at several industry conferences around the globe. He is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration.

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Anna Chung Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Anna Chung is a Vice President with Wells Fargo Bank’s Hospitality Finance Group, which provides debt products and financial services to leading hotel companies throughout the United States. The group’s customers include well-capitalized private owners/developers, institutional real estate funds, public and private REITs, and hotel operating companies. Since its inception in late 2008, the Hospitality Finance Group has grown its portfolio from $1Bn to over $9Bn in commitments and opened offices across the country with lending professionals deeply rooted in the hospitality industry. Based in Los Angeles, Anna covers banking relationships with customers headquartered in Southern California. Anna is responsible for sourcing, underwriting, and closing balance sheet loans and currently manages a loan portfolio totaling over $570MM in commitments. With over 15 years of experience, Anna has held various roles in the hospitality industry. Anna started her career in 2001 as a consultant at PKF Consulting and then joined Marriott International’s Development Planning group in 2003. Anna joined Wells Fargo Bank in 2009. Anna earned her B.S. from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and M.B.A. from Columbia Business School.

Brian A. Cohen DLA Piper (US) Brian Cohen is a partner in the Chicago office of DLA Piper and a member of the firm’s Hospitality and Leisure group. Mr. Cohen’s practice focuses on transactional real estate, representing both owners and operators in the acquisition, development, operation, financing, leasing and disposition of hotels and other property types. He has negotiated management agreements and operating leases for numerous branded and unbranded hotels across the country. Mr. Cohen also has represented clients in joint ventures and a merger transaction involving hotel development and hotel brands. Martindale-Hubbell ranks Mr. Cohen AV Preeminent, its highest rating available. In 2009 and 2010, Mr. Cohen was named an Illinois Rising Star by Super Lawyers, in research projects conducted jointly by Law & Politics and Chicago magazines. Mr. Cohen holds a B.A. in Political Science and Finance from the University of Illinois and a J.D. from Northwestern University.

Lauren A. Cohen e-Council Inc.com Lauren Cohen is the Founder of e-Council Inc. (www.ecouncilinc.com), a virtual company focused on quarterbacking the complex business immigration visa process, particularly EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visas. Lauren is a noted expert in the business immigration field and is a sought-after speaker, moderator and author. Lauren attended Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, Canada and is a lawyer licensed in both Canada & the U.S. As a result of her tenacity and drive coupled with a series of opportune events and career advice from trusted coaches and advisors, Lauren’s early path led her to find her “place” in the business immigration industry. Today, what began as a one-woman start-up has transformed into a successful enterprise dedicated to providing high-level concierge services to business owners and investors, walking a wide range of companies in many verticals through the capital-raising and business immigration visa process, including a wide range of hotels of all shapes and sizes across the U.S., including a number of hotels. Lauren has learned to always trust her instincts and never to give up on her dreams. Her hard work and never-ending dedication and desire to give back at every turn have been the key to e-Council Inc.’s success. Lauren believes strongly that her role now is to pay it forward by helping others to achieve the “American Dream".

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John Cohlan Margaritaville Resorts John Cohlan is the chief executive officer of Margaritaville Holdings, a lifestyle brand management company operating in the consumer products, hospitality, vacation ownership, gaming, restaurant, and media businesses. The brand inspired by the iconic music, lyrics and life of Jimmy Buffett, is based on the concept of Island Escapism. John graduated from Princeton University in 1979, attended the London School of Economics, and graduated from the Georgetown Law Center in 1984.

Andrew Coleman Berkardia Hotels & Hospitality Andy has more than 25 years of hospitality financing experience, closing over $6 billion in his tenure. Prior to joining Berkadia, Andy was with Walker & Dunlop as the head of their hospitality division. Andy has vast product knowledge of the debt financing programs offered by the market’s top life insurance companies, banks, conduits, specialty lenders and debt funds. His personal and relentless approach has garnered him some of the largest and most active hospitality clients in the sector, and he maintains those relationships to this day. Andy received his bachelor’s degree from George Mason University after transferring from Villanova University, where he played both Division 1 soccer and golf. He is actively involved with numerous charities including the Human Rights Campaign, Fair Chance and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Additionally, Andy is a long-time supporter of the Juvenile Diabetes Association.

Kevin Colket Starwood Capital Group Kevin Colket is a Managing Director at Starwood Capital Group. Prior to relocating to Hong Kong in March 2015 to lead the firm’s Asia efforts, Mr. Colket was Co-Head of the Firms’ Global Hotel Acquisitions Group based in London and led Starwood Capital’s hospitality acquisition efforts in Europe from 2012. Since joining Starwood Capital’s Greenwich, C.T. office in the U.S. in 2007, where he worked until moving to the U.K. in 2012, Mr. Colket has successfully led more than $4 billion in closed equity and debt transactions. Mr. Colket has also asset-managed many of the Firm’s key hospitality investments and made several large mezzanine loans for Starwood Property Trust. Prior to joining Starwood Capital, Mr. Colket worked as Director of Acquisitions and Development for Edinburgh Management, a U.S. based hotel joint venture with the Bank of Scotland. Before that, Mr. Colket held various finance and investment banking positions at Goldman, Sachs & Co., Bank of Boston (now Bank of America), and Paine Webber (now UBS). Mr. Colket earned an MBA from the Harvard Business School and a B.A. degree in economics from Trinity College.

Kathy Conroy HVS Consulting & Valuation Kathy Conroy is a Director-Partner in the Miami office of HVS Consulting & Valuation. She has completed thousands of consulting and valuation assignments in her career, with a focus on hotels, resorts, timeshare, and hospitality driven mixed use projects. Kathy has a wide range of geographical experience, having worked in 30 states and 30 countries, including 20 islands in the Caribbean Basin and 6 countries in Central and South America. She is known in the industry as a creative thinker and problem solver. Consulting assignments have included market assessments, product positioning studies, feasibility analysis, litigation support and expert witness testimony, and assistance in arranging shared ownership real estate marketing and/or branding alliances. Kathy has been a designated member of the Appraisal Institute since 1982; she is also a licensed Florida real estate broker, and a Florida state certified general real estate appraiser. She developed the concepts and techniques on timeshare valuation adopted and published in 1981 by the Appraisal Institute in her book valuing the Timeshare Property, and lead the HVS team responsible for the valuation of the entire Hilton Grand Vacation Club division of Hilton Worldwide when the Hilton organization was purchased by Blackstone in 2007.

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Maryam Cope American Hotel & Lodging Association Maryam Cope leads AH&LA's government advocacy in technology and distribution policy issues, including online travel and advertising, cyber security, and internet policy. She comes to AH&LA from the Information Technology Industry Council, where she represented major technology companies such as Apple, IBM, Intel, and Google, and was responsible for directing advocacy efforts in the areas of cybersecurity and cloud computing. Previously, she served as principal of The Cope Group, a reputation management and brand identity consulting firm providing services to Fortune 500 clients entering into technology partnerships with federal and state governments. Prior to that, Cope was professional staff for the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, where she focused on internet policy, cybersecurity, emerging technologies, and telecommunications. Cope was the lead Senate drafter for cybersecurity legislation, reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act, funding the National Laboratories, and negotiated key provisions related to the authority of the newly formed Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Maryam holds a Bachelors of Arts degree from Northwestern University, and a certificate from the Executive Program for Women Leaders at Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Thomas J. Corcoran, Jr. FelCor Lodging Trust

In 1991 Mr. Corcoran co-founded FelCor, Inc. with Hervey Feldman. In 1994 FelCor went public as a hotel REIT. In 1996 FelCor Lodging Trust was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Mr. Corcoran served as President and Chief Executive Officer of FelCor since its formation until his appointment to Chairman of the Board in 2006. FelCor, a real estate investment trust, owns a diversified portfolio of primarily upper-upscale and luxury hotels that are located in major and resort markets throughout the U.S. FelCor partners with leading hotel companies to operate its hotels, which are flagged under globally renowned names and premier independent hotels. Additional information can be found on the Company's website at www.felcor.com. Mr. Corcoran’s board appointments include: past Chairman of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), and past Chairman of the IHG Owners Association. After serving as independent board member since December 2010, Mr. Corcoran was appointed Chairman of the Board of Sammons Enterprises. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, in the United States, with more than $73 billion in assets, Sammons ranks among the largest privately owned companies in the world.

Mathew Crosswy Stonehill Strategic Capital Mathew leads Stonehill Strategic Capital’s (“SSC”) efforts in sourcing and structuring new credit opportunities, while continuing to build and maintain existing relationships with investors and borrowers. Under Mathew’s leadership, SSC has deployed over $500 million in hotel debt and preferred equity investments. Prior to serving as President of SSC, Mathew was responsible for sourcing, negotiating and financing hotel investment opportunities for Peachtree Hotel Group. He served as a liaison for debt relationships across all types of financial and equity market participants. In this role, he sourced, arranged and placed over $600 million in deals. Mathew began his career with Greystone Financial in their CMBS Group consulting with B-Piece Investors to securitize their multi-billion dollar portfolios. He later went on to join Specialty Finance Group (“SFG”) where he enhanced his knowledge of the hospitality industry by underwriting complex hospitality construction and takeout loans ranging in size from $5 to $75 million. At the end of his tenure with SFG, Mathew asset managed a $1.8 billion portfolio. Mathew earned his business administration degree in real estate finance from the University of Georgia.

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George Dabney Thayer Lodging Group George Dabney has more than 15 years of experience as a hotel finance executive leading and advising a $2 billion privately held hotel investment firm through complex capital structures and capital markets transactions. Mr. Dabney is currently responsible for finance, investor relations and treasury matters for all of Brookfield’s hotel investments sourced and managed through Thayer Lodging, Brookfield’s hospitality operating affiliate. The Thayer portfolio currently comprises 15 premier hotels (>5,000 keys) located in key growth markets throughout the U.S., including all North American hotel assets in BSREP I. Prior to joining Thayer, Mr. Dabney was an audit manager for EY, and held an accounting leadership position at Town and Country Trust (NYSE: TCT). Mr. Dabney is active with his alma mater, Penn State University. He is a member of the Philanthropy Council Steering Committee of the Penn State University College of Health and Human Development. He is also a member of the Penn State Hotel & Restaurant Society Executive Board where he serves as Treasurer. He is frequent guest lecturer at universities and real estate industry conferences. Mr. Dabney holds a M.B.A. from University of Maryland University College, and a B.S. in Accounting from Penn State University.

Peter E. Dannemiller Hodges Ward Elliott Pete Dannemiller is Managing Director of Hodges Ward Elliott, the leading hotel brokerage and investment-banking firm in the U.S. Since joining HWE in 1996, Pete has become one of the leading producers within the firm and the hotel investment sales and financing industry. Dannemiller has teamed with Partner Mark Elliott to close sales and financing transactions totaling over $30 billion in volume during his tenure with the firm. With a strong background in finance, Dannemiller is primarily responsible for HWE’s debt placement activity, which has totaled over $4 billion over the last 8 years. Pete has been a speaker/panelist at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS), the Atlanta Hotel Investment Conference, Hotel Asset Manger’s Association (HAMA) Conference, The Lodging Conference, the Midwest Lodging Investment Summit, Meet the Money, and NYU’s International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference and has been quoted in Hotel Business, Real Estate Forum and Lodging Hospitality magazines as a hospitality brokerage expert. Pete holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MBA from Emory University.

Eric A. Danziger Trump Hotel Group Eric Danziger is the chief executive officer of Trump Hotels, the world-renowned luxury hotel brand and management company, responsible for the strategic direction, growth and performance of the business. With more than 45 years of experience in the hotel business, Danziger, who started as a bellman at The Fairmont San Francisco at the age of 17, has served as the head of several of the industry’s leading hotel companies. He joined Trump Hotels following roles as President and CEO of Starwood Hotels, President and COO of Carlson Hotels Worldwide and President and CEO of Wyndham Hotel Group. Most recently, Danziger was president and CEO of Hampshire Hotels Management, now Dream Hotel Group, where he introduced a collection of lifestyle hotel brands. His first executive role was with DoubleTree Hotels, where he was part of the team which created the iconic DoubleTree cookie. Danziger was instrumental in the exponential growth and success of each organization he led. As an example, he is credited with greatly expanding the footprint of Wyndham Hotel Group into multiple new countries, and he was the visionary that first leveraged the organization’s strength and synergies across all of its brands. He is the recipient of numerous industry awards and honors including the first-ever Inspirational Industry Icon award granted by the South American Hotel Investment Conference. He was named the Northern California Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year in real estate, hospitality and construction; the UJA Federation Honoree, and he received the coveted Arthur Landstreet award from HSMAI. Danziger is a member of the Industry Real Estate Financing Council and the Urban Land Institute, and he has served as Chairman of the American Hotel & Lodging Strategic Planning Group. He is also active with major universities, featured as a distinguished lecturer at Cornell and a visiting professor at Johnson and Wales University, where he holds an honorary doctorate. He is based in the Trump Hotels corporate office in New York City.

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Richard F. Davis Greenberg Traurig Richard F. Davis has more than 30 years of experience in the global recreational and resort real estate industry and is Co-Chair of the Hospitality Group of international law firm Greenberg Traurig. Rick has counseled owners, developers, investors, operators, lenders, and advisors in connection with major global hospitality industry projects. He is a Trustee of the American Resort Development Association, a member of the Urban Land Institute and its Recreational Product Council, the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, the Association of Mexican Tourism Developers, and the Caribbean Hotel Association. He has been a member of industry task forces in Florida, California and other U.S. jurisdictions as well as with respect to Mexico, the Caribbean and other foreign locations. Rick holds political science and law degrees from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and is admitted to practice law in California, Washington D.C. and before all U.S. district federal courts, the U.S. Tax Court and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Michael Dean Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group Michael Dean serves as chief development officer, Americas, for Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, responsible for growing the brands through franchise development and management agreements. He previously played a pivotal role in creating a construction lending program for GE Capital that resulted in significant sales growth. Prior to GE Capital, Michael served in strategic leadership roles at Saratoga Hotel Group, Intell Management & Investments and Rockgate, an international hotel management and real estate development company. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the School of Hotel Management at Florida International University in Miami.

Adam M. Docks Perkins Coie LLP Adam Docks handles a wide range of complex real estate matters, placing a primary emphasis on the acquisition, disposition, development, management and financing of hotels. He has experience working with all of the major hotel brand companies and third-party operators, covering the full spectrum of hotel asset classes, both domestically and internationally. Whether providing counsel to established hotel investors or guiding entrepreneurs in connection with their first hotel-related investments or developments, Adam efficiently helps his clients navigate all of the complexities associated with these unique transactions. Because many traditional real estate companies and multinational corporations have cross-border needs, Adam works in conjunction with local counsel to help clients acquire and develop hotels in other countries. Among other accomplishments, Adam has been identified by Chambers USA for four consecutive years as one of the leading hospitality lawyers in the United States. Adam also has significant experience dealing with distressed hotel investments, and also represents receivers in their hotel receivership engagements, including the negotiation of receiver franchise agreements, hotel management agreements and receiver hotel sale agreements.

Dorothy Dowling Best Western Hotels & Resorts Dorothy Dowling is senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Best Western® Hotels and Resorts. Dorothy directs all marketing and sales strategies, overseeing the brand’s loyalty program, consumer and field marketing activities, advertising, public relations and e-commerce. Since joining Best Western in 2004, Dowling has implemented a number of measures to increase market share and contemporize the iconic Best Western brand. She re-branded the company’s loyalty program to Best Western Rewards®, increased its membership by 13 million and more than doubled its revenue contribution percentage to hotels Under Dowling’s leadership, Best Western has strengthened its strategic partnership with AAA/CAA. As a result, Best Western has been named AAA Lodging Partner of the Year every year since 2008. Dowling has also overseen critical user experience improvements to the bestwestern.com booking channel, as well as the launch of multiple mobile initiatives, including the iPhone and Android application, Best Western to Go®. Under her leadership, Best Western has become a leading hotel player in digital marketing through innovative partnerships with TripAdvisor, Facebook and Google, among others.

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Tim L. Edgar Hotel Innvestor Tim L. Edgar is the Founder and President of Hotel Innvestor, the first web-based, hotel specific investment banking platform in the country. Mr. Edgar started his career in hotels in 1991 working at the Beverly Hilton while studying at the University of Southern California. After graduating from USC, Edgar went into hotel property brokerage, where he underwrote hundreds of hotel projects and personally consummated over $1.1 billion in hotel property sales. Tim is also currently an active officer in a 200-room hotel in San Francisco, California. Tim is a recognized industry expert in crowdsourcing for hotels and has been quoted in publications such as the Orange County Business Journal, the New England Real Estate Journal, Hotel Business, Boston Hospitality Review, Hotel News Now, Crowdfund Insider and Real Estate Fund Manager. Edgar has also been a featured speaker on the subject at various conferences including the North American Tourism & Hospitality Investment Conference (NATHIC) in Chicago, Hotel Equities and Lender Perspectives Conference (HELP) in Boston, Meet the Money Conference (MTM) in Los Angeles, The Lodging Conference (TLC) in Phoenix, NATHIC Miami, Alternative Investing Summit (AIS) in Laguna Beach, California and the Hunter Hotel Conference (HHC) in Atlanta.

Joel Eisemann IHG Joel Eisemann joined the InterContinental Hotels Group ("IHG") in September 2011 and is Chief Development Officer, The Americas. He is responsible for all development and conversion activities (both managed and franchised) for the InterContinental, Kimpton, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, EVEN Hotels, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites, Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express brands in the Americas. Mr. Eisemann is also responsible for the company's Transactions & Asset Management group for the Americas, which handles workouts and restructurings, and the region's Owner & Franchise Services team, which leads the IHG organization to attract, support and grow with those owners and franchisees who will help the company to continue to grow its brands' distribution and preference. Additionally, Joel is responsible for the Americas Architecture & Design and Capital Projects teams. Previously, Mr. Eisemann was with Marriott International for 29 years, where he held a number of senior positions including Chief Owner & Franchise Relations Officer; Chief Development Officer, Select Service and Extended-Stay Brands; Executive Vice President, Global Asset Management; and Senior Vice President, Lodging Development, Asia/Pacific, based in Hong Kong. Prior to joining Marriott, he was with Laventhol & Horwath in Tampa, Florida for 3 years.

Mark W. Elliott Hodges Ward Elliott Mark joined Hodges Ward Elliott (“HWE”) in 1983. HWE has sold more hotels corporately, and Mark has sold more hotels than any other individual in the United States. In the last 25 years, he has personally sold and/or financed approximately 1,350 hotels, totaling over 268,000 rooms, with a dollar volume in excess of $42 billion. The firm transacted on over $11.67 billion in hotel real estate since the beginning of 2013. Mark is currently the co-chairman of Industry Real Estate Finance Advisory Council (“IREFAC”), and he is mentioned annually as the leading hotel broker by Real Estate Forum magazine and Commercial Property News. He has written articles for Real Estate Finance Journal and authored a chapter in the Hotel Investment Handbook, as well as being quoted in the Wall Street Journal as a lodging industry expert. Mark has been a recipient of the prestigious “Jack A. Shaffer Financial Advisor of the Year” award, “C. Everett Johnson” award, and Mark has been a speaker at the Harvard Business School.

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Krystal England Canyon Partners Krystal England is a Senior Director and head of hospitality at Canyon Partners Real Estate LLC. Mrs. England is responsible for originating, underwriting, structuring and executing debt and equity investments in the hospitality sector. She also leads the asset management of Canyon’s hospitality portfolio nationwide. Her responsibilities include servicing debt investments and working with operating partners to oversee development and redevelopment projects, overseeing the hotel operations at each asset, and strategic capital events such as financings and dispositions. Prior to joining Canyon, Ms. England was a Senior Vice President with Centurion Partners, a resort and urban hospitality and residential development company. Based in Centurion’s Aspen, Colorado office, Ms. England was responsible for the financial and strategic assessment of the company’s potential acquisitions while managing the financial projections and investor communication processes for Centurion’s real estate portfolio. Ms. England began her real estate career with Trammell Crow Company in Boston, MA, and her twelve years of industry experience includes commercial leasing, affordable housing development, luxury fractional development, and hotel renovation and repositioning. Ms. England is a graduate of the University of Virginia (B.A. Environmental Science) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.S. Real Estate Development and Master in City Planning).

Cindy Estis Green Kalibri Labs, LLC Cindy Estis Green’s career began in corporate marketing and senior operations roles for Hilton International. After starting up the data mining consultancy, Driving Revenue, and selling it to Pegasus Solutions, Ms. Green spent twelve years as managing partner of The Estis Group providing strategic marketing consulting to the hospitality industry. Co-author of the 2012 Distribution Channel Analysis: A Guide for Hotels and many other industry publications on the topic of marketing technology, Estis Green has been honored as one of the 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing, was inducted into the prestigious Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame and named as one of Cornell University’s 90 Influential Hotelies. She is currently a member of the HITEC Advisory Council, leads the AH&LA Consumer Innovation Forum, the European Hotel Forum, holds a board seat for The Knowland Group and the Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP). Ms. Estis Green launched Kalibri Labs in 2012, a next generation benchmarking platform for the digital marketplace evaluating hotel revenue performance. Using innovative big data techniques, Kalibri Labs helps hotels manage the cost of customer acquisition and optimize profit contribution. Estis Green holds a BS degree from Cornell University and an MBA from The American University.

John S. Fareed ISHC John Fareed, Principal of John Fareed Hospitality Consulting LLC is an internationally recognized authority in the field of hospitality marketing, and has spoken on the topic at industry events in Australia, Brazil, Croatia, Egypt, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, United Kingdom, and across the US, Canada and Caribbean. Fareed has appeared as an expert on national television programs including ABC News, CNN and Fox News Network, in publications such as the New York Times, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal, and has had articles published in numerous trade journals. Fareed holds two postgraduates including a Master of Science degree in Hospitality Management from the Dublin Institute of Technology's School of Hospitality Management and Tourism in Dublin, Ireland—where his is currently pursuing a PhD—as well as professional designations from the prestigious International Society of Hospitality Consultants [ISHC] and the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International [HSMAI]. HSMAI recognized Fareed as one of the “Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing”, and he currently serves as an officer on the Board of Directors for ISHC and as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for HSMAI’s International Foundation.

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Joe Faust Dakota Development, a division of sbe Joe Faust is President of sbe subsidiary Dakota Development. He is responsible for the development aspects of all sbe properties, including assessment, design, budgeting, construction and fit-out. He manages an international team of over 10 architecture and interior design professionals that oversee the development of sbe properties globally. Prior to joining sbe, Faust built over $1 billion in projects during his 15 years at the Hyatt Hotels Corp. He directed the development and renovation of 40 hotels and timeshare projects in the U.S. and the Caribbean while there. Faust was responsible for the design, construction development, total budget and selection of designers. He excelled in his ability to translate their visions into cost-effective, quality construction. Some of his most notable projects are the Chicago-based $150 million Grand Victoria Casino, the 67-story Park Hyatt tower on Michigan Avenue, and the Hyatt Grand Aspen which made Conde Nast Traveler’s 2006 Hot List. Faust also worked for a contracting company in Phoenix, AZ, as project manager on the Hyatt Gainey Ranch. Faust holds a B.A. in Business from South Dakota State University.

Michael Fishbin EY Michael is the Global & Americas Hospitality Leader and a member of EY’s Global Real Estate Center’s Advisory Board. Michael is an active advisor to hospitality and leisure companies, developers, owners, private equity funds, lenders and governments in all aspects of the hospitality, leisure and tourism industries. Recently, he has served as the lead advisor on a number of significant hospitality M&A transactions. EY’s hospitality practice provides accounting, tax services and a range of advisory services focused on transaction, development, valuation, operations and strategy. Michael is a member of the Executive Planning Committee for the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference. He is also an adjunct faculty member at NYU Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management. He holds a B.A. from Union College and received his Masters Degree from the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University. He is a member of the advisory board of Rock and Wrap it Up, a non-profit anti-poverty organization that serves the sports, music education, government and hotel industries in the fight to alleviate hunger around the world. Michael and his wife, Dori, were honored in 2014 by Rock and Wrap it Up, with their Humanitarian of the Year Award.

JP Ford Lodging Econometrics JP leads all of the Strategic Sales and Marketing Initiatives for Lodging Econometrics and New England Hotel Realty. He is an Industry leading real estate advisory specialist with close to 30 years experience providing business development, acquisition and disposition services in the United States. JP serves as a trusted advisor to Franchise Companies looking to identify new construction and potential brand conversion opportunities; Ownership and Management Groups throughout North America looking to add real estate assets and management contracts to their portfolios; and Wall Street analysts looking to evaluate real estate development and valuation trends as well as assess investment potential in various hotel companies and particular markets. Additionally, JP chairs the committee responsible for gathering nominations and selecting the finalists for the America’s Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) “Development of the Year” award, which recognizes the most outstanding achievement in hotel construction and design in the country. He is also a speaker at various hotel industry events and conferences and regularly contributes to several lodging real estate publications, such as the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s Lodging Magazine, the IHIF Newsletter, Lodging Magazine and Hotel Management Magazine. JP is a Certified Hotel Broker (CHB), and a member of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC).

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William Fortier Hilton William B. Fortier was named Senior Vice President – Development, Americas in June 2008. He is responsible for developing both the managed and franchised businesses for all of Hilton’s brands in the region. Prior to his current role, Mr. Fortier was Senior Vice President – Franchise Development of Hilton’s Brand Performance and Development group, a position he held since 2001. In that capacity, he was responsible for overseeing franchise development efforts for Hilton Hotels Corporation’s brands in North America. These activities also included managing the franchise contract administration and franchise architecture and construction teams. Mr. Fortier joined Hilton in 1996 as VP Franchise Development, where he worked with owners to develop Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn franchised hotels in the western US. Prior to Hilton, Mr. Fortier spent 10 years at Marriott International where he was Vice President of Development, and prior to that was a consultant with Pannel Kerr Forester for just under 4 years. Fortier earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel/Restaurant Management from the University of Houston’s Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management.

Michael Franz Panogs Michael's experience with 360º photographic and video content has led to work with TIME, Inc, The Space Needle, MLB, CBS, NBC, TBS, Salesforce, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and several other major brands and media providers. In March 2014, his collaborative image from the top of the One World Trade Center was featured on the cover of TIME Magazine, the first image in TIME’s 91-year history to ever expand the cover to three pages. In January of 2017 his company will be the Executive Producers for a feature VR film for Sports Illustrated, called "Capturing Everest", will debut at Sundance Film Festival.

Jan Freitag STR Mr. Jan D. Freitag is a Senior Vice President for STR (STR, Inc.). STR provides clients from multiple market sectors with premium, global data benchmarking, analytics and marketplace insights. Founded in 1985, STR maintains a presence in 10 countries around the world with a corporate North American headquarters in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and an international headquarters in London, England. In his role, Mr. Freitag oversees a variety of projects, all charged with the accumulation and interpretation of global lodging data. He is a sought-after public speaker and is frequently quoted in trade publications and the general news media such as The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Associated Press, Reuters, Forbes, etc. Prior to joining STR, Mr. Freitag was the Director of Content Integrity at hotelreports.com in upstate New York and a hospitality consultant with Ernst & Young in Phoenix. He holds a bachelor’s degree, with distinction, from the School of Hotel Administration, Cornell University, and received his Executive MBA, with honors, from Vanderbilt University. Mr. Freitag resides in Nashville, TN.

Greg Friedman Peachtree Hotel Group Greg has more than 17 years’ hospitality experience with an emphasis on deal-structure and financing. He successfully has led Peachtree in more than $1 Billion in hotel acquisitions, investments and development since co-founding the company. He formerly was senior vice president of business development for Specialty Finance Group, LLC, a direct lender providing hotel first mortgage and FF&E financing, where he originated more than $2 billion of hotel debt. Previously, Greg was vice president of business development for GMAC Commercial Mortgage – Asset-Backed Lending Division. During his six-year tenure, he originated, closed and funded more than 300 hospitality FF&E financing transactions with an aggregate capital structure exceeding $10 billion. Greg holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from the University of Texas at Austin.

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Jason Fudin Vornado Realty Trust Jason Fudin is the Director of Strategic Projects at the Washington DC Division of Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE:VNO). Vornado is one of the largest owners of commercial real estate in the Washington DC Metro area. Jason’s division works on strategic investments, key partnerships, and transformative initiatives that impact the portfolio and the future of real estate product. Jason has a B.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering from McGill University, and an M.S. in Finance and Real Estate from American University.

Michael A. Garcia Omni Hotels and Resorts Mike Garcia, a 20-year-plus veteran of Omni Hotels & Resorts, currently serves as Chief Development Officer, where he is responsible for spearheading Omni’s robust expansion plans and the development of new hotels and resorts. Previously, Garcia served as Controller of Corporate Accounting from 1996 – 2004 and then as Chief Financial Officer from 2004 – 2016, overseeing accounting and reporting, treasury, purchasing, risk management and capital project accounting. In 2009 he was given the added responsibilities of Senior Vice President, Acquisitions and Development. In 2013 under his leadership, the company experienced unprecedented growth with the acquisition of six iconic resorts: Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, The Omni Grove Park Inn, The Omni Homestead Resort, Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia, and Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa. He is also leading Omni’s impressive growth within the convention center hotel sphere with the addition of the Fort Worth, Dallas, Nashville, Louisville, and Oklahoma City hotels. He also serves on the Advisory Council to the Dean of the University of Texas at San Antonio College of Business.

Ray Garfield, Jr. Garfield Public/Private LLC Ray Garfield serves as Chairman of Garfield Public/Private LLC, a firm he co-founded with his son in 1997. He is an accomplished leader in finance and development of essential public facilities. Drawing on extensive Wall Street experience, he works with investment bankers, bond and tax counsel, and client advisors in engineering creative ownership and financing structures to fund critical infrastructure. Mr. Garfield served in executive roles with both private and publicly-held development and financial services firms including Cushman & Wakefield, Inc., Salomon Brothers, and Merrill Lynch Commercial Real Estate. He has been responsible for the development and financing of over $8 billion of commercial buildings and public facilities. Mr. Garfield continues to be active in national real estate associations and has served as a Board member of two public companies. He has been a featured speaker and panelist at real estate conferences throughout the nation including The Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS), the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), and the National Council for Public Private Partnerships (NCPPP). Mr. Garfield received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering from the United States Naval Academy and served as a Naval Aviator. Mr. Garfield’s firm has a designation as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business.

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Laurence Geller Geller Capital Partners Laurence S. Geller CBE, Chairman of Geller Investment Co, is an accomplished businessman and entrepreneur, having led multi-national, hospitality corporations. In 1997, Mr. Geller founded Strategic Hotels & Resorts. Previously, he held positions as EVP and COO of Hyatt Development Corporation, SVP of Holiday Inns and Director of Grand Metropolitan Hotels. Mr. Geller serves on the Boards of Michels & Taylor (U.K), and he is Chairman of Dolphin Capital Investment Limited. He previously served as Chairman of the IREFAC for six non-consecutive terms. Philanthropically, Mr. Geller serves on the Boards of Choose Chicago, Children’s Memorial Hospital, British American Business Consul, and the American Jewish Committee. Mr. Geller is Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Churchill Centre, and he is Chairman of the UK Dementia Appeal Board. Mr. Geller is a graduate of Ealing Technical College, and he is Chancellor of the University of West London. On December 31, 2011, Mr. Geller was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Mr. Geller has over 45 years of experience in lodging and has received numerous awards for service to the industry and his civic endeavors.

Michael George Crescent Hotels & Resorts Michael is Founder, President & CEO of Crescent Hotels & Resorts, a nationally recognized, award winning operator of over 100 hotels, resorts & conference centers in the US & Canada. Crescent is a Marriott Partnership Circle Award winner and one of the few elite management companies approved to operate upper-upscale and luxury hotels under the brand families of Marriott/Starwood, Hilton, Hyatt and IHG. Crescent also operates a collection of legendary independent & soft branded lifestyle hotels and resorts. Crescent’s clients are premier hotel REITs, private equity firms and major developers. Prior to Crescent, Michael served as Senior Vice President for Destination Hotels & Resorts, Chief Operating Officer for Sunstone and Senior Vice President for Interstate. Earlier in his career, Michael served as an award winning General Manager for premier hotels with Hilton, Sheraton and Westin brand affiliations. Michael presently serves on the Owners Advisory Boards of Marriott, Hilton, Starwood and previously served on the Board of Directors of several publicly traded hotel companies.

Mark Gerstein IHG Mark J. Gerstein joined IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) in September 2013 and is Chief Capital Markets Officer, The Americas. At IHG, Mark focuses on building relationships with debt and equity capital providers. He also advises and assists IHG owners with their efforts to obtain financing, as well as develops relationships with equity investors who are interested in owning IHG hotels. Previously, Mark was a Managing Director in UBS Investment Bank’s Real Estate, Lodging and Leisure Group where he was involved in the execution of mergers, acquisitions, asset sales, IPOs, and debt & equity transactions. Prior to UBS, Mark was a Vice President at Morgan Stanley. He has over 15 years of experience in lodging and real estate investment banking. Mark graduated as a Palmer Scholar with an M.B.A. in Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and received a BEng in Civil Engineering with Great Distinction from McGill University.

Bryan Giglia Sunstone Hotel Investors Bryan A. Giglia is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to such appointment, Mr. Giglia served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since February, 2013 and oversaw capital market transactions, corporate financial planning and analysis, and investor relations. Mr. Giglia joined the Company in March 2004 as a financial analyst, serving in the capacity of Director of Finance from October 2005 through February 2007. From March 2007 to February 2010, he served as Vice President — Corporate Finance and March 2010 to January 2013, he served as Senior Vice President — Corporate Finance. From August 1998 to August 2002, he served in a variety of accounting positions for Hilton Hotel Corporation. From August 2002 until joining the Company in March 2004, Mr. Giglia attended the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California, where he earned an M.B.A. degree. Mr. Giglia earned his B.S. degree in Business Administration from the University of Arizona.

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Akshay Goyal Starwood Capital Group Akshay Goyal is a Vice President in the Acquisitions Group at Starwood Capital Group, where he is responsible for sourcing, structuring, underwriting and closing investments in the lodging sector. Since joining the Firm in 2012, Mr. Goyal has played a lead role in the acquisition of hospitality investments globally valued at approximately $3.2 billion. Mr. Goyal previously served in the real estate investment banking group at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. He received a B.S. degree in finance and accounting from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Micah E. Green Maidbot Maidbot is Micah’s dream come true. Micah Estis Green is the Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Maidbot - a robotics company building Rosie - the world’s very first housekeeping robot for hotels. Rosie is a safe and cost-efficient automated solution for the hospitality industry which decreases the time to clean rooms and public spaces while reducing work-related injuries and improving the room attendant and guest experiences. Rosie also acts as an indoor mobile data platform to empower management with actionable information. Green manages the company and product vision, sales strategy, cash flows, investor relations, and team development. Over the past decade, he has been a serial entrepreneur starting multiple businesses including two successful smartphone applications. Green strongly follows the words of Abraham Lincoln, "the best way to predict the future is to create it." Outside of Maidbot, Green enjoys long boarding, windsurfing, and producing electronic music. While currently taking a leave from pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Hospitality Administration - with a concentration in Entrepreneurship - at Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, he is focused on enhancing guest satisfaction for hotel companies while helping them increase efficiencies.

Kenneth R. Greger AETHOS Consulting Group A Managing Director with AETHOS Consulting Group, Ken is based in Portland, OR. He has spoken multiple times at The Lodging Conference, ALIS, The Global Spa & Wellness Summit and to other audiences. A frequent author, Ken’s articles have appeared in The Cornell H. R. A. Quarterly, Hotel & Motel Management, Hotel News Now and other leading industry news media. Ken is a Certified Public Accountant, having started his career with Deloitte & Touche. From there he entered the world of executive search and consulting, later joining KPMG’s global search practice in Los Angeles, where he was also a member of the firm’s Entertainment Industry Practice Group. He was later recruited to lead executive search in the Western Region for Laventhol & Horwath. Ken left to launch Greger/Peterson Associates, Inc., a highly regarded executive search firm specializing in Hospitality & Leisure. In January 2016, more than 20 years later, the firm merged with AETHOS Consulting Group. AETHOS Consulting Group is the world’s largest hospitality-focused executive search and advisory firm, renowned for its hands-on, consultative and bottom-line business approach. In 2016, AETHOS merged with U.S. west-coast based Greger/Peterson Associates, Inc. to form a global powerhouse consultancy firm for clients in the lodging, restaurant, gaming and private equity sectors. Through its offices in North America, Europe and Asia, AETHOS provides reputable, experienced and superior executive search, compensation consulting, business strategy, and performance, risk and asset management advisory services.

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Brenna Halliday Host Hotels & Resorts Brenna Halliday is Vice President of Strategic Analysis for Host Hotels & Resorts, the largest lodging REIT and one of the world’s largest owners of luxury and upper-upscale hotels (NYSE: HST). Ms. Halliday translates data into actionable insights that guide Host’s long-term investment strategy. Her areas of expertise range from forecasting market performance to assessing ideal property types, the customer of the future, and the impact of the sharing economy. In addition, she evaluates the strategic implications of the ever-evolving global economic outlook. During her 13-year career in the industry, Ms. Halliday has conducted detailed due diligence in 12 countries and 40 cities across the Americas and Europe, averaging over $2 billion per year in transactions evaluated. In 2007, she launched Host’s platform for European feasibility in their newly-established London office. She has also developed several proprietary analytical tools, including the company’s global hotel valuation model. Prior to joining Host, she worked in feasibility and investment analysis for Hilton. Ms. Halliday holds an Executive MBA from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, and a B.S. from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration. In her spare time, she enjoys skiing in her native California and wine-tasting with her husband Erik.

John S. Hamilton Pyramid Hotel Group John Hamilton is responsible for Pyramid Hotel Group’s new management assignments, acquisitions and business development. In the past ten years, Hamilton and his team have underwritten, financed, acquired and/or taken over management of over 120 hotels with over 35,000 rooms. Hamilton has years of experience sourcing, evaluating, underwriting and executing hospitality real estate and management transactions. Previously a licensed C.P.A., he has been associated with such prominent firms as Lowe Hospitality, Promus Hotels, Carnival Hotels & Resorts, Doubletree Hotels, and Laventhol & Horwath, CPA’s. PHG is a third-party hotel and resort management and asset-management company providing various services to owners & lenders, such as hotel & resort property management, asset management, receivership and project management.

Christopher Hart Locke Lord LLP Christopher Hart, a Partner in Locke Lord LLP’s hospitality practice group, has more than 30 years of experience representing banks, other lenders and borrowers in a wide range of asset-based and real estate secured loans. He has a particular experience in the hotel and hospitality industry, where he has represented both borrowers and lenders in more than $12 billion worth of financings, franchise and management agreements, dispositions, property improvement plans (PIPs) and investor relations. The finance work has ranged from $15 million construction and bridge loans for individual limited service hotels, to nine-figure CMBS and syndicated credits backed by multiple full service and resort properties. He understands the interplay between the lenders and the brands and independent operators over such issues as cash management and dominion, FF&E reserves, insurance requirements, casualty/condemnation restoration conditions, and operator subordination covenants and non-disturbance protection.

Robert Hee Canyon Equity LLC Robert Hee is a Managing Director of Canyon Equity LLC, a vertically-integrated private investment company focused on the acquisition, repositioning, development and ownership of small luxury resorts, managed by marquis brands in unique destinations around the world. At Canyon Equity, Robert is responsible for strategic planning, financial underwriting of new investments and administration of the company including overseeing the finance and accounting functions. Prior to joining Canyon Equity, he was a Principal on the Real Estate and Lodging Investment Banking platform of Banc of America Securities in San Francisco. During his nine year tenure there he successfully completed approximately 50 M&A, debt and equity assignments totaling in excess of $20 billion dollars. Robert holds an M.B.A. from the Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth College and B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles and Stanford University, respectively.

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Amanda Hite STR, Inc. Mrs. Amanda W. Hite is the President and CEO of STR (STR, Inc.). STR provides clients from multiple market sectors with premium, global data benchmarking, analytics and marketplace insights. Founded in 1985, STR maintains a presence in 10 countries around the world with a corporate North American headquarters in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and an international headquarters in London, England. As President and CEO, she sets company policy and direction while overseeing daily operations. She also serves as Chairman of the Board for STR Global, Limited. Mrs. Hite is a member of the Board of Directors of the US Travel Association, the Executive Council of the Women in Lodging, and the Board of Directors of Forward Sumner Economic Partnership. She also serves as a member of the Industry Advisory Board of the Hotel and Restaurant Management Program at Auburn University and School of Hospitality Management at Penn State University. Prior to joining STR, Mrs. Hite was the Director of Research for the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce. She is a graduate of Birmingham-Southern College with a B.S. in Business Administration. She resides in Hendersonville, TN with her husband and two children.

Eric Jacobs Marriott International Eric Jacobs is Chief Development Officer for Marriott International – US and Canada. He is responsible for franchise and managed growth for Marriott’s Select Brands including Courtyard, Sheraton Four Points, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn and Suites, AC by Marriott, Aloft, Moxy, Residence Inn, Element by Westin, and TownePlace Suites. Mr. Jacobs began his career with Marriott International in 2005, where he led Marriott’s Select Service and Extended Stay franchising and managed development efforts in the Western United States. His professional career includes 30 years of experience in the hospitality and restaurant business with extensive experience in hotel acquisitions and development, franchising, market planning and analysis, hotel and restaurant operations, branding, concept development, and sales. He has worked for both private and publicly held companies including Hilton International, InterContinental Hotels Group, Stouffer Hotels and Resorts, Tarsadia Hotels and Club Corp of America. He sits on the board of Extreme Response International, a global humanitarian aid organization committed to changing the lives of people living in extreme, often life-threatening, situations. The programs are designed to bring help and hope to those in need with a particular emphasis on at-risk children and women. Mr. Jacobs earned his bachelor’s degree in Hotel Administration from the University Nevada, Las Vegas.

Dana Jacobsohn Marriott International Dana Jacobsohn is Vice President, Global Mixed Use Development for Marriott International. She is responsible for the growth of Marriott’s portfolio of residential brands including St. Regis, Bvlgari, Ritz-Carlton, W Hotels, EDITION, The Luxury Collection, JW Marriott, Marriott, Westin, Le Meridien, Autograph Collection, Sheraton and Tribute Portfolio. Mrs. Jacobsohn began her career with Marriott International in 1996 in the market planning and analysis team preparing feasibility studies for Marriott’s portfolio of brands throughout North America. Her professional career includes 25 years in the hospitality industry with extensive experience in market planning and analysis, asset management, and both hotel and residential development. She has worked for both private and publicly held companies including Ernst & Young and AEW Capital Management. Mrs. Jacobsohn earned her bachelor’s degree from the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University.

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Abhishek Jain PwC Mr. Jain is a Director in PwC’s Hospitality & Leisure Consulting practice, with over 15 years of extensive experience in the hospitality and lodging sector, including property-level operations and consulting. At PwC, Mr. Jain’s hospitality and leisure experience has been focused on providing advice to institutional, private equity, and cross-border investors on single-asset and portfolio transactions as well as on corporate mergers and acquisitions, with a primary focus on financial and commercial due diligence, market assessments and entry strategies, and valuations. He has also advised major lodging brands on matters related to management/franchise contracts, brand strategy, and corporate strategy. Mr. Jain oversees and has the primary responsibility for the production of PwC’s Hospitality Directions and Manhattan Lodging Index, a quarterly publication on lodging dynamics in Manhattan, and has varied and deep experience in providing research-based advice to clients on various strategic and tactical issues of the hospitality and real estate sectors. Before joining PwC, he worked in various hotel operations roles, as well as with Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels in Dubai. Mr. Jain has an MBA from Cornell University. He is a member of the CFA Institute and the New York Society of Security Analysts.

Stephen Jennings Deloitte Consulting, LLP Stephen M. Jennings is a Principal of Monitor Deloitte Consulting. He is the Hotel and Resorts Leader for Deloitte’s Travel, Hospitality and Leisure practice. Prior to joining Deloitte, Steve was the Managing Partner and a member of the board of Directors of Monitor’s global professional services practices. In nearly thirty years of consulting Steve has managed domestic and international projects and relationships in a wide variety of industries including financial services, consumer products, industrials, healthcare, life sciences, technology and travel, hospitality and leisure. Steve has often served as the senior advisor to executive teams of companies tackling their most challenging issues including corporate strategy, M&A, organizational transformation, marketing and sales optimization, loyalty, SGA cost reduction, global growth and innovation. Representative clients include, American Express, Analog Devices, Anglo American, Brinks, Becton Dickinson, CEMEX, CVS Caremark, Henry Schein, Hertz, Hyatt, Intercontinental Hotels, Koch Industries, Marriott, Merck, Pitney Bowes, and Starwood. Steve received a B.A. Oxon from Oxford University, where he studied PP&E. He earned his undergraduate B.A. at Dartmouth College in Economics. He lives in Belmont, MA with his wife and three children and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of New Profit, Inc., and a Trustee of the Rivers School.

Candace C. Johnson Two Roads Hospitality Candace Johnson is a Vice President of Performance Optimization for Two Roads Hospitality, a third-party management company with over 90 hotel assets and annualized portfolio revenue of roughly $2 billion. Ms. Johnson leads business intelligence, benchmarking, and portfolio analytics for Two Roads. In addition, Ms. Johnson is responsible for analyzing the financial feasibility of strategic capital projects, participating in underwriting for new assets, and providing guidance throughout the organization on industry and portfolio outlook. Prior to joining Two Roads Hospitality, Ms. Johnson was a consultant to the hospitality and real estate sectors with HVS International, Ernst & Young LLP, Landauer Real Estate Counselors, and Hirsch Bedner Associates. Ms. Johnson received a Master of Management in Hospitality from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and is an active member of the Cornell Hotel Society’s Rocky Mountain Chapter.

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Dave Johnson Aimbridge Hospitality Dave Johnson oversees the management of Aimbridge’s entire portfolio consisting of over 475 hotels approximately 3 billion in annual revenue and over 17,000 employees. Through his dedication and leadership, Aimbridge is recognized as one of the Premier Hotel Management companies in the United States. Aimbridge Hospitality’s portfolio includes assets under ownership and management from Marriott, Hilton, Starwood, Hyatt Hotels, IHG, Choice and Wyndham. Additionally, Aimbridge oversees an impressive resort and luxury division of hotels including its own proprietary all-inclusive Jewel Resorts. Prior to joining Aimbridge, he spent 17 years at Wyndham International helping them grow from 10 hotels to over 500 at the time of his departure. While at Wyndham, Johnson served as President of Wyndham Hotels, overseeing approximately 15,000 employees and responsible for approximately 3 billion dollars in annual revenue. Prior to that he served in various senior level operational, sales and marketing positions. Mr. Johnson received his bachelor’s degree from Northeastern Illinois University in Business Economics, graduating with highest honors.

Greg Jones Google Greg joined Google in 2010 in Business Operations and Strategy, where he led a broad range of growth strategy projects with YouTube, Google Travel, etc. In early 2013, he joined the SMB Acquisitions team to lead New Business Sales (NBS), which targets the highest potential new Google advertising customers. In two years, he grew NBS 300% to a global team of ~400 people in 22 offices serving over 50 countries generating over $1.8 billion in annualized revenue and growing over 80% annually. In 2015, Greg joined Google Play to develop the go-to-market strategy for a major APAC country, and in 2016, he joined the Daydream (VR) team to lead Tango (AR) business and operations. From 2003-2010, Greg was an Angel investor, board member, and active advisor to primarily early-stage Internet companies (Viator, TravelPost, Consorte Media, etc.). Prior to Angel investing, Greg was the founder and CEO of WorldRes, one of the early successful online hotel reservation systems. Earlier in his career, Greg was Director of the Advanced Technology Group at Synopsys and was a consultant with McKinsey & Co. and Edgar, Dunn & Co. He holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a BA from Dartmouth College.

Troy Jones EY Troy Jones is based in the Los Angeles office specializing in the real estate, hospitality, and gaming industries and is the leader for the sector for our Transaction Advisory Services for the western US. He has 20 years of experience and has been involved with global real estate and lodging transactions, capital markets transactions, and strategic planning analyses. He speaks regularly at real estate and lodging conferences and as a guest lecturer at universities. Troy has provided a wide variety of real estate advisory services during his career including transaction support (due diligence), development, valuation, operations, capital markets, and corporate strategy. His experience includes strategic investment analysis, buy- and sell-side due diligence, market feasibility, operations analysis and advisory. These projects have involved all types of real estate uses including hospitality/gaming, entertainment/theme park, office, multifamily, retail, industrial, data centers/cell phone towers, single family homes – from developable land to complex mixed-use projects – as well as strategic and organizational services involving OpCo/PropCo strategies, acquisitions and dispositions, debt restructuring, operations, asset management, and marketing. His well-rounded experience has enabled him to assist clients in identifying and prioritizing solutions to major issues, based on key criteria such as timing, preservation of capital, liquidity issues/cash management and market considerations. He conducts ongoing valuation reviews for major US real estate investors/managers (funds and advisors) and lenders. His exposure to and experience advising both lenders and investors provides a “dual perspective” of the strategic implications and key decision-making criteria. In tandem with this valuation experience, he has provided valuable assistance related to debt restructuring / strategic alternatives for both lenders and investors He has managed major engagements across the US, Middle East, Europe, Asia &Latin America.

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John Karver CBRE, Inc. John Karver is the senior most member of the Midwest regional hotel brokerage practice for CBRE Hotels. Since joining the company in early 1997, John has been the lead broker on the successful sale of approximately 150 hotel and resort assets totaling over $1 Billion; specializing in large single asset transactions, portfolio sales, and the pre-sale of new hotel developments throughout North America. His assignments are most often described as “Unique and/or Complicated” and require highly creative marketing and a true hands-on approach to ensure success. Prior to joining CBRE, John was a senior executive at Omni Hotels responsible for expansion of the Omni brand from 1987 through 1997. He has had a long and successful career in the lodging industry since mid-1970, acting in both an advisory and acquisition/development capacity in addition to hotel brokerage over the past 16 years.

Katie Keenan The Blackstone Group Katie Keenan joined Blackstone in 2012 and is a Managing Director in the Real Estate Debt Strategies Group, where she originates senior and subordinate real estate debt investments across property types and markets. Before joining Blackstone, Katie was a Vice President at G2 Investment Group, where she was involved in real estate and private equity investment activities. Previously, she was an Associate at Lubert-Adler Real Estate Funds, and prior to that, started her career as an Analyst at Lehman Brothers in the Real Estate Investment Banking Group. Katie graduated cum laude with an AB in History from Harvard College and was named to the Forbes 2014 30 Under 30 - Finance list.

Jared H. Kelso Cushman & Wakefield Jared Kelso joined C&W Global Hospitality’s predecessor company, Sonnenblick Goldman, in 2006. He has spent the last 15 years in various facets of the hospitality industry, including resort and urban-hotel operations, academia and consulting. His responsibilities include the origination and marketing of sale and financing transactions, facilitating the due diligence process, complex financial and market analysis, and investment document oversight, with a focus on ensuring an efficient marketing and closing process. Since joining Cushman & Wakefield, Jared has completed approximately $7.0 billion in lodging transactions. His extensive deal exposure involves mid-to-large size transactions, and represents a variety of structures that include equity recapitalizations; dispositions; and acquisition, construction, and renovation financing for both single asset and portfolio transactions. Prior to joining C&W, Jared worked as a consultant for Pinnacle Advisory Group. Based in the company’s Boston office, he undertook a variety of consulting assignments, including feasibility analysis, market studies, acquisition-related due diligence, and the valuation of hotel, motel, resort, condominium hotel, and convention center assets. During his tenure there, he served such clients as Capmark Financial Group, Lehman Brothers, Prudential Real Estate Investors, Walton Street Capital, and MassMutual, among others. Mr. Kelso has also held management positions with Marriott International at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. Jared received a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, and is a member of the national chapter of the Cornell Hotel Society.

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Douglas A. Kessler Ashford, Inc. Mr. Kessler is President of Ashford, Inc. (NYSE: AINC) and serves as President of both Ashford Hospitality Trust (NYSE: AHT) and Ashford Hospitality Prime (NYSE: AHP). He is currently on the Board of Directors of AHP, and was previously on the Board of Directors of AHT. Mr. Kessler has spearheaded virtually all of Ashford's key initiatives including: investments, sales, capital market activities, property financing, corporate credit facilities, joint ventures, spin-offs, and strategic direction. Previously, Mr. Kessler served as Chief Operating Officer and Head of Acquisitions for Ashford Hospitality Trust. Mr. Kessler was a Managing Director of the Company’s predecessor before leading Ashford’s initial public offering. Prior to that time, Mr. Kessler spent approximately 10 years with Goldman Sachs’ Whitehall Street Real Estate Funds where he asset managed more than $11 billion of real estate and served on the Board or Executive Committee of several companies. Mr. Kessler has approximately 30 years of experience in real estate strategy, investments, sales, finance, asset management, and capital markets. Mr. Kessler is a frequent speaker at U.S. and international hotel conferences. He is a member of the Urban Land Institute’s Hotel Council. Mr. Kessler earned his MBA and BA from Stanford University.

David Kieske Eastdil Secured David Kieske is a Managing Director in Eastdil Secured / Wells Fargo Securities’ Real Estate & Lodging Investment Banking Group. Mr. Kieske joined the Wachovia Merger & Acquisitions Group in 2007, the predecessor firm, where he was responsible for advisory transactions with the firm’s real estate and lodging clients. David has spent over 20 in real estate, with the focus at Eastdil solely on lodging transactions, his experience includes M&A transactions, initial public offerings, follow-on equity offerings, public debt offerings, mortgage financings, bank loans and asset and portfolio sales for a wide array of public and private hospitality clients. Mr. Kieske received his MBA from the University of California Los Angeles and B.S. from U.C. Davis.

Kirk Kinsell Panther Ridge Partners Kirk Kinsell, brings more than 35 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Most recently, Kinsell was president and CEO for Loews Hotels and before that he spent 19 years with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), holding several leadership positions. As president, IHG Americas, he oversaw the management of more than 3,700 hotels, and was responsible for development and performance of all IHG hotel brands and properties in the Americas. Kinsell was also president for Europe, Middle East, and Africa, and served as executive director for IHG, PLC. Kinsell has also worked for ITT Sheraton and Trammell Crow Hotel Company as well as Avado Brands as COO of over 500 casual dining restaurants. He is serves on the Board of Directors for Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc. Kinsell holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of California, San Diego, and a Master of Professional Studies degree from the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration (SHA). Kinsell also completed the Senior Executive Program at the London Business School.

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Rick S. Kirkbride Paul Hastings LLP Rick Kirkbride represents real estate development companies, institutional lenders, investment banks, opportunity funds, and other capital providers, owners and operators. His practice encompasses the development, acquisition, sale, finance, leasing, operation, licensing, roll-up, foreclosure, workout, and restructuring of hotels, condo-hotels, resorts, branded condominiums, private residence clubs and timeshare projects, spas, restaurants, casinos, golf courses, tennis stadiums, theme parks, and other hospitality based entertainment properties and businesses in North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Mr. Kirkbride is an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University, School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. He has been repeatedly named one of only three lawyers within “Band 1” of the list of “Leaders in their Field” for the leisure and hospitality category in Chambers USA and also has been repeatedly named by the Los Angeles Daily Journal and San Francisco Daily Journal as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the State of California. He is a member of ULI and is immediate past Chair (and currently Vice Chair at Large) of its Hotel Development Council. He also is on the Hospitality Editorial Board of Law 360 and is a former member of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants. He speaks on various hospitality topics at seminars and conferences throughout the world. He was the founder and chair of the UCLA Real Estate Finance and Restaurant Conference.

Robert Kline Chartres Lodging Group Bob Kline is the Senior Managing Director of the Cushman Wakefield’s Capital Markets Equity Debt and Structured Finance Western Region. He also leads the national CMBS and balance sheet restructuring teams. He is an intuitive, experienced executive with over 34 years of successful leadership in capital markets and the commercial real estate industry. Mr. Kline’s team specializes in Capital Markets - Debt and Equity placement, CMBS and Commercial loan modifications, note sales, restructuring and mergers & acquisitions. Over the past 72 months, Mr. Kline has placed over $6.7 Billion of equity and debt. He has facilitated more than 600 note sales, and over $9 Billion in restructurings. His niche is working with clients, lenders and servicers to acquire, recapitalize and restructure both CMBS and conventional balance sheet loans. Expertise in the following sectors- hospitality, industrial, land, mixed-use, multi-family, office and retail properties. Mr. Kline currently works with over 275 lenders and servicers.

David Kong Best Western Hotels & Resorts David Kong is a hospitality industry veteran. Since being named president & CEO of Best Western Hotels & Resorts in 2004, Kong has led the company to its highest RevPAR Index of 110 the past four years as well as unprecedented performance in guest loyalty and hotel satisfaction. Best Western has over 4,000 hotels in 100 countries with annual hotel revenue of about $7 billion. Under Kong’s leadership, Best Western has won more awards than any other hotel brand. Recent awards include Best Western Plus being named the Best Upper Midscale Hotels by Business Travel News in 2014 and 2015, Compuware naming bestwestern.com the best hotel website the past five years, and winning 50 HSMAI Adrian Awards in 2015. Kong has spearheaded international development with expansion focus on Asia, South America and the Middle East. With over 200 hotels in Asia, Best Western has been recognized by TTG Asia with the "Best Midscale Hotel Chain" award every year since 2007. Kong has received many prestigious awards including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International and the Stephen W. Brener Silver Plate Award for his contributions to the resurgence of Best Western and services to the industry.

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Fredrik Korallus Generator Fredrik Korallus is Chief Executive Officer of Generator, the award winning, design-focused hostel group, where he leads the continued development and growth of the brand including the entry into North America with the opening of the Group’s Miami property in 2017 and further European expansion. Voted by Fast Company as one of the top 50 Most Innovative Global Companies, Generator provides unique design and experience-led accommodation options located in the most central locations across Europe including Dublin, London, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Berlin, Venice, Barcelona, and Paris, with Amsterdam, Stockholm and Rome all having opened in 2016. It has been hailed as the fastest growing hostel brand with 12 current locations totalling over 7,704 beds, set to rise to 14 locations with 8,603 beds with new openings in Madrid and Miami, scheduled for 2017.With over two decades of hospitality experience spanning four continents, Mr. Korallus successfully aligns vision and strategy and has earned a reputation for building a winning culture based on collaboration, accountability and achievement. Most recently, as CEO of The Hotel Collection, Mr. Korallus oversaw the successful financial turnaround of the company’s 21 hotels across the United Kingdom. A leader within Carlson Rezidor for over twenty years, Mr. Korallus further held a variety of strategic, commercial and operational roles, including the global launch of the Park Inn brand, the global alignment of the Radisson brand and the global introduction of Radisson Blu. Mr. Korallus received his Hospitality and Business Management B.T.E.C from Thames Valley University at The University of West London and his EMP in Executive Management from INSEAD (2002).

Lawrence Y. Kwon Moelis & Company Larry Kwon is a Managing Director at Moelis & Company. Mr. Kwon has over 14 years of investment banking and advisory experience and is primarily focused on advising clients in the real estate, gaming, lodging and leisure industries on a wide variety of corporate finance matters including mergers and acquisitions, recapitalizations and restructurings, and debt and equity capital raisings. Mr. Kwon has advised clients in both domestic U.S. transactions as well as numerous cross-border transactions involving parties in Asia, Canada, Mexico and the Middle East. Prior to joining Moelis & Company, Mr. Kwon was a member of the Recapitalization & Restructuring Group at Jefferies & Company and a management consultant at Accenture. Mr. Kwon holds a B.A. in Economics and History from Tufts University. Over 14 years of investment banking and management consulting experience. Former Vice President in the investment banking division of Jefferies & Company where he specialized in financial restructurings. Previously a member of the management consulting division of Accenture where he advised clients on supply chain & operations. Extensive expertise advising both companies and investors on a broad range of industries including commercial and residential real estate, lodging, gaming, financial services and general industrials across a variety of transactions including mergers & acquisitions, financial restructurings and capital raises. Advises clients on both domestic U.S. transactions as well as numerous cross-border transactions involving parties in Asia, Canada, Mexico and the Middle East.

Jamie Lane CBRE Hotels Research

Jamie Lane is a senior economist for CBRE Hotels’ Americas Research. He is based in the firm’s Atlanta office where he is responsible for econometric forecasting, producing the firm's quarterly Hotel Horizons® reports, and new product development. Other activities include conducting studies for hotel investment firms and operating companies using advanced quantitative methods and preparing research reports on contemporary hotel industry issues. Since joining CBRE Hotels (formerly PKF Hospitality Research) in 2010, Mr. Lane has done extensive research on the determinants of hospitality demand and creating models for profit, average daily rate (ADR), supply, and demand forecasting. In addition, he has published in academic and professional journals including the Cornell Hospitality Quarterly and the International Journal of Hospitality Management, as well as speaking at many industry forums. He holds a bachelor in Economics from the University of Georgia and a Masters of Business Economics from Georgia State University. Jamie is an active member of the National Association of Business Economists and the Atlanta Economics Club.

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Jonathan A. Langer NRFC Mr. Langer has served as Chief Executive Officer and President of NorthStar Realty Finance Corp. since August 2015. From 1994 to 2010, Mr. Langer was employed at Goldman, Sachs & Co., where he primarily worked as a Partner in its Real Estate Principal Investment Area (REPIA), which, among other activities, oversaw the Whitehall series of funds. Mr. Langer’s responsibilities at Goldman, Sachs & Co. included overseeing REPIA’s North American real estate and global lodging investment efforts. During his tenure at Goldman, Sachs & Co., Mr. Langer served on the boards of various companies, including Westin Hotels and Resorts, Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Kerzner International Resorts, Inc., Strategic Hotel Hotels & Resorts, Inc. and Icon Parking. Following Goldman, Sachs & Co, Mr. Langer joined Bain Capital, where he worked in private equity investing for its North American region and oversaw his personal investing company, Fireside Investments.

Guy Langford Deloitte

Guy Langford is Vice Chairman, US Leader of the Travel, Hospitality & Leisure (“THL”) sector at Deloitte & Touche LLP. Guy leads a practice of multi-disciplinary client service teams serving the preeminent hospitality, aviation, gaming, restaurant, transportation and sports companies. Guy is a frequent presenter on the latest trends, macroeconomic developments and transaction deal flow at various travel and hospitality conferences. Additionally, he has been published in both television and print media on key trends in the hospitality sector. He has been a keynote speaker at various industry events including GBTA, ALIS and the NYU Hospitality Conference on the key trends shaping the present and future of the travel experience. Guy is a partner within Deloitte’s M&A Transaction Services practice and has extensive experience in advising both financial sponsors and corporate clients on due diligence, accounting structuring matters, financial and operating aspects of transactions for various segments of the industry, including world class hotels, restaurants, and foodservice companies. Originally from Australia, Guy has been based in New York since 1997. He is both a Chartered Accountant (Australia) and a licensed CPA (USA– Illinois and New York).

Mark Lanspa Wells Fargo Bank - HFG Mark Lanspa is an Executive Vice President with Wells Fargo Commercial Real Estate’s Hospitality Finance Group, where he is responsible for clients based in New York and London. Mark has more than 25 years of real estate finance experience and joined Wells Fargo in 2012. Previously, Mark was a Managing Director at Credit Suisse, was a Principal at Oasis Real Estate Partners, a real estate debt advisory firm, and held positions at Goldman Sachs and GE Capital. Mark earned a BS degree in accounting from Georgetown University and a MBA from Columbia University. Mark is active in numerous professional and community organizations, such as the Urban Land Institute, and currently serves on the boards of the Real Estate Lenders Association, where he is a past president, and God’s Love We Deliver, which provides food and nutritional counseling for people living with serious illnesses, where he serves as a Board Member and Treasurer. He also is a member of the Alumni Council of Mount Michael Benedictine High School, Elkhorn, Nebraska.

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Mark Laport Concord Hospitality Mark Laport founded Concord Hospitality Enterprises Company in 1985. Since then, he has led Concord as both a hotel management company and an active developer of hotels. His leadership and entrepreneurial vigor have earned Concord recognition as one of the largest hospitality companies in North America with hotels in both the US and Canada. His aptitude for locating, developing and operating hotels in niche markets has been crucial to Concord Hospitality’s remarkable sustained growth. Thanks in large part to Mark’s leadership, Concord Hospitality has been honored with numerous industry awards over the years and is a ten time winner of Marriott’s Partnership Circle Award, the company’s highest honor for hospitality excellence. Additionally, Marriott and Hyatt has presented Concord with their Developer of the Year Award. Notably, Mark was honored at The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University as Leader of the Year 2015. Mark has served key roles on various franchise committees, ranging from full service to select service hotel brands. He has been a Chairman of the Courtyard by Marriott Franchise Advisory Council and is currently a member of the Renaissance Franchise Advisory Committee, as well as being a member of the Canopy Owner Advisory Council and the AC Hotel Brand Advisory Council Mark holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Mount Union College and a Master of Science degree in Hotel and Tourism Management from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Tessa Lau Savioke Dr. Tessa Lau is CTO and Chief Robot Whisperer at Savioke, where she's creating a new generation of autonomous robots. Previously, Dr. Lau was a Research Scientist at Willow Garage, where she led an effort to develop simple interfaces for personal robots based on end user programming. She also spent 11 years at IBM Research developing end user programming systems for enterprises. More generally, Dr. Lau's research is in the area of intelligent user interfaces: combining techniques from artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction to create systems that enhance human productivity and creativity. She has served on organizing and program committees for major AI and HCI conferences and journals. She also served on the board of CRA-W, the CRA committee on the status of women in computing research. Dr. Lau holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Washington.

Christopher H. Lee Dentons LLP Christopher Lee is a Partner in Dentons' Hotels and Leisure practice. Chris has been immersed in the hotel legal industry for his entire legal career. A highly specialized hotels and leisure lawyer, Chris has extensive knowledge of, and in-depth insight into, the hotel and leisure industry and provides his clients with thoughtful advice on every aspect of their business. He has a keen understanding of not only the legal issues, but also the business and operational issues affecting hospitality and leisure projects and transactions. Chris focuses on representing hotel owners, investors and developers in all types of hospitality and leisure transactions throughout North America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia, particularly in the luxury and upscale segments. He represents clients in connection with the drafting and negotiation of hotel management agreements, purchase and sale agreements, franchise agreements, and other related agreements for hotels, resorts, condo-hotels and projects with residential components, spas, restaurants, golf courses and other hospitality-related facilities and amenities. Chris is an integral member of Dentons Hotels and Leisure team, which is consistently ranked National "Band 1" in the Leisure and Hospitality category by Chambers USA, and which is highly regarded as one of the top few in the world.

Matt LeMaster Davis Wright Tremaine LLP Matt LeMaster is the Chair of DWT’s M&A Practice and Co-Chair of DWT’s Hotels and Resorts Practice. He focuses his practice in the areas of business transactions, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, hospitality, real estate, and finance. He has a wide range of merger and acquisition experience, ranging from the creation of high-tech joint ventures to the sale of timberlands. Matt has extensive experience in the hospitality industry and has handled the acquisition, disposition, financing, and franchising of numerous hotel properties.

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Michael Lentz Host Hotel & Resorts Mike Lentz is the Managing Director of Development, Design & Construction at Host Hotels & Resorts. Host is the largest lodging real estate investment trust and one of the largest owners of luxury and upper-upscale hotels in the US. Mike serves on the executive team and is responsible for leading redevelopment efforts as well as reinvesting capital within Host’s existing portfolio. Mike joined Host in March 2016 from Las Vegas Sands Corporation, where he oversaw the construction at Sands Cotai Central in Macau and led the design and construction of the St. Regis and the Parisian Macao. During Mike’s career as Las Vegas Sands Corporation, he expanded and renovated the Company’s Integrated Resort properties around the world, a portfolio which totals approx. 60 million square feet of developed floor area. Prior to Las Vegas Sands Corporation, Mike spent twenty years with Walt Disney Imagineering, the business unit responsible for the creation and growth of the Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, where he oversaw development, design and construction projects in almost every Disney resort around the globe. His final assignment at Disney was as the project development executive responsible for Shanghai Disney Resort in Shanghai, China.

Niki Leondakis Two Roads Hospitality Niki Leondakis, one of the leading women executives in hospitality, joined Commune Hotels & Resorts in November, 2012 to lead the expansion for the Commune brands. The force behind Commune’s global growth, Leondakis has expanded the company’s Thompson Hotels and Joie de Vivre Hotel brands, as well as introduced the Singapore-based Alila Hotels & Resorts, and soon-to-be launched tommie to the corporate portfolio. Creating a workplace culture that instills pride and ownership among employees has led to numerous awards and accolades for Commune, including being recognized as one of the “Best Places to Work for 2015” by Crain’s New York and rankings on both the San Francisco Business Times’ “Best Place to Work” and Chicago Tribunes’ “Chicago’s Top Workplaces” 2015 lists. Leondakis has received numerous industry awards, cited in 2015 by the San Francisco Business Times as one of the Bay Area’s Most Admired CEO. A recipient of the Leadership Excellence award by HR.com and LEAD2016, named one of the "100 Most Influential Women" by the San Francisco Business Times every year since 2002. She was recognized as one of "30 Women Power Players" by Nation's Restaurant News and named one of the "Most Powerful Women in Travel" by Travel Agent Magazine. Tempering business with community stewardship, Leondakis served as Chair of the Dress for Success Worldwide Board of Directors from 2009 – 2011; an international nonprofit that promotes the economic independence of disadvantage women. Leondakis continues to serve as a board member for Dress for Success where she chairs the Strategic Planning Committee.

Josh Lesnick Wyndham Hotel Group Josh Lesnick serves as executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Wyndham Hotel Group, responsible for all aspects of marketing and revenue generation for the company and its 16 brands around the world. In his role, Lesnick oversees brand marketing, loyalty marketing, digital marketing, field marketing, hotel distribution, reservations, global sales, communications, customer care, and revenue management for a portfolio of nearly 8,000 hotels. Lesnick joined Wyndham Hotel Group in July 2014 after serving six years as the president and chief executive officer of Audience Rewards – a national marketing coalition funded by Broadway’s major theatre owners and national arts presenters focused on promoting the growth and development of new audiences and loyal patrons. Previously, he spent nearly two decades working in the hospitality industry in executive leadership roles with Starwood Hotels and Resorts, ITT Sheraton, and Hyatt Hotels Corporation. During that time, Lesnick focused on hotel marketing, brand marketing, customer relationship management, online marketing, and loyalty and membership programs. Lesnick has been involved in the development of five large scale customer loyalty programs and designed the first desk lamp featuring a power outlet to support guests’ needs for constant connection to laptops and phones. Lesnick earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Audience Rewards, as well as the Advisory Board of the Center for Hospitality Research at Cornell Hotel School. He is based in Wyndham Hotel Group’s Parsippany, N.J. offices.

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Bill Linehan Red Lion Hotels Corp Bill Linehan joined RLHC in February 2014 as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. Leading a national award-winning marketing team, the company has since launched an upscale brand, Hotel RL, and has re-launched branding for Red Lion Hotels, Red Lion Inn & Suites, GuestHouse International and Settle Inn. Linehan has more than 25 years of hospitality experience, most recently as Chief Marketing Officer and Managing Director at Richfield Hospitality and Sceptre Hospitality Resources, where he led the sales, marketing and resource management activities surrounding the company's portfolio of hotels and resorts. At Sceptre, Linehan repositioned the company to become a global leader of hotel revenue technologies. Prior to that, he was Vice President of Global Marketing for InterContinental Hotels Group where he established the marketing to re-launch seven IHG brands to the development community. Linehan also previously served as Global Vice President of Marketing, Brand Alignment and Partnerships for Starwood Hotels and Resorts and held sales and marketing positions with both Hyatt and Sheraton.

Rob Lowe Lowe Enterprises Robert J. Lowe, Jr., co-CEO of Lowe Enterprises, a national real estate investment, development and management firm formed in 1972. Over the past 45 years, Lowe has developed, acquired or managed in excess of $28 billion of commercial, hospitality and residential properties. Rob is also co-Chairman of Two Roads Hospitality, a newly created international lifestyle company formed when Lowe’s hospitality subsidiary, Destination Hotels, merged with Commune Hotels and Resorts. Two Roads operates a collection of more than 95 properties in eight countries with approximately $2 billion in total property revenues under management. He also oversees Lowe’s real estate development and management activities, with well over $8.5 billion in projects over the last decade. He is a past Trustee and President of the Palisades Presbyterian Church, is currently on the Board of Managers at the Palisades-Malibu YMCA, and is an active member of Urban Land Institute. Education: Stanford University, AB; University of California at Los Angeles, MBA.

Katherine Lugar American Hotel & Lodging Association Katherine Lugar is president and chief executive officer of AH&LA. As the head executive of the largest trade association representing the U.S. lodging industry, Lugar implements and directs AH&LA's services and works directly with the volunteer officers and board of directors in determining the direction of the industry. She also sees AH&LA’s two affiliate organizations, the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF) and the Educational Institute (EI). Lugar comes to AH&LA with 20 years’ experience in private sector public affairs and on Capitol Hill. She previously served as executive vice president, public affairs, with the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA). While there, she was principal contact for the federal government affairs team and political outreach program and positioned RILA as the premier organization on the retail industry’s core priorities, including workforce, healthcare, tax, trade, supply chain issues, asset protection, and credit and finance issues. She was also principal contact for the association’s government affairs committee, and was instrumental in doubling the size of the Retail Leaders PAC. Before joining RILA, Lugar was vice president of federal government relations for Travelers Insurance, serving as the company’s chief representative before Congress and the administration. She has also served as vice president of legislative and political affairs at the National Retail Federation, where she led efforts to update decades-old overtime regulations, championed bankruptcy reform legislation into law and supervised the association’s political and grassroots outreach programs. Lugar’s career in Washington began on the staff of Indiana Congressman Tim Roemer. Lugar is a graduate of The University of Colorado - Boulder.

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Elie W. Maalouf IHG Elie Maalouf is CEO of The Americas at InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG). He leads the management, growth and profitability of the company’s largest operating region. IHG has a broad portfolio of hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton® Hotels & Restaurants, HUALUXE® Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, EVEN® Hotels, Holiday Inn® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites®. Prior to joining IHG, Elie was Senior Advisor with McKinsey & Company. Previously, he was with HMSHost Corporation for nearly 15 years, most recently as President and CEO. Before HMSHost, Elie spent eight years at Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Company. Elie is a member of the Global Advisory Council at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business and a member of the Atlanta Committee for Progress. He is also a member of the American Hotel & Lodging Association CEO Advocacy Council and the U.S. Travel Association CEO Roundtable and has been appointed to the inaugural U.S. Investment Advisory Council. Elie holds an MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business and a Bachelor's degree in engineering from Virginia Tech.

Kevin E. Mallory CBRE Kevin E. Mallory is senior managing director and global head for CBRE Hotels. In this position, Mallory oversees CBRE’s global activity in the lodging sector including transaction, asset management, advisory, and capital market services. Prior to joining CBRE Hotels, Mallory was senior vice president of Hyatt Development Corporation, for which he was responsible for all acquisition and investment activity, investment management, business development, and property development for the company. Mallory was a principal with Lend Lease Real Estate Investments prior to Hyatt. He was responsible for all lodging related capital transactions as well as the company’s asset management function. Before Lend Lease, Mallory was a founding executive and chief operating officer at Starwood Lodging Corporation. His responsibilities ranged from the development of new business ventures to providing strategic and daily oversight for the corporation. He also worked for Westin Hotels & Resorts, VMS Realty Partners, and industry consultants Laventhol & Horwath.

Warren J. Marr PwC Warren Marr is a Managing Director at PwC, with over 30 years experience in both the operations and consulting aspects of the hospitality and leisure industries. He leads many of the firm’s larger hospitality and leisure advisory engagements, with a focus on strategy and business planning, portfolio transaction analyses, and market positioning and repositioning. Areas of expertise include lodging REIT lease structuring, management oversight, site evaluation, project concept development, valuation analyses, contract analysis and support. Mr. Marr holds the CRE and CCIM designations for commercial real estate, and is an active member of the Urban Land Institute's Hotel Development Council, previously serving as its Vice Chair - Membership. He is a frequent industry spokesperson, having appeared on CNN, CNN Headline News and CNBC, and is frequently quoted on hospitality industry issues by numerous news services, including Reuters and Associated Press, and in various news publications, including the New York Times, USA Today, and Business Week, as well as industry trade journals. He has authored articles for Lodging Magazine, Hotel Management, and Convene Magazine. He also oversees the Firm's quarterly publication of Manhattan Lodging Index, and is editor of the Firm's quarterly publication, Hospitality Directions US.

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Joseph A. McInerney McInerney Hospitality International Joseph A. McInerney CHA currently serves as a consultant and interim chief operating officer for the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute. He is the president & chief executive officer of McInerney Hospitality International LLC, a full service international consulting firm. McInerney is an advisor to three start-up companies and to a Black Sea region development group. He serves on the Advisory Boards at two Universities, and the author of Change is the New Status Quo, a book about leadership, management, people, and lessons learned. It was released in 2015. McInerney just completed leading an eighteen-month customer service training assignment for the Municipal Development Fund of the Republic of Georgia and the World Bank. He has over 50 years of experience in the hospitality industry as president/CEO of ITT Sheraton’s Franchise Division, Hawthorn Suites, Forte Hotels, the Pacific Asia Travel Association, and the American Hotel & Lodging Association. It provides him with a global prospective and a greater understanding of the various business models as well as the cultural diversity sensitivities throughout the world. McInerney is an honor graduate of Boston College and a United States Army veteran. He is, also, a Certified Hotel Administrator via the Educational Institute.

Michael Medzigian Watermark Capital Partners

Michael G. Medzigian is Chairman and Managing Partner of Watermark Capital Partners, a real estate investment management firm, and is also President, CEO and a Director of Carey Watermark Investors Inc., and Carey Watermark Investors 2 Inc., both publicly-registered Real Estate Investment Trusts. He has led some of the world’s largest real estateprivate equity funds and has overseen over $15 billion of investments. He was previously President and CEO of Lazard Freres Real Estate Investors and before that a Founding Partner of Olympus Real Estate Corporation, the real estate fund management affiliate of Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst. Earlier in his career he was President of Cohen Realty Services, he founded and was National Director of the Hospitality Consulting Practice at Deloitte & Touche, and he held various management positions with Marriott Corporation. He has served on numerous public and private boards and is a graduate of Cornell University.

Jonathan P. Mehlman ARC Hospitality Trust Jonathan P. Mehlman was appointed chief executive officer and president of American Realty Capital Hospitality in November 2014. Previously, he served as executive vice president and chief investment officer of ARC Hospitality as well as its advisor and its property manager since their formation in July 2013. Mehlman has 22 years of experience in the real estate investment banking and capital markets with a significant focus in the hospitality sector. Within the real estate industry, Mehlman has acted as a mergers and acquisitions advisor, investment banker, and lender; he has many years of experience coordinating transaction activity for public and private global hotel brands and U.S. hotel REITs. From August 2012 until January 2013, Mehlman was co-head of the real estate advisory group at KPMG before joining American Realty Capital as an executive vice president and managing director. From September 2009 through August 2011, Mehlman was co-head of the lodging and gaming investment banking business for Citadel Securities, an affiliate of The Citadel Group, a Chicago-based $13 billion hedge fund. From August 2008 to September 2009, Mehlman served as head of the real estate advisory group at HSBC. From 2005 to 2008, Mehlman led the hospitality investment banking effort for Citigroup Global Markets. From 1993 to 2005, he worked at Deutsche Bank Securities, and its predecessor company Bankers Trust Company, in the real estate investment banking group, specializing in the business development and client coverage within the hospitality sector and for real estate private equity sponsors. Mehlman earned his Bachelor of Arts in Art History from the University of Michigan as well as a Master of Business Administration with a focus in Real Estate and Finance from the University of North Carolina.

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Suzanne R. Mellen HVS Suzanne R. Mellen (MAI, CRE, FRICS, ISHC) is Senior Managing Director – Practice Leader of HVS, a full-service consulting and valuation firm specializing in hotel, gaming, and mixed-use properties worldwide. Over the course of her 40-year career, she has appraised and consulted on thousands of hotels, gaming assets, and related real estate throughout the world; has authored numerous articles; and is a frequent lecturer and expert witness. Ms. Mellen has a BS degree in hotel administration from Cornell University and holds the following designations: MAI (Appraisal Institute), CRE (Counselor of Real Estate), FRICS (Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), and ISHC (International Society of Hospitality Consultants).

Gary Mendell Shatterproof Gary Mendell is the founder, Chairman and CEO of Shatterproof. Mr. Mendell founded Shatterproof after losing his son Brian to addiction in 2011 to spare other families of the tragedy his family suffered. Prior to Shatterproof, Mr. Mendell founded and was Chairman and CEO of HEI Hotels & Resorts. HEI oversees owns and/or operates a portfolio of 65 hotels with revenues of approximately $1.5 billion. Prior to HEI, Mr. Mendell was president of Starwood Lodging Trust and a member of its board of trustees. Mr. Mendell is a member of the Clinton Health Matters Initiative and a charter member of President Obama’s Better Building Challenge. Mr. Mendell received his B.S. from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and his MBA with distinction from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Joe Montana Four Time Super Bowl Champion One of the most recognizable athletes in the world, Joe Montana has won championships at each level of the game, including leading the San Francisco 49ers to four Super Bowls in a nine-year stretch and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to the NCAA National Championship in 1977. Joe was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000, his first year on the ballot. Not surprisingly, Joe brings the same brand of integrity, commitment and quiet enthusiasm to his responsibilities as a father of four, a husband to Jennifer and dedicated philanthropist, contributing his time and resources through his Four Rings Montana Family Foundation. A true all-American whose name brings instant recognition, Joe Montana is synonymous with winning - on and off the field. 4-time Super Bowl Champion (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989) 3-time Super Bowl MVP (1981, 1984, 1989) 2-time NFL MVP (1989, 1990), 1977 NCAA National Champion, 1990 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year.

Thomas Morone CHMWarnick Thomas Morone leads the West coast office of CHMWarnick and is responsible for a 25-hotel portfolio and its asset managers. Tom is well known in the industry for his 40-plus years of expertise in asset management and all facets of hotel advisory services. He is also CHMW’s specialist in litigation support and expert testimony, as well as hotel and resort real estate and business brokerage. Tom has advised many clients on the market and economic feasibility, programming, franchise branding, and management company selection for their hotels. He has also assisted in clients' decisions to buy, sell, or hold and has executed a number of innovative solutions for his real estate clients. Tom is a licensed real estate broker in CA, AZ, and NY. He is a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM), a member of and Chairman Emeritus (2009) of the International Society of Hotel Consultants (ISHC), and a certified expert in mediation, arbitration, and dispute resolution. Tom coauthored CapEx 2007, a study of capital expenditures in the hotel industry. He holds a lifetime teaching credential in California, lectured in the Hospitality Management Program at UCLA, and taught in the NYU Hospitality Program. He is a frequent speaker at national hospitality conferences and is a steering committee member in the Planning Committee of America’s Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS).

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Gregory Mount RLHC Greg Mount joined RLHC as President and Chief Executive Officer in January 2014 bringing more than 25 years of experience to the company. Since joining RLHC, it has grown from 55 regional hotels to over 1,100 national. Prior to joining RLHC, Mount served as President of Richfield Hospitality, Sceptre Hospitality and Richfield Hospitality China, where he executed a number of strategic deals including the acquisition and merger of Whiteboards Labs into Sceptre Hospitality. Previously, he held senior roles at Sage Hospitality, as well as Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, where he led the full-service division responsible for developing franchises and management contracts for the Westin, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, Le Meridien, and Luxury Collection brands in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. Before joining Starwood, Mount held senior operating positions at Interstate Hotels Corporation and Marriott International Hotels, working his way up through a number of hotel and regional management positions before moving into Development.

Mike C. Muir Live Oak Bank Mike joins Live Oak Bank with over 25 years of hotel development and franchising experience. Most recently, he served as Vice President North American Development for Best Western International where he focused on strategic growth, new construction and rapid development for the brand. Mike helped launch and develop two outstanding hotel and franchise brands; Microtel Inn and Suites and Hawthorn Suites. He has also worked with Holiday Inn Worldwide and the Wyndham Hotel Group, and has a proven track record of growing new and established brands in the midscale market, including extended stay products. Mike is also a board member of the Extended Stay Council for the American Hotel and Lodging Association.

Michael Murphy First Fidelity Companies Mr. Murphy serves as Head of Lodging and Leisure Capital Markets of the First Fidelity Mortgage Corporation. He serves as a director of Ashford Hospitality Prime, (NYSE:AHP) and as Chairman of the Board of American Hotel Income Properties REIT LP, (TX:HOT.UN). From 1998 to 2002 Mr. Murphy served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer of ResortQuest International, Inc., a public, NYSE-listed company. Prior to joining ResortQuest, from 1995 to 1997, he was President of Footprints International, a company involved in the planning and development of environmentally friendly hotel properties. From 1994 to 1996, Mr. Murphy was a Senior Managing Director of Geller & Co., a Chicago-based hotel advisory and asset management firm. Prior to that Mr. Murphy was a partner in the investment firm of Metric Partners where he was responsible for all real estate matters including acquisitions, asset management, sales and the company’s investment banking platform. Mr. Murphy served in various development roles at Holiday Inns, Inc. from 1973 to 1980. Mr. Murphy has been Co-Chairman of the Industry Real Estate Finance Advisory Council (IREFAC) five times and currently serves on the board of the Atlanta Hospitality Alliance and the Advisory Board of Radical Innovations. He is a member of the Hotel Development Council of the Urban Land Institute. He previously served as lead director of Ashford Hospitality Trust (NYSE:AHT). He was the recipient of the 2014 C. Everett Johnson Award for outstanding leadership in the field of hospitality finance. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Memphis and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Iowa.

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Francis J. Nardozza REH Capital Partners, LLC Francis (“Frank”) J. Nardozza is Chairman and CEO of REH Capital Partners, LLC, a national real estate and hospitality investment and advisory services firm headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Mr. Nardozza has over 40 years of diversified experience in real estate and hospitality investment, finance, and consulting. He is recognized nationally and internationally for his work in the areas mergers and acquisitions, investment, development planning, and strategic advisory services in the fields of real estate and hospitality, and has advised on over $15 billion in real estate and hospitality transactions throughout his professional career. Prior to launching REH in 2001, Mr. Nardozza was a partner and served as the National and Global Real Estate and Hospitality Consulting Practice Leader for KPMG, LLP and KPMG Consulting, Inc., two entities comprising one of the world’s largest professional services firms, where his tenure with KPMG spanned a period of over 25 years. Mr. Nardozza is the founding Chairperson of the U.S. Lodging Industry Investment Council, and currently serves on the Executive Advisory Committee of NYU Hospitality Industry Investment Conference and the Executive Planning Board of the Americas Lodging Investment Summit. He also active with many other industry programs and forums including the Urban Land Institute, the American Hotel & Lodging Association, and the American Resort Development Association. Mr. Nardozza is a member of the Executive Advisory Board of the Real Estate Program of Florida State University and has established and endowed the “Nardozza Real Estate Scholars Program” at Florida State University. Mr. Nardozza serves as a Trustee of the Florida State University Foundation and in April 2013 was inducted into the Florida State University College of Business Hall of Fame.

Christopher J. Nassetta Hilton Worldwide Christopher J. Nassetta is President and CEO for Hilton Worldwide. He joined the company in 2007. Previously, Mr. Nassetta was President and Chief Executive Officer of Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc., a position he held since 2000. He joined Host in 1995 as Executive Vice President and was elected Chief Operating Officer in 1997. Before joining Host, Mr. Nassetta co-founded Bailey Capital Corporation in 1991, where he was responsible for the operations of the real estate investment and advisory firm. Prior to founding Bailey Capital Corporation, he spent seven years at The Oliver Carr Company, ultimately serving as Chief Development Officer. In this role, he was responsible for all development and related activities for one of the largest commercial real estate companies in the mid-Atlantic region. Mr. Nassetta serves on multiple boards including the World Travel & Tourism Council, CoStar Group, Inc., The Real Estate Roundtable, International Youth Foundation, Federal City Council, Wolf Trap Foundation, and The John F. Kennedy Center. Mr. Nassetta graduated from the University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce with a degree in finance. He currently serves on the McIntire School of Commerce Advisory Board.

Sam Nazarian sbe With an uncompromising entrepreneurial instinct and personal style, sbe Founder, Chairman and CEO, Sam Nazarian has been a transformative force in revolutionizing contemporary hospitality. He has contributed to defining the future of global lifestyle hospitality, launching award-winning hotels, residences, restaurants and nightclubs. They represent some of the most sought-after lifestyle brands including: SLS Hotels and Residences, The Redbury Hotel, Katsuya, The Bazaar by José Andrés and Hyde Lounge, Hotels and Residences, to mention a few. Nazarian also led the acquisition of Morgans Hotel Group, the pioneer of boutique lifestyle hotels, which closed in December 2016. This resulted in sbe having an unparalleled global portfolio of proprietary brands including 22 international, world-class lifestyle hotel properties in nine attractive gateway markets, more than 129 global world-renowned entertainment and food & beverage outlets and 13 properties opening in the next two years. His career began when he co-founded a wireless company, which he later sold after leading its rapid growth and record sales. In 2001, he diversified his family's assets into real estate holdings. It was then that Nazarian saw a demand for a different approach to hospitality, one that would change the industry. After launching sbe, he evolved it into the definitive name in luxury and aligned with internationally acclaimed talents such as Philippe Starck and Matthew Rolston and chefs José Andrés and Katsuya Uechi. He studied at New York University and the University of Southern California.

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David M. Neff ISHC David M. Neff is the former co-chair of the Hotel and Leisure practice group at Perkins Coie, an international law firm of more than 1,000 lawyers. He is based in the firm's Chicago office. Considered one of the leading lawyers in the country in the hotel industry, he argued for the petitioner in the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of RadLAX Gateway Hotel v. Amalgamated Bank and obtained a damage claim of almost $125,000,000 for a client in the MSR Resorts bankruptcy case. He is an adjunct professor at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. He represents some of the largest hotel owners, management companies and franchisees. He also represents the four largest CMBS special servicers in bankruptcies and workouts. He has counseled clients in a wide range of matters, including litigation, strategic planning, acquisitions and dispositions, negotiating and drafting management contracts and franchise agreements, workouts and restructuring, and condo-hotel formation. He has spoken frequently at hotel industry conferences and has authored a number of articles for hotel industry publications. He is the current Chairman of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants and former member of the Hotel Development Council of the Urban Land Institute. He has been designated an Illinois Super Lawyer from 2005-2016, and Chambers USA has listed him as one of the leading hotel lawyers in the country from 2007-2016.

Paul Novak Whitman | Peterson Mr. Novak leads the hotel acquisition efforts for Whitman Peterson. Over the past four years, Whitman Peterson has invested in 26 hotels, most of which required significant renovations and operating improvements. Mr. Novak is one of the premier development and acquisition executives within the hotel industry. He has acquired or developed over $4 billion in hotel assets over the past 40 years, through his leadership roles at companies such as: Marriott, where he participated in the creation of the Courtyard by Marriott product and oversaw development of the first 225 Courtyard assets (in addition to overseeing development for the Residence Inn and Fairfield Brands); the Hampstead Group (where Bob Whitman was Co-CEO), under the entity known as Bedrock Partners, where he led acquisitions and redevelopment efforts for several of Hampstead's large portfolio investments (including a large program with Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, the consolidation of Harvey Hotels and United Inns into Bristol Hotels, and the acquisition of 100+ Holiday Inn assets from Bass PLC, which were ultimately sold to FelCor Lodging Trust); and other national investment and operating companies such as La Quinta, the John Buck Company, Burger King Worldwide, and Wyndham Hotels and Resorts. Mr. Novak has a BA degree from one of the country's premier hotel schools, Michigan State University. He is very active in the real estate development and hospitality industries, having served as Chairman of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) and President of the Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA). He is also an active member of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and is an original member of ULI's Hotel Development Council (HDC).

Corry W. Oakes OTO Development LLC Corry Oakes is a Founding Partner, President and Chief Executive Officer of OTO Development, one of the fastest-growing hospitality companies in the nation. OTO develops, owns, and operates upscale select-service hotels in key markets across the US. Mr. Oakes serves on the Franchise Advisory Council for Hyatt Place by Hyatt, and is the current President of the AC by Marriott Advisory Council. Previously, Oakes was the Chief Operating Officer and President of Extended Stay America, Inc, a NYSE listed lodging chain with 475 locations, representing three national brands in 42 states. Extended Stay America, Inc. was the fastest growing owner-operated hotel chain in lodging history prior to selling to Blackstone in 2004 for over $3.1 billion dollars. Mr. Oakes had responsibility for all aspects of the development and operation of the company.

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Chip Ohlsson Wyndham Hotel Group Chip Ohlsson is executive vice president and chief development officer, North America, for Wyndham Hotel Group. In this role, he is responsible for the development strategy for Wyndham Hotel Group’s 15 brands across North America with a focus on proactively identifying and building strategic partnerships to position Wyndham Hotel Group in new markets and to optimize its presence in existing markets. He is also responsible for strengthening and expanding relationships with owners and key ownership groups including real estate investment trusts, developers and financial institutions with hospitality portfolios. Ohlsson joined Wyndham Hotel Group in October 2015. A 22-year veteran of the hospitality industry, he brings with him hotel financing and portfolio management experience, as well as many established industry relationships. Most recently, Ohlsson served as vice president of North American development at Starwood Hotels & Resorts where he was responsible for the development and pipeline expansion for the company’s renowned hotel brands. Prior to this, Ohlsson held several leadership positions across the industry including senior vice president, vice president and franchise sales director with Cendant/Wyndham Hotel Group. During this time he oversaw sales, business development and financial management initiatives and was consistently a top sales producer, earning accolades including Vice President of the Year among several other notable awards. Earlier in his career, Ohlsson held development positions with Travel Right Tours, Merrill Lynch and AT&T. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from William Paterson University. Ohlsson is based in Wyndham Hotel Group’s Parsippany, N.J. offices.

Richard E. Pastorino REVPAR International, Inc Rick has 30+ years of hospitality industry experience related to new development and acquisition, economic valuation, workouts, branding, asset management, deal structuring, financial and operational analyses, and market and financial due diligence. He has worked on behalf of many different equity and ownership groups as both advisor and owner’s representative on new and existing hotel and hospitality projects and acquisitions. Rick began his hospitality career as a teenager, working in all aspects of hotel operations with several national hotel chains. Rick holds an MBA in Finance from Virginia Tech University and a BSBA from the School of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Denver. He also holds various memberships, including the ISHC, HAMA, and ULI and has authored or co-authored industry-related research on a variety of topics, including a recent chapter in “Hotel Asset Management, Principles & Practices” published by the AHLEI in conjunction with HAMA, as well as the “ISHC CapEx study”.

Mehul Patel NewcrestImage Mehul guides the three divisions of Dallas-based NewcrestImage -- real estate development; construction; and management. The company owns and operates almost 25 hotels, with more than 10 other properties under construction. Born in India, Mehul immigrated to the U.S. at age 14 with his parents, brother, and five sisters. While still in high school, he and a friend bought a small bulk mailing firm and increased sales five-fold in one year, then sold the company. At age 17, Mehul and his brother bought their first hotel -- a 46-room independent hotel near Dallas’ Love Field Airport where their parents worked. They converted the property into a branded hotel and sold it, then repeated the process of renovation, repositioning, and resale with a series of limited-service hotels along interstate highways and in college towns. In 2013-2014, Mehul served as the youngest chairman ever of AAHOA. He remains active in industry leadership, notably on the brand councils of AC Hotels for Marriott; Hyatt Place and Hyatt House; and Hampton Inn & Suites. He has served on the La Quinta Brand Council and the IHG Owners Association. Mehul earned his undergraduate degree in computer information systems at the University of Texas at Arlington.

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Ravi Patel Hawkeye Hotels Ravi Patel is the President of Hawkeye Hotels, one of the fastest growing, privately-owned hotel companies in the country. Patel has overseen the development of fifty new construction and acquisition projects with total transaction volume exceeding $750 million. Leading Hawkeye Hotels to become a fully vertically-integrated hospitality firm with expertise in management, development and acquisitions. In addition to the hotel industry, Patel is a serial entrepreneur, philanthropist and political activist. He is the Founder of Built By Iowa, a private equity firm that has invested in over 20 early-stage companies. Recently, Patel was a candidate for the United States House of Representatives for the 1st Congressional District in Iowa. Ravi earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Entrepreneurship from the University of Iowa. His current board service includes: President of the Iowa Venture Capital Association, Tippie College of Business Alumni Board, West Bank Board, and Vice Chair of IHG’s industry advocacy committee. Patel is also a visiting lecturer for the University of Iowa and Kirkwood College.

Daniel Peek HFF Mr. Peek is a Senior Managing Director, Head of the Hospitality Practice Group for HFF. He is primarily responsible for institutional-grade hotel and resort property transactions throughout North America, Latin America and the Caribbean. During his career, Mr. Peek has completed nearly $12 billion in investment sale, debt and structured finance transactions. Mr. Peek joined the firm in October 2007. Prior to HFF, he was a co-founder and Managing Director of Regent Street, an affiliate of The Plasencia Group, Inc. (TPG), a boutique firm specializing in sale, financing and advisory services for distinctive hotels and resorts throughout the Americas. He also served as Senior Vice President at TPG, handling hotel and resort property transactions in the Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions. Before TPG, Mr. Peek worked in hotel operations and consulting, including a variety of management positions with Marriott International and Wiengardner & Hammons, and as a consultant with HVS International. Mr. Peek is a full member of the Urban Land Institute, a member of the Hotel Development Council, the advisory board of the University of Florida Real Estate Center, the advisory board of the Cornell Real Estate and Finance Center and the Cornell Hotel Society.

David Pepper Choice Hotels International David Pepper is chief development officer for worldwide lodging franchisor Choice Hotels International, Inc. A member of the senior executive team, he is responsible for driving unit growth for each of the company’s brands in key markets worldwide. Mr. Pepper has been responsible for leading franchise sales to record levels during his tenure at Choice. Mr. Pepper joined Choice in 2002 as vice president of franchise sales and development for the company’s new construction brands, and became senior vice president of franchise development for North America in 2004. In this role, Mr. Pepper led Choice’s acquisition of Suburban Extended Stay, and served as an integral part of the team that launched the Cambria hotels & suites brand. While adding these brands to the Choice portfolio, Mr. Pepper took on additional roles in brand strategy and operations of the company’s upscale and extended-stay brands, including marketing, design and construction, franchise development, franchise services and quality assurance. Mr. Pepper was named to his current position as chief development officer in November 2015 after serving as senior vice president, global franchise development, since 2009. Prior to Choice, Mr. Pepper spent six years with US Franchise Systems as vice president of franchise sales for Hawthorn Suites and Microtel Inns. He also spent five years with Holiday Inn Worldwide as director of franchise sales. A graduate of Tufts University, Mr. Pepper has 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry and is actively involved in a number of industry organizations, including as a member of the Inns & Suites Committee for the American Hotel & Lodging Association and the planning committee for the annual NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference.

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Gilda Perez-Alvarado JLL Hotels & Hospitality Gilda Perez-Alvarado joined JLL’s hotels and hospitality group in 2004. Currently based in New York as Managing Director and Head of JLL’s Global Hotel Desk, Perez-Alvarado focuses on cross-border full-service investment sales. In her role, Gilda facilitates high-profile, single asset and portfolio transactions by monitoring cross-border capital flows and leveraging JLL’s deep-rooted relationships with key decision makers to access off-shore capital. In the past 24 months, Perez-Alvarado has coordinated the international marketing of several trophy transactions including the Mandarin Oriental Boston, Four Seasons Toronto, InterContinental Hotel Barclay, and the K+K Portfolio in Europe. She has also advised on the sale of other high-profile transactions including the Essex House in New York and the Turnberry Resort in Scotland. Perez-Alvarado earned her M.B.A. from Instituto de Empresa in Madrid, Spain, and earned her Bachelor of Science from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, where she graduated as Degree Marshal. Perez-Alvarado was also the recipient of the 2015 Jack A. Shaffer Financial Advisor of the Year Award.

Dilip Petigara Access Point Financial Petigara has over 20 years of experience in both the hospitality and finance industries. Petigara joined Access Point Financial from a real estate and capital advisory service firm which focused on hospitality. Prior to his advisory role, he served as Senior Vice President of Specialty Finance Group (SFG). Prior to SFG, Petigara served as Assistant Vice President and Senior Underwriter at GMAC Commercial Mortgage. As Chief Operating Officer, Petigara’s management of loan operations include credit risk management, loan closing/funding and asset management with specific focus on support to participations, syndications and reporting to warehouse lenders. Petigara earned his JD, LLM in Taxation, and MBA in Finance and worked with Arthur Andersen and Deloite and Touche prior to focusing on hospitality finance. Access Point Financial, Inc. (APF) is a direct full-service lending and advisory platform based in Atlanta, Georgia serving branded and independent hotels in the United States and Canada. Access Point Financial is a venture of Stone Point Capital (Trident Funds), a private equity firm based in Greenwich, Connecticut and the APF Management team. For additional information, please visit www.accesspointfinancial.com.

Peter J. Phillippi Piper Jaffray & Co.

Mr. Phillippi is Managing Director of the Phoenix office at Piper Jaffray and head of the firm’s Hospitality Finance Group. He has over twenty-five years of investment banking experience with a particular emphasis on hotel real estate financing and public-private partnerships. Mr. Phillippi’s focus over the past twenty years has been financing convention and conference center hotel projects across the US. He has expertise in providing a variety of investment banking and consulting services to both private and public sector entities. This includes experience with all aspects of the project delivery process including: underwriting; raising capital; and providing consultation services related to financial and credit structuring, legal structuring, as well as development, construction and operational negotiations. Mr. Phillippi has successfully completed over $20 billion in financings. Recent financings include $270mm Denver Hyatt Regency Hotel restructuring, $150mm Independent Texas A&M Hotel & Conference Center construction financing, $300mm Phoenix Sheraton Grand restructuring, $100mm Des Moines Hilton construction financing, $100mm Erie Sheraton & Marriott Courtyard financings, $100mm Nashville Westin construction financing, $120mm Boston aLoft/Element construction financing and $60mm Vancouver Hilton restructuring.

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Chuck Pinkowski Pinkowski & Company Mr. Charles G. Pinkowski, founder of Pinkowski & Company, has over 45 years of experience in the hospitality industry both in the field of consulting and national chain hotel development. Since creating his Memphis based company in 1987, Chuck has provided consulting assistance for his clients in 44 states. This consultation includes development planning, investment analysis, market feasibility studies, chain/brand evaluations and litigation assignments for a variety of issues. Clients who seek consulting assistance from Pinkowski & Company include financial institutions, hotel companies, management companies, investors, attorneys and municipalities. Chuck has been involved in the evaluation, planning and development of destination resorts, convention hotels, conference centers, boutique hotels, extended stay lodging facilities, and limited service hotels. The consultation and advice provided by Pinkowski & Company is objective, candid, and to the point. It is based on comprehensive research and analysis and many years of experience in the hospitality industry. A graduate of Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Chuck is a member of the American and Tennessee Hotel and Lodging Associations and the founding chairman of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants, an organization of over 220 members worldwide providing professional consulting to the hotel industry.

Ron Pohl Best Western Hotels & Resorts Ron Pohl is senior vice president, brand management, for Best Western Hotels and Resorts. He joined the brand in 2007, serves on the company’s executive committee and leads the brands operations and development efforts for North America and Asia. Pohl’s responsibilities include key departments within the hotel chain, including customer care, member services, revenue management, education and training, design, supply, and global quality assurance. He was instrumental in repositioning the 3 core brands, BW, BW Plus and BW Premier as well as launching the newest brands: Vib, Glo, Premier Collection and SureStay. Prior to joining Best Western, Pohl spent 25 years with Boykin Management Company and Marriott Corporation. With Boykin, He served in a number of senior-level positions in the areas of marketing, sales, and revenue management, and ultimately senior vice president of operations. Pohl earned awards for sales leadership, website development, and outstanding customer service. He currently serves on the AHLA Board of Directors and previously served on the board of directors for the Convention & Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland. Pohl is the recipient of the 2016 AHLEI Arthur Landstreet Award.

John Putrino Janney Mr. Putrino joined Janney Montgomery Scott in 2016. He is responsible for transaction execution and management, aiding in client development and performing a variety of valuation analyses and other financial advisory services. His experience includes domestic and cross-border mergers & acquisitions, private placements, leveraged finance, IPO’s, joint ventures and equity-linked financings. Prior to Janney Montgomery Scott, Mr. Putrino was the Chief Executive Office of Sachem Street Capital Advisors, an independent financial advisory firm focused on companies and investors in the lodging & leisure sector. Prior to Sachem Street Capital Advisors, Mr. Putrino was the Managing Director and Head of North America Lodging & Leisure Investment Banking for BMO Capital Markets. Prior to joining BMO Capital Markets, Mr. Putrino was a Managing Director of Lodging & Leisure Investment Banking at Imperial Capital and Credit Suisse. Mr. Putrino has over 19 years of investment banking experience and has completed over 140 transactions representing an aggregate value of over $90 billion. MPPM, Yale University; M.S. & BBA, Accounting, Pace University

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Bill Ramsey Choice Hotels International Bill’s career revolves around bridging the worlds of suits and geeks — that is, helping businesspeople andtechnologists work together to deliver great products. His current gig involves working with a driven group of folksin setting the vision, developing the strategy, and delivering on a roadmap for mobile apps and emergingtechnologies at Choice Hotels. Prior to Choice, Bill spent three years at Target Corporation evolving and delivering payment products such as REDcard, GiftCards, and prepaid products in both their digital and physical forms, including Target’s work on mobile wallets and the REDcard transition to EMV. His past work also includes seven years working on mobile payment solutions at Apriva where he helped launch the company’s very first product, Apriva POS, and managing the AprivaPay line of mobile payment solutions for smartphones and tablets. Bill also co-founded and headed technology efforts for six years at Leadbot.com, a financial services lead generation and marketing firm, and managed new product strategy for broadband services at Winstar Communications. Bill earned an MBA, with distinction, from the Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Jordon Ray Mission Capital Advisors Jordan Ray is Principal and Managing Partner of Mission Capital Debt and Equity Finance, where he oversees business development, strategy, placement and execution of real estate capital on behalf of major owners, investors and developers nationwide. In addition to the finance business, Jordan’s responsibilities include sourcing and executing loan sale opportunities. Jordan has been instrumental in building Mission Capital’s finance desk from practically $0 to more than $2 billion in annual volume. He has closed on over $6 billion of debt and joint venture equity throughout his career. Jordan has secured construction financing, acquisition financing and refis of hotels, shopping centers, office, multifamily and other real estate assets nationwide. Jordan graduated from New York University’s real estate institute with a master’s degree in real estatefinance and investment and from American University with a B.A. in finance. He is licensed as a real estateBroker in the state of New York.

Mark D. Reudelhuber Hodges Ward Elliott Rudy Reudelhuber is a Managing Director of Hodges Ward Elliott. He has managed $6 billion of transaction volume in the last five years. Rudy joined the Atlanta office of Hodges Ward Elliott in 1998. He spent 2004-2008 in London successfully establishing HVS Hodges Ward Elliott as a leading hotel broker in Europe. In the US he has completed a wide array of transactions from the sale of the St Regis Bal Harbour and the Manhattan Times Square Hotel, to the section 363 bankruptcy sale of the Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami, Florida. Rudy works to simplify the complexities of a transaction in order to achieve the optimal outcome for clients. Prior to joining Hodges Ward Elliott, Rudy was a Hong Kong-based assistant fund manager for global fund manager Trust Company of the West. Prior to that, Rudy was with the investment banking group of UBS Warburg in their New York offices. Rudy graduated from Princeton and is a Fulbright Scholar.

Lynne Roberts Aimbridge Hospitality Lynne Roberts joined Aimbridge in 2004 and has 25 years of hospitality experience. Roberts is responsible for overseeing acquisition, management and development activities. Her industry knowledge, experience and expertise have helped drive Aimbridge’s significant growth from eight to over 450 properties. Prior to joining Aimbridge, Roberts worked with Wyndham Hotels and Resorts for over 10 years as Vice President of Development Planning. While at Wyndham, she led acquisition, new construction, management contracts, and conversion analysis. In 1997, she created and directed start-up company development for HomeGate Hospitality, an extended-stay group. There she contributed to achieving private to public company status and a successful company sale within two years of conception. Prior to her tenure at Wyndham/Homegate, Roberts led real estate analysis for Sheraton Suites Development in the Central United States and Canada. She was also a Hospitality consultant with Pannell Kerr Forster (PKF) in Chicago. Ms. Roberts holds a B.S. degree and is a graduate and valedictorian of Michigan State University School of Hotel and Restaurant Management. She currently serves on the Board of Governors for the University of North Texas College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism.

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Christopher Ropko RobertDouglas Mr. Ropko is a Managing Director at RobertDouglas, where he focuses on raising debt and equity capital for individual and entity level lodging and leisure projects. Immediately prior to RobertDouglas, Mr. Ropko was a Portfolio Manager at Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO) where he sourced, evaluated, and executed investment opportunities involving CMBS, performing, sub- and non-performing loan portfolios, mezzanine loans, preferred equity and direct equity investments secured by all major property types, including hospitality assets. Prior to joining PIMCO, Mr. Ropko was an Associate at Goldman Sachs in the Real Estate Principal Investment Area focused on acquisitions and asset management on behalf of the Whitehall series of private equity funds. During his career, Mr. Ropko has completed over $4 billion in real estate transactions as a principal and advised on over $2 billion in real estate transactions. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration.

Robin Rossmann STR Robin Rossmann is Managing Director of STR, leading its operations across EMEA, APAC and LATAM. Robin is focused on continuing to improve the way STR provides the hotel industry with robust and insightful performance benchmarking that enables stakeholders to make better decisions. Prior to STR, Robin was a Senior Director in Deloitte’s Global Hospitality Advisory Team in London. During his 13 years career there he advised leading hotel brands, operators, investors and lenders in most major global markets. His wide range of experience includes advising on hotel strategy, business planning, investment appraisal, market reviews, financial and commercial due diligence, IPOs, debt advisory, valuation, financial assurance, controls improvement and risk management.

Christian Ryan Marsh, Inc. Christian Ryan has more than 14 years of insurance and risk management consulting experience. He is recognized as one of the country’s leading real estate, gaming, and hospitality insurance brokers. Mr. Ryan manages risks for various clients, including international gaming conglomerates, billion dollar real estate companies, hotels, and resorts. Specializing in complex and challenging risk programs, Mr. Ryan is responsible for placing more than $2.8 billion in construction values and coordinates more than $35 million in property and casualty premiums annually. Mr. Ryan holds a Bachelor of Science degree, international finance, from Florida Atlantic University. He has also been honored as ‘Power Broker” in 2015, 2013, 2009, and 2008, by Risk and Insurance.

Dean Savas G6 Hospitality Dean Savas is Executive Vice President of Franchise Development and Management with the goal of expansion of G6 Hospitality brands both domestically and internationally. Savas is also responsible for implementation of new development initiatives that maintain accelerated growth of the franchise business. Savas joined G6 Hospitality as a Regional Vice President for Motel 6 in 1992 with over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry with development and operation of mid-scale, economy and budget hotels in the U.S. In 1997, he was a member of the team that developed and introduced the franchising strategy for G6 Hospitality. With the development of the Studio 6 extended stay brand, growth through franchising was accelerated and development efforts were expanded to include Canada. Today these development efforts include Latin America. Over the last fifteen years, Savas was instrumental in the strategic development, operations and administration of over 900 open or under development franchise locations within the G6 Hospitality Brands (Motel 6 / Hotel 6 / Studio 6 / estudio6).

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Mark E. Schoenholtz Eastdil Secured Mark Schoenholtz is a Managing Director with Eastdil Secured. He has worked across all asset classes and currently spends a majority of his time on lodging transactions. In his almost 25 year career at Eastdil Secured, Mark has completed numerous hotel and resort transactions totaling in excess of $25 billion in proceeds. Recent notable transactions include the Waldorf Astoria New York City, Grande Lakes, Desert Ridge, The Baccarat Hotel and The Phoenician Resort. The firm provides a full range of services to lodging companies and owners from private to public executions. Eastdil Secured is a full service real estate investment bank formed by the merger of Eastdil Realty and Secured Capital. Since it’s founding in 1967, Eastdil Secured has remained true to its mission: the financing, disposition, merger and acquisition of real estate properties. Mark currently resides in Fairfield County, Connecticut with his wife and three children. He is a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College and New York University where he holds a Masters of Science in Real Estate.

Ian Schrager Ian Schrager Company For over five decades, Ian Schrager has set an unrivalled standard for hospitality, real estate and nightlife. His place in hospitality history is unequivocal. Part visionary, part social scientist, Schrager has a keen sense and proven ability to intuit, understand and anticipate the modern lifestyle. He creates one-of-a-kind experiences and possesses the uncanny ability to capture what is “Now” and what reflects the spirit of the times like no one else. Throughout his illustrious career, Schrager not only changed nightlife with Studio 54, but also pioneered the design-forward boutique boom and achieved international recognition for concepts such as: "lobby socializing", “the hotel as home away from home”, “the hotel as theater”, "cheap chic", “the indoor/outdoor lobby”, “the urban resort”, and “the urban spa” that have revolutionized the entertainment, residential and hospitality industries. With new openings of Schrager’s private label, PUBLIC Hotels, several luxury residential projects under development in New York City and over 20 EDITION hotels around the world in the pipeline under his partnership with Marriott, now is the ideal time to celebrate his groundbreaking five decades in business and incomparable standard of what he aspires to create.

Jay H. Shah Hersha Hospitality Trust Jay H. Shah, The CEO Of Hersha Hospitality Trust And Member Of The Board Of Trustees, Oversees Asset Management, Acquisitions, Capital Transactions, And Strategic Relationships For The Company. Prior To Hersha, Mr. Shah Formed Shah & Byler, LLP, A Law Firm Specializing In Real Estate And Construction And Was Also A Consultant At The Former Coopers & Lybrand LLP, Now Pricewaterhousecoopers. Mr. Shah Has Served As A Legislative Assistant To The Late Senator John Heinz On Capitol Hill And Has Also Worked With The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office. Mr. Shah Received A Bachelor Of Science Degree From The Cornell University School Of Hotel Administration, A Master’s Degree From The Temple University’s Fox School Of Business, And A Law Degree From Temple University School Of Law. Mr. Shah Serves On The Board Of Trustees Of The Episcopal Academy And Cornell University Dean’s Advisory Board For The School Of Hotel Administration. He Is Also A Member Of The Dean’s Council For Temple University’s Fox School Of Business, Urban Land Institute’s Hotel Development Council, American Hotel & Lodging Association’s Board Of Directors, Pennsylvania Academy Of The Fine Arts, And President’s Leadership Council For Thomas Jefferson University And Jefferson Health.

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Mitesh Shah Noble Investment Group

Mr. Shah founded the Noble organization in 1993 to specialize in making value-added and income investments in the lodging and hospitality sector. Through its private equity real estate funds, Noble has invested more than $3 billion in upscale select service and extended-stay hotels in communities throughout the United States. As a fiduciary to state pensions, university endowments and foundations, Noble’s endeavors are to help preserve and grow our limited partners’ capital which provides retirement benefits for our country’s teachers and firefighters as well as the financial resources for students to attend our best colleges and universities.

Mr. Shah presently serves as Chairman of the Board of LaQuinta Holdings Inc. (NYSE:LQ), a leading owner, operator and franchisor of select-service hotels representing more than 85,000 rooms located in 47 states, as well as Canada and Mexico. In addition, Mr. Shah is President of Marriott International’s MINA board, an owners' board member for Hyatt Hotels Corporation and a member of the Industry Real Estate and Finance Advisory Council (IREFAC) of the American Hotel and Lodging Association.

Mr. Shah is an active supporter of educational objectives and is currently serving his third term as a member of the Board of Trustees for his alma mater, Wake Forest University, and is also an executive committee member of the Woodward Academy governing board.

Neil H. Shah Hersha Hospitality Trust Neil H. Shah is President and Chief Operating Officer of Hersha Hospitality Trust. Mr. Shah leads Hersha's hotel acquisitions, development, and asset management platforms. Across the last ten years, Mr. Shah has been instrumental in the acquisition and management of over $3 billion of hotel real estate in major markets. Prior to Hersha, Mr. Shah served as a Director and Consultant with The Advisory Board Company and the Corporate Executive Board, strategy research firms based in Washington D.C. Mr. Shah earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Science in Management, both with honors, from the University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton School. He earned his MBA from the Harvard Business School. He serves on the Board of Trustees for the National Constitution Center and on the Corporate Council for the Barnes Foundation. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Educational Foundation Institute and the Institutional Real Estate Finance Advisory Council (IREFAC) of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Mr. Shah is a longtime supporter of the United Way Worldwide and a member of its Tocqueville Society.

Mark Shalala Choice Hotels International Mr. Shalala is directly responsible for the growth of Choice’s upscale, select service, lifestyle brand Cambria Hotels & Suites. Mr. Shalala leads a development team implementing new strategies to increase the brand's distribution among key markets nationwide. This includes capitalizing on the company's commitment to the brand, which includes $250 million in corporate investments and other financial based incentives aimed to fuel the brand's growth, Mr. Shalala has over 17 years of hospitality development and franchise sales experience. Prior joining Choice, Mr. Shalala served as Senior Director of Development at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. A leading producer at Starwood he was responsible for the strategic growth of Starwood's nine upscale and luxury lifestyle brands in the southeastern United States and the Caribbean. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in Business & Sports Management.

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Michael Shannon KSL Capital Partners Mr. Shannon co-founded KSL Capital Partners, LLC in 2005 and co-founded its predecessor KSL Recreation Corporation in 1992, serving as its President and Chief Executive Officer. Since 2005, KSL Capital Partners has raised over $7.4 billion in equity capital commitments and invests exclusively in travel and leisure businesses. Mr. Shannon co-founded and became Chief Executive Officer of KSL Resorts in 2004 following the sale of KSL Recreation. Prior to establishing KSL Recreation with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, he served as President and CEO of Vail Associates, Inc. (owner of Vail and Beaver Creek Resorts) in Vail, Colorado, from 1986 to 1992. Mr. Shannon is the recipient of the 2016 Horatio Alger Award of Distinguished Americans, the University of Wisconsin’s Distinguished Alumni Award and Northwestern University’s Kellogg Schaffner Award. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Northwestern University, and as a Board Member of the University of Wisconsin Foundation, the Vail Valley Foundation, the United States Ski and Snowboard Team Foundation, and the Eisenhower Medical Center and as the Chairman of the Board of Vail Health Services. He also serves on the Mayo Clinic Global Advisory Council. He is a past Director of Safeway, Inc., ING Direct, Conseco, Inc., TCA Cable TV, Inc., Startek, Inc., ING Americas Holdings and ClubCorp Holdings, Inc. Mr. Shannon is a member of the World Presidents’ Organization. He holds a Bachelor of Business and Administration from the University of Wisconsin and a Master of Management in Accounting and Finance from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

Alexander Shashou ALICE Alexander Shashou is Co-Founder and President of ALICE. He received his Bachelors Degree from The University of Pennsylvania, Wharton Business School with a dual concentration in Finance and Operations and Information Management. After graduation, he took a position with Goldman Sachs in the Equity Sales division in New York, leaving in Sept 2013 to build ALICE. With ALICE, Alex has taken the company through three rounds of funding, raising $13M and building a global client base in the hospitality and residential sectors. Alex was accepted into the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) and is a graduate of Startup Leadership Program (SLP). Born in London, Alex grew up in the hospitality industry with his family operating 90 hotels in the UK across three hotel chains.

Scott Shatford AirDNA Mr. Shatford since April 2014 has been Founder and CEO of Airdna, a firm that provides data and analytics on the alternative lodging industry. By tracking the daily performance of over 3,000,000 listings across 5,000 cities worldwide, Airdna produces market reports that analyze property availability, occupancy rate, ADR, and revenues generated in each market. Its clients include investment analysts, hotels, residential real estate investors, and individual Airbnb users. Previously, he was Senior Director of Operations at management consultancy Korn/Ferry International.

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Bernard Siegel KSL Capital Partners Bernie Siegel is a Partner at KSL Capital Partners. He joined KSL as Principal in June 2006, bringing over 22 years experience in the hospitality business. KSL is a $5.2 billion private fund that invests in the hotel, travel, and leisure industries. KSL Capital Partners recent lodging portfolio investments include the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, CA; Miraval Resort Tucson; JW Marriott Essex House New York; Royal Palm Miami Beach; Montelucia Resort Scottsdale; Barton Creek Resort Austin, TX; Rancho Las Palmas, Palm Springs, CA; Homestead Resort, Hot Springs, VA; LaCosta Resort, Carlsbad, CA; Grove Park Inn Ashville, NC; The Belfry Manchester UK, Village Urban Resorts, and Mal Maison and Hotel du Vin hotel and restaurant group in the UK. KSL Resorts, an affiliate management company, also operates the Hotel del Coronado. Additionally, KSL Capital Partners owns a significant portion of Club Corp of America, the largest owner and operator of golf and business clubs; Squaw Valley & Alpine Meadows ski resorts in Lake Tahoe, CA; and a partial interest in Whistler & Blackcomb Ski Areas in British Columbia. KSL is also an active investor in the secondary debt markets. Prior to joining KSL Capital Partners, Siegel was Executive Vice President of Lowe Hospitality Group, serving as chief investment officer of its wholly-owned subsidiary Destination Hotels & Resorts. While at Lowe, Siegel helped raise a $270 million private equity fund, Lowe Hospitality Investment Partners, and was responsible for $615 million in lodging investments and dispositions between 2004 and 2006. Mr. Siegel previously was Managing Director Hospitality Division of Secured Capital Corp, where he was responsible for the firm’s $4.1 billion in hospitality investment banking transactions over a 10-year timeframe, which included Resolution Trust Corp distressed loan portfolio underwriting and workouts. Mr. Siegel also held real estate positions at Marriott Corporation and Pannell Kerr Forster. Siegel is former Program Chair of the Hotel Development Council of Urban Land Institute, and an Advisory Board Member at the University of Denver’s School of Hospitality Management. He holds an M.B.A. from the University of Colorado and a B.A. from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration.

Seth Singerman Singerman Real Estate, LLC Seth Singerman is the President and Managing Principal of Singerman Real Estate, LLC (“SRE”), an opportunistic real estate investment firm that has deep experience executing complex transactions and unlocking embedded value through the ownership of properties, real estate loans and operating companies. SRE focuses on investments in both debt and equity across all major asset classes, including office, retail, hotel, and multifamily, in addition to secondary real estate asset classes. Mr. Singerman has led and sourced over $2.5 billion of investments and has never lost investors capital on any direct investment. In addition to his direct investment experience, Mr. Singerman has a public-private crossover background as he helped lead the formation and development of a long-short real estate securities hedge strategy. Mr. Singerman is on the Advisory Board for the Center for Real Estate and Finance at Cornell University; the Board to the Real Estate Applied Security Analysis Program at the University of Wisconsin; Board Member of IMH Financial; and Next Generation Board Member of the United States Holocaust Museum. Mr. Singerman received his MBA with a concentration in Real Estate and Finance from Northwestern University and his B.S. with a concentration in Real Estate and Finance from Cornell University.

Arjun Singh Michigan State University A.J. Singh is the Professor of International Lodging, Finance and Real Estate Finance in The School of Hospitality Business. He has co-authored four textbooks, on International Hotel Management (2008) and Hospitality Asset Management (2009, 2015), and Best Practices in Sustainable Hotel Development and Operations was published in March, 2011. Dr. Singh was jointly responsible for the establishment of The Hospitality Business Real Estate Investment Management Minor in The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University. He currently teaches the Hospitality Business Real Estate, International Lodging Development and Management and Financial Management courses at The School. He is an active member of HAMA (Hospitality Asset Managers Association) CHRIE (Council of Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education) and AHFME (Association of Hospitality Financial Management Educators) ISHC (International Society of Hospitality Consultants) and ULI (Urban Land Institute). Dr. Singh works closely with the Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) at Michigan State University. Dr. Singh's has over 15 years of hospitality business experience in various management positions in the USA and India. He has worked for Oberoi Hotels, Stouffer Hotels, Hyatt Hotels and Laventhol & Horwath.

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Julienne Smith Hyatt Hotels Corporation Mrs. Smith is Senior Vice President Real Estate & Development for Hyatt Hotels Corporation where she is responsible for the franchised and managed development of Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotels in the United States and Canada. Previously, Smith served as Vice President of Real Estate and Development where she oversaw the growth of Hyatt’s select service brands throughout the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Prior to joining Hyatt in 2005, Smith held several positions within Marriott International’s Lodging Development group in Bethesda, MD and Newport Beach, CA. Mrs. Smith is a graduate of Boston University’s College of Arts & Sciences. She is an active member in several hospitality industry organizations including AH&LA’s Women in Lodging Group and AAHOA. She currently resides in Chicago with her husband and two children.

Steven Gordon Soechtig Deloitte Digital Steve is a Managing Director at Deloitte Digital, overseeing the Digital Experience practice within the US firm. With a focus on the travel and hospitality industry and over 25 years of experience working in the customer experience space, Steve has worked across industries to help brands re-define how they leverage digital engagement to gain the attention of their prospective customers, to improve the interaction with those customers across channels, devices, and when engaged with employees, and to maintain the loyalty of that customer over time. As the Digital Experience practice leader, Steve interacts with clients within the travel and hospitality sectors to explore the question of “What If?’ – discussing innovative approaches to digital transformation and interaction. He also oversees the delivery and quality of all design and development produced by his team of visual designers, user experience architects, mobile and front end developers, and quality assurance engineers.

Arne M. Sorenson Marriott International Arne M. Sorenson is President and Chief Executive Officer of Marriott International, the largest lodging company in the world. Following Marriott’s 2016 acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, the company includes more than 1.1 million rooms across 30 brands in more than 110 countries. Mr. Sorenson joined Marriott in 1996. He became the third CEO in the company’s history in 2012 and the first without the Marriott surname. Prior to that, he held a number of positions, including Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer. He was elected to Marriott’s Board of Directors in 2011. Mr. Sorenson serves as Vice Chair of the President’s Export Council. He is the immediate past Board Chair for Brand USA and continues as a member of the board. He is a member of the Luther College Board of Regents and the Board of Trustees for The Brookings Institution. Mr. Sorenson’s Influencer blog on LinkedIn has more than 400,000 followers. Mr. Sorenson is a graduate of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa and the University of Minnesota Law School. He and his wife Ruth live in the Washington, D.C. area, where they raised their four children.

Tim Southard JLL Hotels & Resorts Tim Southard joined JLL’s hotels and hospitality group in 2011 after 13 years with Hodges Ward Elliott. Currently based in Atlanta as Executive Vice President, Southard focuses on full-service and premium select-service investment sales. He works closely with institutional owners such as REITs, private equity funds, national owner-operators, and foreign investors to understand and market their properties and lead them through the bidding and transaction process in order to achieve the best possible results on their behalf. Since 2000, Southard has been involved in the sale and/or financing of more than $15 billion in hotel real estate transactions. Notable recent assignments include the sale of the Mandarin Oriental Boston, the Waldorf-Astoria Chicago, the Montage Laguna Beach, Le Meridien at MIT in Cambridge, MA, the 1,242-room Hilton Atlanta, the Washington Marriott Georgetown, and the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines. He is currently marketing a 1,000+ room hotel in Texas, a 700+ room hotel in Atlanta, and a 450+ acre golf resort in the Washington, D.C. area, among others. Southard graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

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Louis Stervinou Eastdil Secured Louis Stervinou is a Managing Director with Eastdil Secured. He is responsible for sourcing and placement of hotel related investment sales, financings and loan sales. Over the past 24 years, he has focused on hospitality transactions totaling over $35 billion comprising over 300 properties and approximately 70,000 rooms. Notable completed transactions include Hotel Vitale San Francisco, Ritz-Carlton San Francisco, Mandarin Oriental San Francisco, One&Only Palmilla, Las Ventanas al Paraiso, Hyatt Regency Waikiki, The Hotels AB Portfolio, The Kahala Resort, The Fairmont Canadian Hotel Portfolio and Four Seasons Resort Maui. Recent transactions in 2016 and 2015 include the Fairmont San Francisco, Hyatt Regency Waikiki, Ritz Carlton Kapalua, Alexis Hotel Seattle, Crowne Plaza Denver, Radisson Austin and numerous other debt and equity transactions. Prior to joining Eastdil Secured, Mr. Stervinou was employed as a Managing Director with Colliers International Hotels and held an Associate position with Knowlton Realty. Mr. Stervinou holds a Bachelor of Science in Hotel Administration from Florida International University (“FIU”) in 1987 and AOS from The Culinary Institute of America in 1985.

Robert Stiles RobertDouglas Rob Stiles is a founding Principal & Managing Director of the national hotel investment banking services platform, RobertDouglas. Mr. Stiles specializes in structuring and executing capital solutions and sales for hotel investors and owners. Prior to his role at RobertDouglas, Rob was the Co-Head of the National Hospitality Group at Cushman & Wakefield Sonnenblick-Goldman. He joined Sonnenblick-Goldman as a Managing Director and Partner in early 1999 and has since completed many of the largest and most complex hotel sale, financing and development transactions internationally. Before joining Sonnenblick Goldman, Rob was a founding partner and Group Managing Director of HorwathHTL in Hong Kong and Singapore, where he was responsible for advising both US and Asian clients on over US$5 billion in development, finance and investment transactions since 1986. Rob serves on the International Advisory Board of HOTELS Investment Outlook magazine, is the founder of HICAP (HICAPconference.com), Asia’s premiere hotel investment conference in Hong Kong, and is a Co-Chairman of the International Lodging Finance Council (ILFC). He has a Bachelor of Science degree with a focus in development and finance from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration.

Richard Stockton Ashford Hospitality Prime Richard is the Chief Executive Officer of Ashford Hospitality Prime ("Ashford Prime"). Ashford Prime is an NYSE publicly listed REIT based in Dallas with over $1Bn invested in predominantly luxury and upper upscale hotel assets across the US and The Caribbean. He joined Ashford Prime in 2016 and is ultimately responsible for all aspects of the business, including strategy, acquisitions, financing, and asset management. Previously, he worked as Global Chief Operating Officer for the $1Bn real estate business of CarVal, the alternative asset management division of Cargill, based in greater Minneapolis. He also held the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of The Americas division of OUE Limited (“OUE”), based in Los Angeles. OUE is a multi-billion dollar listed property company headquartered in Singapore. While at OUE, he lead the acquisition and redevelopment of the US Bank Tower in downtown Los Angeles, including envisioning OUE Skyspace, the West Coast's highest observation deck. Prior to joining OUE, Richard was a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley for almost 16 years, including serving as the Head of Real Estate Banking for Morgan Stanley's investment banking advisory business in both Asia and the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa). While there, he worked in offices in New York, London, Singapore, and Hong Kong and was engaged in public and private equity and debt financings, M&A and restructuring for real estate companies and investors. He received a B.S. from the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University in 1992 and an M.B.A. from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1997.

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John L. Strauss Jones Lane LaSalle Mr. Strauss is an International Director with Jones Lang LaSalle’s Hotels & Hospitality Group based in Los Angeles. With a 19 year tenure with the firm he has completed in excess of $5.0 billion of hotel transactions, he currently heads up the investment sales division for the Western United States. For over 23 years, Mr. Strauss has held leadership positions including operations, hotel consulting and hotel brokerage activities throughout the United States. His diverse hotel industry background includes arranging equity and debt transactions and strategic planning for owners, investors and lenders. Mr. Strauss’ clients are comprised of major hotel owners including hotel operating companies, private equity firms and REITs. He has been involved in the recent sales and marketing efforts over the past 18 months of the Parc 55 Hotel San Francisco, Hilton Portland & Executive Tower, Marriott Hotel San Mateo, Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles, Renaissance Hotel Indian Wells and Marriott Hotel La Jolla among many others. Mr. Strauss received a BS in Hotel Administration from Cornell University. He is a licensed real estate broker in California, a member of the Cornell Hotel Society, and a board advisor for the Collins College at Cal Poly Pomona.

Chauncey M. Swalwell Goodwin Chauncey Swalwell, a partner in Goodwin’s Real Estate Group, focuses his practice on commercial real estate and represents private and institutional investors and lenders in connection with the acquisition, sale, development, leasing and financing of hotels, student housing facilities, industrial parks, office buildings, regional shopping centers and other projects, including the structuring of complex transactions involving public and private REITs, TICs and other investment and lending vehicles. Mr. Swalwell has extensive experience structuring and negotiating joint venture agreements on behalf of private equity and institutional investors and promoters in a broad array of real estate transactions. He also represents both lenders and borrowers in negotiating a variety of commercial lending transactions, including the origination and restructuring of such transactions. In addition, his practice includes representing both buyers and sellers in the negotiation of purchase and sale contracts, along with a wide range of other real estate-related transactions and issues. Recognized annually by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business since 2007, Mr. Swalwell has also been nationally recommended by The Legal 500 United States in the area of Real Estate. He received his J.D. from Loyola Law School and his B.A. from the University of California.

Rick Takach Vesta Hospitality Rick Takach, Jr. is Chairman and CEO of Vesta Hospitality. In 1996, Takach founded the company with a vision of creating unique hotels that offer the finest in quality and service. With over 35 years of experience in the hotel industry, he has earned a reputation for attracting and retaining talented hospitality industry professionals who in turn create award-winning hotels with outstanding customer satisfaction. Before forming his own company, Takach served as Regional Manager for the Marriott Corporation in Bethesda, Maryland, and spent seven years as Executive Vice President of Dimension Development Company of Natchitoches, Louisiana. He has served on Hilton Homewood Suites Owners Advisory Council and is Past-Chairman of the Owners Association for InterContinental Hotels. Takach has also served as an officer, Chairman of the Past-Chairman, Chairman - Asia Pacific Region, and Chairman of the Responsible Business Committee for the Owners Association. Takach also serves on the Board of Directors of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) and serves as the Co-Chair of the Management Company Council. Takach graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a degree in business administration and has since gained first-hand experience in every aspect of hotel operations, management and development. Takach is an active community leader generously giving his time as an active member to the Vancouver Rotary Club where he was named Rotarian of the Year in 2008. Takach also serves on the President’s Advisory Council for the Vancouver Historic Trust, is a Board Member and Past-Chairman and Officer for the Clark College Foundation in Vancouver, Washington and Chairman of the Evergreen Highway Trail Coalition.

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David Tarr Hyatt Hotels Corporation

David Tarr was appointed Senior Vice President of Real Estate and Development for Hyatt Hotels Corporation in September 2007. In directing the Americas Region development team for Hyatt, David oversees new hotel development, acquisition, franchise and management contract transactions for Hyatt’s full-service brands (Hyatt Centric, Hyatt Regency, Grand Hyatt, Park Hyatt, Andaz and The Unbound Collection) in North America, and all brands, including Hyatt Place and Hyatt House, in Latin America and the Caribbean. Prior to joining Hyatt, David’s 10-year career at Marriott International included a variety of Development and Asset Management positions. His last role at Marriott was Senior Vice President of Development, overseeing the company’s full-service hotel development activity in the Eastern Region of the United States for its Marriott, Renaissance and Ritz-Carlton hotel brands. A 28-year industry veteran, David’s previous hotel real estate and development experience included tenure as a hospitality industry consultant, providing hotel market, feasibility, and appraisal advisory services to property developers, owners, and lenders, as well as corporate development with Extended Stay America. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, and is based at Hyatt’s corporate headquarters in Chicago, Illinois.

Kristin Taylor G6 Hospitality LLC Kristin Taylor is the executive vice president of real estate, design and construction for G6 Hospitality LLC, the parent company of the iconic Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands. As a member of the G6 Executive Committee, Kristin leads the real estate, development and asset management strategies and oversees the initiatives related to property renovation, capital expenditure management, property maintenance, ADA compliance and energy reduction. Kristin joined G6 Hospitality in 1998 as Manager of Real Estate and Development. During her tenure, Kristin has been instrumental in key company’s initiatives including the renovation of the corporate-owned properties, the development of the Motel 6 brand’s award-winning “Phoenix” design prototype and the first LEED certified Motel 6 property in Northlake, Texas. Kristin holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in finance and banking from the University of Arkansas. She is a certified public accountant (CPA) and served on the City of Carrollton TX’s Planning and Zoning Commission from 2005-2011 (including 4 years as chairman).

Rene Theriault Goldman, Sachs & Co. Rene Theriault is a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs within its Real Estate Financing Group (REFG), which deploys the firm’s balance sheet on mortgage and mezzanine commercial real estate lending opportunities. REFG is responsible for the firm’s new-issue commercial mortgage-backed securities business as well as a significant portfolio of first mortgage loans originated for Goldman Sachs Bank USA. Rene is REFG’s head of large loan origination and his primary responsibilities include originating and structuring large complex mortgage and mezzanine financings for sophisticated sponsor and REIT clients. Rene serves on the Board of Governors of the Commercial Real Estate Finance Council, the primary trade organization for the commercial real estate finance industry, and previously served as chair of its Issuer’s Forum. Rene earned a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

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Rob Torres Google With over 20 years of travel industry experience, Rob Torres serves as Google’s Managing Director of advertising and marketing for the travel sector. In this role, Rob oversees the strategy development and profitable growth of integrated marketing campaigns. His group serves some of the largest travel brands in the US. Prior to joining Google, Rob was Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Expedia.com. During his seven year career at Expedia, Rob managed a team that had Global responsibility for 30 strategic accounts, generating gross bookings in excess of $2 billion. Rob is active in the hospitality industry and community affairs. He currently serves as the vice chairman of the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association (HSMAI) and is on the board of directors for the Association of Travel Marketing Executives (ATME), the US Travel Association, Fareportal, Regatta Solutions, the Adventure Travel & Tour Association (ATTA), Sustainable Travel International (STI) and the Washington Leadership Council for the American Lung Association. Twice Rob has been listed among HSMAI’s Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing. Rob holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California and a Masters of Business Administration from Georgetown University.

Rajiv K. Trivedi La Quinta Inns & Suites Rajiv Trivedi is a senior hotel and franchising executive with 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry who is best known for his active, dynamic management style. He is responsible for all facets of franchising, including sales, services and administration and also has significant experience in franchising and development outside the hotel industry, with a number of leading consumer brands. He has spearheaded the growth of the system to 553 franchised properties in his tenure – an unprecedented growth rate in the hotel industry, and beyond. In November 2000, Mr. Trivedi joined La Quinta as VP/Franchise Operations, where he was responsible for designing and implementing the company’s franchising program, managing franchise sales, services, administration and training. He was promoted to Senior Franchise Development Officer in 2004 and, upon the acquisition of La Quinta by an affiliate of the Blackstone Group, was promoted to his current position as Executive Vice President. In February 2009, he was also named Chief Development Officer. Education, Master of Science (Mathematics) – University of Illinois, Chicago 1985, Bachelor of Science (Mathematics) – University of Illinois, Chicago 1983.

Simon M. Turner Simon Turner has held diverse leadership roles in numerous facets of the hotel business including senior executive oversight and board experience of public and private enterprises. He has extensive global strategic and transactional experience related to complex property assets, brands, and operating businesses. His experience has also included advisory assignments, asset management, capital-raising and M&A. Most recently he was President, Global Development for Starwood Hotels and Resorts. His previous experience includes: Principal, Hotel Capital Advisers, Inc., a hotel investment advisory firm, overseeing both hotel brand (Four Seasons and Fairmont) and property investments; investment banker at Salomon Brothers; Manager, Pannell Kerr Forster, an international hotel and tourism consulting firm; and Operations Analyst in Saudi Arabia for Gustar Hoteliers, a Swiss-based hotel management and marketing company.

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Homi Vazifdar Canyon Equity Homi Vazifdar is CEO and Managing Director of the Canyon Group based in Larkspur, California just of north San Francisco. The Canyon Group owns and/or develops ultra-luxury resorts in exotic destinations around the world. The Company currently owns assets in North America, Latin America and the South Pacific. The Canyon Group’s resorts are managed by marquis brands such as Amanresorts and Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts. Vazifdar is extremely passionate about the wonderful world of lodging and over the years has “touched” almost every aspect of the industry, and worked with some of the stalwarts in the business. He is a frequent speaker at lodging and tourism conferences around the world and has over 30 years of multi-faceted lodging and hospitality experience ranging from development, design and investment banking. Before founding Canyon Equity in 2005, he was the global head of lodging at Banc of America Securities in San Francisco where he was involved in numerous high profile transactions.

Stuart Ward Scottish Development International Stuart’s current role, as Senior International Business Executive at Scottish Development International, is to identify and support innovative and commercially attractive investment opportunities which will boost the Scottish tourism, leisure and retail offering. One his key aims is to help Scotland cement its position in the global hotel and resort development landscape. As a result he works closely with developers, investors and operators to help secure a successful investment and maximise the opportunities Scotland provides. More recently, he has been focusing on sourcing international finance for hotel and resort development, given the challenging market in procuring development finance in this area. Scottish Development International (SDI) is a partnership between the Scottish Government and its economic development agencies.It works to attract inward investment and knowledge to Scotland to help the economy grow.As tourism is vital to Scotland, contributing £5.2 billion to Scotland’s economy last year. This is one of six key sectors which SDI focuses on to ensure that Scotland can stay ahead of its global competitors.

Robert Warman Langham Hospitality Group Mr. Robert Warman, joined Langham Hospitality Group in 2014 as Chief Executive Officer. With more than 35 years’ experience in the global luxury hospitality industry, Mr. Warman provides strategic guidance in the company’s operations, drives innovation, and oversees all the development processes on a global level for the Langham Hotels and Resorts, Cordis and Eaton brands.

Christine Warner Facebook Christine Warner serves as the Travel Head of Industry at Facebook. In this role, she leads operational excellence, revenue growth, and product strategy to help travel marketers capitalize on the shift to mobile. With over 1B people on Facebook and Instagram everyday, Christine’s team partners with the world’s largest travel brands to empower connections that drive business results every step of the journey across every device. Prior to joining Facebook, Christine was the West Coast Director of a Viacom digital marketing team. She also developed advertising partnerships for Viacom in New York for 5 years. Christine launched her career in finance at NBC Universal and holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Michigan. When not planning her next trip, you can find Christine exploring the Bay Area with her husband.

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Adam F. Weissenberg Deloitte Adam Weissenberg is the global leader of the Travel, Hospitality & Leisure (“THL”) segment at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited. In his global role, Adam is responsible for overseeing one of the largest global industry practices at Deloitte that includes more than 1,500 professionals. He heads the strategic direction, operational execution and overall leadership of the THL industry. He actively serves as a senior advisor to many of Deloitte's largest Fortune 500 hospitality, gaming and food service clients. Adam was also the lead client service partner to one of the firm’s top 20 audit accounts. Based in New York, Adam is a preeminent spokesperson and author on travel and hospitality trends. He is quoted regularly in national publications including, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, USA Today, Forbes, Condé Nast and Travel & Leisure. He has also been a guest on CNBC, Fox Business News and Bloomberg. With over 20 years in the THL marketplace, Adam speaks frequently at national industry conferences and summits including WTTC, ALIS, and the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference, where he serves on their steering committee. He also serves on the Center for Hospitality

Research Advisory Board. In 2012, Adam was named one of the top 90 Influential Hotelies from Cornell University’s Hotel School. Outside of Deloitte, Adam serves on the board and Audit Committee of the UJA of New York and as Chairman of the Board and CEO of The Cancer Hope Network. Adam received a BS from Cornell University in Hotel and Restaurant Administration, and a MBA from Columbia University where he majored in accounting and finance. He is married with two daughters and resides in Short Hills, NJ.

Jeremy Welter Ashford Jeremy Welter is the executive vice president of asset management for Ashford and serves as the executive vice president of asset management for both Ashford Hospitality Trust and Ashford Hospitality Prime. Welter is responsible for asset performance, capital investments, long-term strategic market positioning, risk management, property leases, property taxes, and underwriting for all hotels with advisory agreements with Ashford, Inc. From August 2005 until December 2010, Welter was employed by Remington Hotels, LP in various capacities, most recently serving as chief financial officer. He is a current member of the Marriott and Hilton owner advisory councils. From July 2000 through July 2005, Welter was an investment banker at Stephens, where he worked on mergers and acquisitions, public and private equity and debt, capital raises, company valuations, fairness opinions, and recapitalizations. Before working at Stephens, Welter was part of Bank of America’s global corporate investment banking group. Welter is a speaker and panelist for various lodging investment and development conferences, including the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference. Welter earned his Bachelor of Science in business administration and economics from Oklahoma State University, where he served as student body president and graduated summa cum laude.

Andrew Wharton REH Capital Partners LLC Andrew Wharton is a Managing Director of REH Capital Partners, LLC, based in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Mr. Wharton has extensive experience providing clients owner’s representation, operational performance improvement services, litigation support, expert testimony, and transactional services within the hospitality and real estate industries. Mr. Wharton has over 30 years of diversified operational, accounting, and finance experience in the real estate and hospitality industries with an emphasis on hotels, resorts, cruise lines, and developers. Prior to joining REH in February 2012, Mr. Wharton was Managing Director at KPMG in the Hospitality and Real Estate Practice, providing advisory services to a wide variety of hospitality and real estate clients. Prior to KPMG, Mr. Wharton was CFO of ResidenSea, Ltd, where he provided overall leadership in the areas of finance, control, and operations of this developer and operator of a first of its kind, luxury "resort at sea," The World, that featured privately owned residential units, rental suites, spa, casino, and other amenities. Prior to ResidenSea, Mr. Wharton was a Senior Manager in KPMG’s National Real Estate and Hospitality Practice. Mr. Wharton is a Certified Public Accountant with Bachelors of Science degrees in Accounting and Finance from Florida State University.

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Thomas Whitesell CapitalSource As Managing Director of the Construction Real Estate Group, Mr. Whitesell is responsible for expanding the firm’s work with established commercial real estate developers and investors seeking construction loans nationwide. He is also responsible for handling all ground-up construction transactions for the real estate group on the West Coast. An industry veteran of 30 years, Mr. Whitesell's experience includes construction financing, bridge lending, debt investment and restructurings on the lending, portfolio and legal sides of the business. Prior to joining CapitalSource, Mr. Whitesell held senior positions at banks and debt funds, originating and directing regional and national platforms for construction, bridge, mezzanine and preferred equity transactions in all product types. He has been responsible for over $22 billion in structured bridge and construction loans during the course of his career. Mr. Whitesell’s strong track record of originating and closing profitable investments while building and maintaining quality relationships helps his clients grow their businesses and profitability. Professional Affiliations, J.D., Licensed Real Estate Broker, California; Education, J.D., University of Iowa College of Law; B.A., Luther College.

James Whittaker Microsoft James Whittaker’s career spans academia, start-ups and top tech companies and starts in 1986 as the first computer science graduate hired by the FBI. James then worked as a freelance developer, most notably for IBM, Ericsson, SAP, Cisco and Microsoft, specializing in test automation. He joined the faculty at the Florida Institute of Technology where he continued his prolific publication record in software testing and security. In 2002 his security work was spun off by the university into a startup which was later acquired by Raytheon. James’ first stint at Microsoft was in Trustworthy Computing and Visual Studio. He then joined Google as an engineering director and led teams working on Chrome, Maps and Google+. In 2012 James rejoined Microsoft. James is known for being a creative and passionate leader and sought after speaker and author. Of his five books two have been Jolt Award finalists and one a best-seller. Follow him on Twitter @docjamesw and at his website docjamesw.com.

Jonathan Wilson Hilton Jonathan Wilson and his team of industry professionals provide global product innovation and brand definition in food and beverage, spa and wellness, rooms division, and meeting and public spaces for 12 worldwide brands. In addition, he is responsible for pursuing the development of strategic opportunities in innovation through creative partner solutions, talent exposure and a fostered environment. Prior to Joining Hilton Worldwide in May of 2015, Jonathan Wilson spent 15 years at Princess Cruises, the number one cruise line in the premium market segment and fourth largest cruise line in the world. As vice president, guest food and beverage experience, product development and hotel analysis, Jonathan led the team that creates and delivers the food, beverage, bar, lounge, and dining experiences for guests and crew through guest culinary, dining and beverage services. He was responsible for guiding product development in the areas of culinary, dining and beverage services, through newbuild initiatives, revitalization efforts, capital expenditure, crew engagement and product relevance of Asia source markets. The goal of his team was to create onboard offerings that drive new demand and build customer loyalty while maximizing onboard revenue, cost control, operational efficiencies. Jonathan's positions within Princess Cruises included director of culinary operations, director of hotel operations, vice president of hotel operations for newbuild and product development, and vice president of hotel operations food & beverage and product development. Before joining Princess Cruises, Jonathan held management positions at the Institute of Hotel and Tourism Management where he led the Educational Division of the Belvoir Park Swiss Hotel School as well as functional hotel and food and beverage operations; The Palace of the Lost City in South Africa, and the Grand Wailea Resort and Spa in Maui, Hawaii where his career as a Chef de Cuisine afforded him the opportunity to cook for celebrities, dignitaries and peers. Starting as a chef by trade with an apprenticeship from the Grove Park Inn and Country Club in North Carolina, Jonathan also earned a degree in Culinary Arts from Johnson and Wales University. Originally from Indiana, Jonathan continues to enjoy traveling the world and now lives with his wife and three daughters in Leesburg, VA.

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Kenneth Wilson CHMWarnick Ken Wilson is Managing Director & Co-Chairman of CHMWarnick, the leading provider of hotel asset management and owner advisory services. With more than 30 years hospitality industry experience encompassing all aspects of hotel investment and ownership, Ken has served as a trusted hotel advisor to ownership entities globally, including private equity groups, sovereign wealth funds, public agencies, pension funds, and lending institutions. He has a successful track record in raising and negotiating equity and debt financing, negotiating purchase and sale agreements in support of asset acquisition and disposition, advising on investment strategies, hotel management/franchise company selection and contract negotiation. As a founder of the original third-party hotel asset management company, Ken has guided a team of hospitality professionals to provide unparalleled owner services and strategies proven to optimize financial performance and asset value, while protecting the interests of ownership, throughout every stage of the investment cycle – from acquisition to disposition. Today, CHMWarnick asset manages a client portfolio of more than 60 hotels, with 25,000 rooms, collectively valued at $15 billion. Ken earned a Bachelor of Science in Hotel Administration from the University of New Hampshire, and is an active member of the Hospitality Asset Managers Association (HAMA), and sits on Marriott International’s Ownership Advisory Board. For more information: www.chmwarnick.com.

Jon Wohlfert WaterWalk Hotel Apartments Jon is president of WaterWalk Hotel Apartments. WaterWalk is a new multi-use real estate project combining extended-stay hotel, corporate apartment and traditional unfurnished apartments in one location. The founder, extended stay pioneer Jack DeBoer, also founded Residence Inn, Value Place/Woodspring, Summerfield Suites, and Candlewood. Jon has spent his entire career building brands that serve the long-term segment. While at Residence Inn, Summerfield Suites, Candlewood Suites, BridgeStreet and Extended Stay America, Jon’s roles spanned sales, marketing, operations, IT and franchise development. Guests staying at WaterWalk enjoy the space and lifestyle associated with apartment living and the services and amenities of an upscale extended-stay hotel. For an investor, the hybrid concept means apartment financing with high ADR’s and upscale extended stay hotel returns. WaterWalk’s first location opened in Wichita, Kansas in 2014, stabilized quickly, and in the first 12 months of operation maintained an 85% occupancy. Two additional properties are currently under construction in Denver and San Antonio with Denver opening June of 2017 and San Antonio opening December of 2017. Five additional properties are slated to start construction this year with multiple sites in 33 additional states targeted in phase one of WaterWalk’s development.

R. Mark Woodworth CBRE Hotels’ Research Mr. Woodworth is Senior Managing Director of CBRE Hotels | Americas Researchbased in Atlanta. Mark has over 35 years of hospitality industry advisory experience. Before joining CBRE, Mr. Woodworth was a Partner and Industry Chairman of the Hospitality Industry Consulting practice for Coopers & Lybrand L. L. P. Mr. Woodworth has been quoted on hospitality issues in such noted publications as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Barron’s, USA Today, The Financial Times and numerous industry publications. Furthermore, Mr. Woodworth is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and is a Dean’s Distinguished Lecturer at Cornell University and is a member of the Conference of Business Economists. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Finance Committee of the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta and advises the Georgia Hospitality & Lodging Association. He also completed a three-year term on the Board of Advisors for the Center for Hospitality Research at Cornell University. Mark and his wife Mary Kay are the parents of Harry, Will, Sam and Savannah, and reside in Atlanta.

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Benjamin A. Young AEG Ben Young is Vice President of Asset Management for Anschutz Entertainment Group based in Los Angeles. He is responsible for the performance of the highly successful dual-brand properties – The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles and JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE, as well as the Courtyard and Residence Inn Los Angeles L.A. LIVE. Young has more than 20 years of experience in the lodging industry with a focus on development planning, acquisitions investments and business strategy. He began his hospitality career shortly after graduating college, through the acquisition and renovation of a beach resort in Sarasota, Fla. He went on to become involved in the asset management of iconic properties such as the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, Grand Wailea on Maui, Hawaii, and Loews Lake Las Vegas, Nev. Young earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and finance from Florida Southern College, in Lakeland, Fla. and a Master of Business Administration degree specializing in Hotel Asset Management from the University of Denver.

Jerry Zeitner The Gettys Group With 30 years of hospitality industry experience, Jerry has a broad knowledge of hotel operations, program management, design implementation and development. As COO, he is responsible for overseeing, developing and setting the direction of The Gettys Group’s day-to-day operations and growth strategies. Jerry leads a team of dedicated, creative team members who create new brands, design beautifully engaging spaces and bring design visions to life. At The Gettys Group, Jerry has been instrumental in developing several innovative new business groups, including our proprietary Integrated Solutions procurement system; Gettys ONE, our design approach tailored for select-service brands, and the continued growth of our Hospitality Development initiative. A natural thought leader, Jerry is a frequent speaker at industry events and is often called upon by the global hospitality media for his insights and expertise. The Gettys Group, Inc. (www.gettys.com) – The Gettys Group is an award-winning global design firm with an expert understanding of all aspects of the hospitality industry. The Gettys Group's service offerings include interior design, procurement, branding and consulting serving for clients across the globe through offices in Chicago, Miami, Hong Kong, Manila and Jeddah. For nearly 30 years, The Gettys Group has focused on exquisite design, enduring quality and impeccable service. The Gettys Group's diverse professional services portfolio includes more than 185,000 rooms in 800 hotels around the world. An average of 200,000 guests stay in a room designed by The Gettys Group each night.

speakers ali abidi - alis conference · industry. mr. alter is past president of the holiday inn...

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