Atlanta Hotel Development Forum

Mr. Brunt is a principal and chief investment officer responsible for leading a team of investment professionals to accomplish Noble’s strategic acquisition and development goals. This involves the sourcing and underwriting of all new investments encompassing individual asset and portfolio acquisitions, land and new development opportunities, market and investment analysis, and brand positioning. Prior to joining Noble in 2005, Mr. Brunt held senior investment roles at Songy Partners and Hardin Capital. He began his career in hotels with Homestead Village, a mid-scale extended stay lodging brand founded by Security Capital Group, and has nearly 25 years of hospitality industry experience. Mr. Brunt earned an MBA from Southern Methodist University and a BA from Trinity College. He is a former professional violinist and spent two years as a member of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Brunt currently serves as a board member of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Atlanta Midtown Alliance, and the Buckhead Coalition. He is also a member of the AHLA Lodging Investment Council and a member of the Urban Land Institute.

David Marvin, founder and president of Legacy Ventures®, was an early believer in downtown Atlanta’s resurgence. Since making his first investment downtown in 1994, Marvin has developed $500 million in downtown real estate. Atlanta tested Legacy, but the firm has expanded its footprint regionally. In addition to development, Legacy today has hotel and restaurant operating divisions that employ roundly 1,000 people. Legacy’s in-house financial, marketing, design and construction teams represent collaborative resources for its development, asset management, and operations initiatives. Marvin’s professional career began as a graduate engineer on the docks of Electric Boat Naval Shipyard. Ten years into his career, Marvin transitioned from construction to real estate. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Vermont, an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Master’s of Science degree in Real Estate from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a licensed Professional Engineer and is active on several civic boards, including the Atlanta Rotary Club, Central Atlanta Progress, the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District Board, Chair of ADID Interagency Law Enforcement Task Force, the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau Board, the Atlanta Hospitality Alliance, the Georgia State University School of Hospitality’s Advisory Board, Partners for HOME Board and is the Founder/Chairman of the Centennial Park District®.

Passionate about creating more real estate ownership and leadership diversity, Mary Beth founded Amara Capital in 2018, as a real estate DE&I investment platform for high-net worth women and minority investors to gain access into hospitality, multi-family real estate. Prior, Mary Beth served as EVP & Chief Development Officer at Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG), a nationally recognized owner and operator of 58 full-service hotels and resorts and select-service hotels consisting of premium branded properties, independent boutique and lifestyle hotels between 2011 to 2021. With over 30+ years in the hospitality industry, Mary Beth has been actively involved in hotel real estate transactions and operations with an approximate valuation of $1.3+ Billion. During her 10+ year tenure at HVMG, Mary Beth led the Development Team with acquisitions, dispositions, new development, and third-party management agreements including deal sourcing, origination, underwriting, due diligence, and the selections of real estate investment opportunities. Since 2011 and under Mary Beth’s leadership, HVMG added over 90 new properties to the portfolio and the company’s annual revenues grew in access of 300% to exceed $280M+. Honored in 2021 by ULI/WLI as a “2021 The Leaders” as a seasoned real estate industry giant, in 2017 as one of the 30 Influential Women in Hospitality by Hotel Management Magazine, Atlanta Magazine as one of “Atlanta’s 500 Most Powerful Leaders” (2020 & 2019), and one of the top hospitality leaders to follow on social media by Crowdriff. Mary Beth is a C-suite executive experienced in new business development and organizational growth, a known and respected innovator and visionary in the hospitality industry and nationally recognized for her thought leadership on hospitality and real estate. Mary Beth is a frequent global speaker at hotel investment conferences who’s insight has been sought out by numerous news and media publications including the Wall Street Journal, Skift, Hotel News Now, Hotel Business, Hotel Management, Long Live Lodging, and the No Vacancy Podcast Show. Mary Beth is an active board member and past President of the Atlanta Hospitality Alliance, a founding board member and Vice Chair of the Castell Project, a national initiative increasing leadership diversity within the hospitality industry, a member of AHLA’s FORWARD Council, ULI Recreational Council, ULI Atlanta’s Capital Market Council, and Marriott International’s Women Supporting Women Council.

Nikunj (“Nick”) Lakha grew up in the hotel industry. His experiences as a young man, performing many of the day-to-day activities of a hotel – from cleaning rooms, to manning the front desk, to managing accounts – have afforded him an intimate understanding of hotel operations. This operational expertise, together with an education in management and a professional background in finance and consulting, has guided Mr. Lakha’s acquisition/development decisions and allowed him to create a portfolio of financially successful, award-winning properties. Mr. Lakha is a graduate of Auburn University, where he received his B.S. in Business Administration in 1997. He began his professional career as a consultant for companies such as Pannel Kerr Forster Consulting, Horwath Landauer, and Atlantic Hospitality Advisors. In 2001, Nick launched Paramount Hospitality Management and has grown the company ever since. Today, Mr. Lakha serves as the President of the company based in Atlanta, GA. Paramount’s current portfolio of hotels operates under the Hilton and Marriott brands. Mr. Lakha has led the development and acquisitions of lodging product totaling over $150M in value. He is responsible for directing all aspects of company owned hotels while overseeing strategic growth goals. Mr. Lakha leads Paramount’s efforts to successfully build, acquire and operate sustainable, profitable hotels that exemplify the ultimate guest experience. The company is focused on developing in markets with moderate to high barriers to entry. Moreover, the company targets opportunities to develop and operate brand-defining hotels in markets where we will be the first choice for travelers. Mr. Lakha is on the board of the Arthur M. Blank YMCA and the University of West Georgia. He contributes to his industry and community through membership in a number of other professional and charitable organizations. He was recently recognized as Business Man of the Year by the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Lakha lives in Atlanta, GA with his wife, Priti, and two children.

Mitul brings 20 years of operating expertise, overseeing management of the company’s growing portfolio. His responsibilities include all aspects of operations, ranging from creating a successful differentiating strategy for each hotel to the bottom line. Mitul also oversees Peachtree’s development and renovation programs; ensuring product quality is achieved to the highest standard in timely fashion. To date, he has been responsible for more than $100 million in both new construction and refurbishment programs. Born into the hospitality industry, Mitul began working with his family’s portfolio of independent hotels in the late 1980s before eventually expanding the family business and co-founding Peachtree Hotel Group. His background includes hotel consulting at PKF Hospitality Research and hotel real estate valuation at CBRE Hotel Brokerage. Mitul holds a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Administration from Florida International University’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Mitul also is on the board of advisors for Gwinnett Technical College’s School of Hospitality Management.

Adam heads EVEN® Hotels, IHG’s newest brand built to enable wellness in travel. For the past several years Adam has been responsible for leading the team that designed the EVEN brand, which opened its first properties and launched the comprehensive wellness-focused digital content platform wellwellwell.com in 2014. Today, Adam leads the team responsible for brand equity, guest experience design, service culture, marketing strategy and ensuring the brand experience comes to life in new hotels. EVEN Hotels will have six hotels open by end of 2016, including three in New York City, with all hotels quickly moving into top placement spots on TripAdvisor (The Times Square EVEN Hotel is currently the highest rated branded hotel in New York City, ranking #11 of 480 hotels in Manhattan). In the past 12 months, the EVEN brand has also been recognized by Fast Company, Fortune, Travel & Leisure and MindBodyGreen as an innovator or top new brand to watch. Adam has been with IHG for 13 years and has worked across the commercial business in brand, sales & marketing and distribution channel roles. Over the past several years, Adam laid the groundwork to bring what would become EVEN Hotels to life, through consumer insight work, partner and platform development and creating a curated end-to-end brand experience with a deep focus on service and design. Adam has also held guest experience leadership roles with InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo and Holiday Inn Club Vacations, focusing on design of new properties, improving branded food and beverage experiences and creating tools to engage operators to deliver branded service experiences. Additional IHG highlights also include development of cross-brand wellness initiatives, launch of complex partnerships, creation of web, voice, third party and group reservation tools and developing hotel training programs. Prior to joining IHG, Adam worked across multiple functions including marketing strategy, sales & marketing, operations and group service management in roles with Marriott, Regent, HVS and Hilton at the iconic Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. Adam holds an MBA from Goizueta Business School at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, and a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from the Cornell Hotel School in Ithaca, NY. Adam finds personal balance and relaxation through exercise, has visited 45+ countries exploring under-the-radar global destinations and loves learning about new cultures and ideas from others.

Keith Simmel joined Cooper Carry in 1992 and was named a Principal in the Hospitality Studio in 2008. He has worked on numerous luxury hotels, resorts, and conference centers including the Chesapeake Conference Center in Chesapeake, Virginia, The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island, and The Westin Alexandria & Jamieson Condominiums in Alexandria, Virginia. Keith is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), National Council of Architectural Registration Board (NCARB), as well as the Urban Land Institute (ULI), and is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED). He has a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Cornell University, and is registered to practice in eight states.

Donald R. Boyken, FRICS, FAACE, CCP Chief Executive Officer of DRB Consulting, LLC. Donald R. Boyken has been active in the construction industry since 1970. His experience includes development and management of Hotel, Casinos and Resort projects in the United States, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the United Kingdom. Based in Atlanta Mr. Boyken provides consulting services both nationally and internationally. Mr. Boyken’s experience also includes major healthcare programs, university and college facilities, office and commercial buildings, transportation systems and infrastructure projects. Prior to starting his current company, Mr. Boyken was Chairman and CEO of Boyken International for over 30 years, building the practice to the 34th largest program management firm in the United States before selling the firm in 2009. The firm’s hospitality industry focus enabled Mr. Boyken to be part of development teams for some of the world’s largest and highest profile Resort projects completed over the last two decades. Mr. Boyken has been instrumental in working with clients who have critical project problems, not only finding solutions, but also helping owners with the implementation of these solutions. His consulting work as a CEO Coach, Business Development Consultant, and Turn-Around Specialist uniquely qualifies him, to advise clients with business issues or projects with foreseeable problematic issues, and to resolve the conflicts before they become a hindrance to the company. Mr. Boyken has also provided expert witness testimony regarding project costs, defective construction, project means and methods, and costs for foreclosed or bankrupt properties in cases involving airports, apartments, office buildings and sports arenas. He is also recognized for his work as an Arbitrator and Mediator for construction disputes. Prior to starting Boyken International, Mr. Boyken was part of the project management team for Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport leading the Project Administration team including the schedule and estimating services. Mr. Boyken was also with Blount Brothers Corporation, an international construction company, as an estimator and scheduler. He has been recognized with the distinction of Fellow by the Royal Institution of Charter Surveyors and the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering. Mr. Boyken is a firm believer in returning to the community his expertise and time. He is currently on the Advisory Board for the School of Construction at Virginia Tech. and the Chamber Board for the City of Dunwoody. His past Board experience includes the Advisory Board for the City of Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trustees for a private school in North Georgia, several national professional associations, and local civic associations. He recently completed a term as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Sandy Springs, Georgia. Mr. Boyken can be contacted at 678-615-2901 or dboyken@ConsultDRB.com