Name: DFW Hospitality Update
Start: 2024-12-03T08:00:00-06:00
End: 2024-12-03T12:00:00-06:00
Location: Loews Arlington Hotel

Presented By

Event Host

Loews

The 888-room Loews Arlington Hotel is the first-of-its-kind meetings and resort destination, situated between two iconic sports stadiums, Globe-Life Field and AT&T Stadium. This one-of-a-kind hotel is also connected to the new Arlington, TX Convention Center.

Whether you are a leisure traveler, sports fan, or meeting attendee, Loews Arlington offers the latest and greatest amenities, a modern and forward-thinking design, and service excellence at every turn.

Speakers and Panels

Arlington Entertainment District Case Study

Intersection of Entertainment, Sports And Hospitality

Jim Watry

COO, Texas Live!

Chris Cassidy

BACKGROUND In August 2021, the Board of Directors for the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation selected Chris Cassidy to be President and CEO, where he now leads the project to build the iconic Museum, Monument, and Institute. Our team is on a mission to inspire America, promoting the belief everyone is born with the potential to be extraordinary. Chris is the embodiment of this truth. From humble beginnings in the upper Northeast, he chose a life of service to the country. First, as an elite Navy SEAL and then as NASA's Chief Astronaut, he has always put others first and given back to the country which gave him boundless opportunities. EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION Christopher J. Cassidy was born in Salem, Massachusetts on January 4, 1970 and considers nearby York, Maine, where he grew up, to be his hometown. A graduate of York High School, Chris completed Naval Academy Prep School in Newport, Rhode island in 1989 and received a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1993. He later received a Master of Science in Ocean Engineering from the Massachusetts institute of Technology and has Honorary PhDs from Husson University and the University of Maine at Augusta. MILITARY SERVICE Captain Cassidy is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL. During his service, he was awarded the Bronze Star with combat 'V' and received a second Bronze Star for combat leadership service in Afghanistan. In 2004, the platoon he commanded was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for a nine-day operation at the Zharwar Kili Cave on the Afghanistan/Pakistan border. NASA YEARS Cassidy was selected as an astronaut in 2004. He is a veteran of three space flights and ten space walks. Chris has flown to the international Space Station (ISS) aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor and the Russian Soyuz spacecra�. He has accumulated 377 days in space to include his most recent six-month spaceflight in 2020. In 2015, he became NASA's 14th Chief Astronaut and served in this capacity for two years.

The National Medal of Honor Museum

President and CEO

Chris Cassidy

President and CEO, The National Medal of Honor Museum

Stephen Cummings

Complex Managing Director, Loews Hotels & Co.

Trey Yelverton

Trey Yelverton began serving as City Manager of Arlington, Texas in March 2012. He has 36 years of public service and is the Chief Executive Officer of the municipal corporation of 2,899 employees, an annual operating and capital budget of $822M, and $2.9B net assets. With a city population of 392,304 residents, Arlington is the seventh largest city in Texas and the 50th largest in the United States. Under Yelverton’s leadership, the city received AAA bond ratings from two public ratings agencies, Bloomberg Philanthropies’ What Works Cities Gold Certification, all five Transparency Stars from the Texas Comptroller, Human Rights Campaign score of 100, as well as numerous corporate accreditations and Dallas Business Journal Best Real Estate Deals. The city has invested $2.2 billion in public infrastructure while lowering the debt service tax rate during his tenure. With the support of elected leaders and the community, he also accomplished numerous significant public-private projects including the Levitt Pavilion, the College Park District, City Center -Downtown Library and mixed-use development, AT&T Stadium, Texas Live!, Live! by Loews Hotel, Loews Arlington Hotel & Convention Center, eSports Stadium Arlington, Globe Life Field, Choctaw Stadium, D.R. Horton Headquarters relocation, Six Flags World Headquarters relocation, retention and expansion of the General Motor Plant, redevelopment of the vacated Six Flags Mall to a GM supplier park, redevelopment Forum 303 Mall to new industrial facilities, development of the Arlington Highlands, and the establishment, and full city expansion, of the Via RideShare service. Yelverton has also served as the Executive Director of the Arlington Housing Authority, Executive Director of Arlington Sports Facilities Corporation, Founding Director of Arlington Economic Development Corporation, and Board Member of the Gene & Jerry Jones Arlington Youth Foundation. Yelverton has completed executive certificate programs at the Bush School of Government & Public Service at Texas A&M and the JFK School of Government at Harvard. Additionally, he is a member of the International City Management Association and the Texas City Management Association. Yelverton is a 1988 graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, a Life Member of its alumni association, and a periodic adjunct faculty member teaching classes in public administration. He completed his Master of Public Administration from the University of North Texas in 1989.

City of Arlington

City Manager

Trey Yelverton

City Manager, City of Arlington

Peyton Booth

Principal, Senior Designer, HKS

Marty Wieder

Marty Wieder became Executive Director of the Arlington Economic Development Corporation in February 2024. Prior to joining the AEDC, he served as Director of Economic Development with the City of Grand Prairie, Texas for almost 8 years—and also previously worked with the City of Colleyville, Texas as their Director of Economic Development, GSBS Architects as Director of Marketing, Planning & Project Development, as well as either Director, President or in economic development-related positions with the City of North Richland Hills, Texas (NRH), the Northeast Tarrant and Arlington Chambers of Commerce and at the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG). Marty grew up in Arlington—where he observed the work of (and early in his career got the opportunity to work with) longtime Mayor and then-Congressman Tom Vandergriff (who attracted a General Motors plant as well as the eventual Texas Rangers Major League Baseball franchise). Marty attended the University of Texas at Arlington, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in communication (1983) and later a master’s degree in urban affairs (1988). He began teaching as an adjunct professor in the Master of Public Administration program at UTA’s College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs in 2021. Marty is a member of the International Economic Development Council, American Planning Association and its Economic Development Division, Urban Land Institute and the International Council of Shopping Centers and its Community Advancement Advisory Committee. He’s been a Director on the North Texas Commission Board and is a Class 4 (2012-13) graduate of the Commission’s Leadership North Texas program. He served as the first Board Chairman of the North Central Texas Economic Development District (NCTEDD). Fort Worth Business selected Marty to its first “Top 40 under 40” List in 1994. The Texas Career and Technology Council & Vocational-Technical Education Foundation of Texas recognized him and other NRH officials in 1999 as "Best in Texas" for supporting the Birdville Independent School District. The Northeast Tarrant Chamber granted him Chairman’s Awards in 1994 and 2001 for fostering economic development programs (which the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives recognized in 2001 as “Best in the State”) and its Gertrude Tarpley Director of the Year Award in 2003. The University of Texas at Arlington selected him to be among the Recognized Alumni of the School of Urban & Public Affairs in 2013 and the Colleyville Area Chamber of Commerce granted him their Leadership Award in 2015. Marty and his wife Bonnie have four children and five grandchildren.

Arlington Economic Development Corporation

Executive Director

Moderator

Marty Wieder

Executive Director, Arlington Economic Development Corporation

City Light and Urban Draw

The Latest in DFW Cosmopolitan Hospitality

Kunal Mody

CEO, Blueprint Hospitality

Dave Johnson

Co-founder & Managing Director, Horizon Capital

Mike Canning

SVP, Capital Markets, Hall Structured Finance

Steven Upchurch

Principal & Co-Managing Director, Gensler

Glenn Silva

COO, Lone Star Pace

Brian Miller

Chief Design Officer, The Beck Group

Moderator

Zach Sams

EVP, Kensington Vanguard National Title

DFW Destinations

Growth and Evolution of Resorts and Retreats

Jeff Smith

Vice President & Managing Director, Omni PGA Frisco Resort

Hector Sanchez

CEO, Premier

Greg Perry

VP of Hospitality Investments, RREAF Holdings

Sara Talleux

Associated Principal, KTGY

Moderator

Rose Hasham

Head of Brokerage and Investments, Axe Commercial Real Estate

Opening Remarks

Michael Jacobson

Michael Jacobson was appointed President & CEO of the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce in February 2016. The Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce represents the interest of 1,000+ businesses and nonprofits in the greater Arlington area, championing economic and community prosperity. Michael also serves as the President of the Arlington Economic Development Corporation Board. Prior to this position Michael Jacobson was director of Intel’s Corporate Responsibility Office. In this role, he was responsible for leading Intel’s corporate responsibility strategy with stakeholders across the company. He led an experienced team of experts in corporate social responsibility, strategic alliances, marketing and communications, stakeholder management and reporting who were committed to building upon Intel’s performance as a leading corporate citizen. Michael managed Intel’s Corporate Affairs team in California and Texas where he was responsible for leading corporate responsibility programs, philanthropic investments and public policy. Michael also worked in Intel’s Corporate Real Estate and Site Development Group as a site selection manager. In this capacity, Michael was responsible for evaluating locations across the globe for potential Intel investment. Jacobson came to Intel from the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce where he was a director of business development. During his four-year tenure with the Chamber, Fort Worth ranked in the top ten in the United States for business recruitment. Intel was one of the companies that he helped recruit to Fort Worth. Jacobson joined the Fort Worth Chamber after serving eight years in Washington D.C. He held positions as assistant to the deputy secretary for management planning and operations for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, special assistant to the Commissioner for the Social Security Administration and special assistant to the Administrator of the Urban Mass Transportation Administration. Michael currently serves in many capacities throughout the greater Arlington nonprofit community. He is a board member of the University of Texas at Arlington College of Business, Downtown Arlington Management Corporation, the Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Arlington-Mansfield YMCA, the Dallas Wings Foundation, the Arlington Police Foundation and the Arlington Margarita Society. Nationally, he serves in the U.S. Chamber’s Committee of 100 with leading chamber CEOs from across the country. Jacobson received his bachelor’s degree in political science from Baylor University in 1984.

Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce

President & CEO

Michael Jacobson

President & CEO, Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce

Why You Should Attend this DFW Commercial Real Estate Event

What You'll Learn:

How is DFW's leadership in the U.S. hotel development shaping the future of hospitality in the region?
What trends are driving investor confidence in the Dallas market, leading to its position as a top destination for new hospitality developments?
What role do large sporting events and entertainment venues play in the growth of hotel demand in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex?
With over 22,000 hotel rooms in the pipeline, how are developers ensuring that supply meets the evolving demand from both leisure and business travelers?
How has the influx of corporate relocations to DFW impacted hotel occupancy rates and the demand for high-end accommodations?
What design trends are shaping the next generation of hotels in the DFW market, and how are developers differentiating their properties?
What role do luxury developments and branded hotels play in attracting affluent travelers to the DFW region?
How are hotel developers integrating local culture and Texas identity into new hospitality projects to enhance the guest experience?
What unique challenges and opportunities exist for hospitality development in suburban DFW compared to urban Dallas?
How has business travel resurgence driven the success of DFW hotel projects, and what trends are emerging as a result?

How You'll Do More Business:

Learn why and how DFW is leading the nation in hospitality development and uncover new angles and opportunities for you to capitalize on this growth. Discover the latest trends shaping DFW's booming hospitality market, from cutting-edge development projects to innovative amenities that are redefining the guest experience. Explore how the region’s rapid growth is driving demand for new hotels and uncover insights into the economic forces fueling this transformation. Network with industry leaders, dive into the strategies behind DFW's record-setting pipeline, and gain actionable knowledge to stay ahead in this competitive sector. Don’t miss your chance to connect, learn, and position yourself at the forefront of DFW’s hospitality landscape.

Who You’ll Meet: Owners, developers, general contractors, hoteliers, investors, brokers, city and government officials, business consultants, architects, engineers, lawyers, accountants, bankers and technology company leaders.

Why You Should Attend: Bisnow events bring together the biggest power players in the industry to identify opportunities, build your network and expand your business. With the largest audience of commercial real estate professionals in the world, no one knows how to help your business more than us. Join Bisnow as we jump into the market to analyze its strengths and strategize on its areas of growth. You don't want to miss this event!

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To request disability-related accommodations, please contact rachel.sundin@bisnow.com no later than seven business days before the event.

Venue

Loews Hotel Arlington
888 Nolan Ryan Expy
Arlington, TX 76011

Get Directions

Agenda

Time	Activity
8:00 AM 9:00 AM	Breakfast and Networking
9:00 AM 9:45 AM	Arlington Entertainment District Case Study Intersection of Entertainment, Sports And Hospitality - How are Arlington’s entertainment, sports, and hospitality sectors working together to transform the city into a premier destination? - Hosting events like the Indy Grand Prix and World Cup is a game-changer for Arlington. How are these events influencing hospitality development and real estate investment in the area?
9:45 AM 10:00 AM	Networking Break
10:00 AM 10:45 AM	City Light and Urban Draw The Latest in DFW Cosmopolitan Hospitality; How are urbanization and city growth influencing the development of cosmopolitan hospitality in DFW, and what recent projects exemplify this trend? What are the primary challenges faced by urban hospitality operators in DFW regarding space limitations and zoning regulations, and how do they navigate these issues?
10:45 AM 11:30 AM	DFW Destinations Growth and Evolution of Resorts and Retreats; What trends are emerging in the DFW area regarding the development of new resorts and retreats, and what specific types of experiences or amenities are driving demand? What challenges are faced by resorts and retreats in the competitive DFW hospitality market, and how do different properties differentiate themselves from others?
11:30 AM 12:00 PM	Closing Networking

DFW Hospitality News & Projects

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