Bisnow Hotel Leadership, Investment & Management Summit

Kathleen Flores

EVP
Trump Hotels

Kathleen (Kat) Chiechi Flores, executive vice president at Trump Hotel Group, is responsible for a variety of functions across the portfolio including Sales, Marketing, Innovation, Branding and Communication. She is charged with driving the innovation and evolution of products and services across the business and has been instrumental in the launch of the Company’s recently announced 4-star brand SCION and 3-Star brand American IDEA Hotels. Flores joined Trump Hotels from The Assemblage, a hospitality concept blending social clubs and innovative work environments, where she served as managing director. There, she was responsible for the development and administration of the nascent brand concept. Previously, she served as chief administrative officer for Hampshire Hotels Management, now Dream Hotel Group, where she was responsible for strategy and performance management and the shared services of sales and marketing, revenue management, e- commerce, information technology and human resources. Prior to joining Hampshire, Flores was executive vice president of Human Resources and Communication at Wyndham Hotel Group, charged with oversight of the organization's global human resources strategy, including talent selection, talent management, workforce planning and administration of more than 4,000 employees. She also led the business’ global communication strategy. In addition, she has held senior-level roles with WhiteFence, ZipRealty and Kaplan, Inc. She holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Columbia School of Business, a Master of Education degree from the University of San Francisco, and a Bachelor of Economics degree from the University of California, Irvine. She is based in New York City.

Thomas Papadopoulos

Principal Broker
Papadopoulos Properties

For over 35 years, Papadopoulos Properties has helped local and national landlords, retailers, and restaurateurs find success in Washington DC, Maryland & Virginia. Hotel developer clients include Magna Hospitality, Westmont Hospitality, Highgate Hospitality, Carr Hospitality, Red Lion Hotels, Met Life, Westbrook Partners, Southern Management, Quadrangle Development, Donohoe Company, Brands represented, Park Hyatt, Fairmont, Hilton, RL, Intercontinental, Marriott-Autograph-Ritz Carlton-Residence Inn-Marquis

Ryan Clifton

Associate Principal
EDSA

With nearly 20 years of experience, Mr. Clifton is knowledgeable in all aspects of planning, landscape architecture and urban design. By incorporating modern sensibility with artistic vision, his work is site specific and sensitive to regional conditions with an expressive sense for the creative use of function, form, texture and color. Having advised many of the world’s leading resort development and tourism companies, Mr. Clifton’s diverse portfolio is known for creating economically feasible outcomes that blend guest immersion and regional engagement with a story of the land. Mr. Clifton has contributed to the master planning, design development, project management and construction observation of resort destinations, urban mixed-use environments and residential communities across the globe. His current assignments are focused on the formation of high-quality accommodations in concert with valuable recreation, social and entertainment amenities that support guest enjoyment and satisfaction. Mr. Clifton remains abreast of industry trends, information and economies with a keen understanding of how they impact business strategies and implementation of tourism-based development. As such, he is often called upon for his expertise to present at forums and conferences. Professionally, Mr. Clifton is an active member in the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and the Urban Land Institute (ULI). Mr. Clifton is a graduate of Oklahoma State University where he earned a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree.

Deborah Lloyd Forrest

Founder & President
Forrest Perkins

Deborah Lloyd Forrest founded ForrestPerkins in 1998 and as President successfully leads a team of highly creative designers and architects across five office locations: Dallas, New York, Washington DC, Chicago, San Francisco and Dubai. In 2016 ForrestPerkins merged with Perkins Eastman Architects gaining a broader foothold internationally while maintaining its distinct brand integrity and style. ForrestPerkins was recently designated as a Top Ten Hospitality Giant by Interior Design Magazine. An industry leader for over 40 years, Deborah is well known for the design of Luxury and Landmark Hotels and Resorts and for the masterful application of color and detail in her projects. Her expertise lies in imagining and realizing the design of highly detailed places that resonate with guests. With her design agility, she is equally as comfortable designing contemporary properties as classic and has led the firm in many successful modern hotel, multi-residential and high-end single family projects as well. She is most proud of the many designers whom she has mentored and inspired during her career and for the brand she and her brilliant team continue to grow. Notable projects include The Joule, Dallas, Texas; The Jefferson, Washington, DC; The Four Seasons, Washington, DC and landmark Fairmont Hotels including Washington, DC, Victoria, British Columbia, San Francisco and Hamilton, Bermuda. Deborah is a member of HD Magazine’s Platinum Circle and the International Society of Hospitality Consultants, ISHC, and is a Fellow of the American Society of Interior Designers as well as its 2004 Designer of Distinction.

Rani Gharbie

Head of Acquisitions & Development
The Pod Hotels (BD Hotels)

Rani Gharbie is currently the Head of Acquisitions & Development for The Pod Hotels where he is responsible for identifying potential investment opportunities and working closely with capital partners and strategic investors to increase equity positions and funding for future projects for the brand. Formerly, he oversaw development and acquisitions for North America at Virgin Hotels. Prior to that, Gharbie was the Managing Director and Founder at Cedar Funds, a New York City based development and investment firm with a focus on progressive hotel and real estate assets, as well as regional Director of Development with InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), where he was responsible for actively expanding IHG’s premier hotel brands including InterContinental, Hotel Indigo and Holiday Inn. In this position, he oversaw and contributed to the growth of 20 hotels worth over $1.8B in real estate value. In addition, Rani is an Adjunct Professor at Columbia's Master in Real Estate Development program, where he teaches the spring course Private Equity Development, Hotel Focus. He holds a Master’s Degree from the program, an MBA from the HEC Business School in Montreal, a Bachelor degree in Hotel Management from the Glion Hotel School in Switzerland, and a Certificate in Hotel Real Estate Investments and Asset Management from Cornell University in New York. Rani is a regular guest speaker at key industry conferences and is an avid traveler, runner, cyclist, golfer and Vinyasa Yogi. He currently resides in New York City.

Geoff Davis

Founder & Senior Principal
Davis Hotel Capital

Geoff Davis is the Founder and Senior Principal of Davis Hotel Capital. Geoff is regarded as one of the top deal makers and hotel investment advisors in the hospitality industry. Prior to founding DHC Geoff was a Partner and the Chief Investment Officer of Leon, Mayer & Co.'s hospitality real estate practice. Leon, Mayer & Co. is a Miami based Private Equity Investor with significant resort, hotel and education platform holdings. His focus was on the firm's investments in hotels, resorts and hospitality ventures, both domestically and abroad. Prior to joining Leon, Mayer & Co., Mr. Davis was the co-Founder, President and Senior Principal of HREC Investment Advisors, a national hotel investment banking firm focused on hotel investment banking, mortgage and property brokerage, and capital markets advisory work. While at HREC Investment Advisors Mr. Davis directed a team of over 30 professionals in 14 offices and oversaw and executed on over 800 hotel transactions with a market cap in excess of $14 billion dollars. Prior to his work at HREC Investment Advisors, Mr. Davis was a Partner and President of Hospitality Investment Counselors. A boutique hotel investment banking firm with offices in New York and Denver. In addition to brokerage and investment banking the Principals of Hospitality Investment Counselors were involved in various hotel development ventures, as well as various asset management assignments. Mr. Davis started his professional career at Pannell Kerr Forster, a well respected accounting and consulting firm, where he rose to the position of Senior Manager. Mr. Davis was also a Principal in Gemstone Hospitality, a hotel management and asset management company focusing on complex resorts and urban hotels. Mr. Davis is a graduate of the University of Denver and sits on their hotel school's Executive Advisory Board. He is extensively published on hotel investment and market trends. He has been a successful investor in hotels throughout his career and remains an active hotel investor today. Creativity, persistence and experience are the hallmark of his approach to hotel investment and advisory throughout his professional career. Born in Plainfield, NJ, Mr. Davis resides in Denver, Colorado.

Abie Hidary

Principal
Hidrock Properties

Abraham “Abie” Hidary oversees the daily operation of Hidrock Properties and is responsible for the company’s equity and debt financing relationships. Under Abie’s leadership, Hidrock has executed complex strategies in Manhattan including the repositioning of office buildings, the acquisition of defaulted notes, and ground up development of nearly 2,000 hotel rooms in Manhattan. To finance its transactions, Abie maintains relationships with lenders and investors throughout the country and around the world. Abie graduated magna cum laude at Yeshiva University’s Sy Syms School of Business, and is a member of the board of directors for the Garment District Alliance and Alliance for Downtown New York. Abie also currently serves as the President of the Yeshivah of Flatbush which educates over 2,000 students in its Lower School, Middle School, and High School; and has over 10,000 alumni since its founding 1927.

Jessica Bailey

President & CEO
Nuveen Green Capital

Prior to co-founding Greenworks Lending in 2015, Jessica led the design, management, and implementation of the nation’s first successful C-PACE program at the CT Green Bank. In its first two years, the program financed $75 million in clean energy projects and executed the first securitization of commercial efficiency assets – more than doubling the volume of C-PACE transactions between 2013 and 2014. From 2004-2012, Bailey worked at the Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF), an $800 million foundation based in New York. As the Fund’s program officer for sustainable development, she co-managed a $7 million portfolio of grants focused on mitigating climate change and promoting clean energy. Jessica has received numerous awards and positive recognition for her work. Most recently, she was selected for Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneurial Winning Women of 2019 program. In 2014, Bailey was named a “Champion of Change” by the White House for solar deployment. For her work designing the successful Connecticut C-PACE program, The Hartford Business Journal dubbed her a “Green Warrior;” and after co-founding Greenworks Lending and scaling C-PACE nationally, Jessica was named to Connecticut Magazine’s 2018 list of “40 under 40.” Jessica received her graduate degree from Yale University and undergraduate from the University of Notre Dame. She is a member of YPO and sits on the board of PACENation, the League of Conservation Voters, CT and CTNext.

Mark Remington

Principal
Phillips Realty Capital

Mark T. Remington joined Phillips Realty Capital in 2018 after 14 years at HFF. As a Principal, he leads teams structuring debt and equity financing for the firm’s clients. Mr. Remington has more than 30 years of finance and sales experience working with a variety of client types and capital sources. He specializes in arranging capital for all types of commercial and residential properties, throughout the United States, in all stages of life, for the full capital stack, including common equity, preferred equity, mezzanine financing and debt. Prior to his time at HFF, Mr. Remington was Vice President of Capital Markets for six years at Cassidy & Pinkard, and before that he was a commercial real estate lender for 14 years.

Simon Hunter

Partner & Chief Innovation Officer
CO OP

Simon combines more than 30 years of communications expertise with a focus on providing business guidance for clients. He has worked on a bewilderingly wide range of clients in the U.S., Europe and globally in categories including hospitality, real estate, travel, and food and beverage. Simon brings knowledge and inspiration from various disciplines to bring innovation to destination brands – CO OP’s unique strategic approach to brand creation. As Partner and Chief Innovation Officer, Simon is charged with executive oversight for strategic deliverables on all projects. At CO OP he has been the lead behind nearly every hospitality project, working on rationalizing global brands and creating innovative local hero brands. Simon began his career in advertising in London where he was responsible for a bewildering range of projects from Nestle’s beverage NPD program to globalizing Viagra, from creating new beer brands to reviving traditional fashion companies, from exotic destinations to pragmatic car rental services. In every category, Simon seeks to unlock the full potential of brands by identifying opportunities others overlook.

Robert Van Ness

EVP, Americas
Preferred Hotels & Resorts

Robert Van Ness joined Preferred Hotels & Resorts in 2000 as Vice President of Sales, based out of the company’s Chicago headquarters. In 2004, he was promoted to Area Managing Director, tasked with managing the company’s member portfolio in the Americas Central and Southern regions. Four years later in 2008, he was promoted again to his current position as Executive Vice President, Americas. In this role, he oversees all regional directors in the Americas, a responsibility that covers approximately half of the company’s total portfolio of hotels and resorts. Prior to joining Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Robert held positions as Vice President of Sales for General Hotels Corporation, an Indianapolis-based hotel management company, and sales leadership roles for independent properties as well as brands such as Sheraton Hotels & Resorts and Hilton Hotels & Resorts. His 30 years of experience spans tenures at city hotels and destination resorts, ranging in size from 150 to more than 700 rooms. Robert is a graduate of the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

James Carroll

CEO
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 over 120 managed properties in over 27 states throughout the United States. With a dedicated team of over 5,200 associates, Crestline has grown to become one of the top ten independent hotel management companies in the country, and earned the elite status of being qualified to manage any of the Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, or IHG products. During its 20+ year history, Crestline has also formed and spun off 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 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.

Jennifer Connell

VP & Global Brand Leader, Autograph & Tribute Hotels
Marriott International

Always a lover of travel, Jennifer started her career in hospitality on an airplane where she met a hotel sales executive looking to recruit rookie talent. She spent several years in property and corporate sales and marketing for small, high-growth hotel companies before transitioning to Marriott International in 2000. At Marriott, she served as a pre-opening sales and revenue management consultant for over 100 new select service hotels. In 2004, Jennifer moved into Development Planning & Feasibility, where she performed market and financial analysis for potential hotel deals. It was in this role that she played an instrumental role in Marriott’s entry into the luxury lifestyle space, creating the original concept pro forma analysis for the Edition brand. Jennifer then spent 10 years in Marriott’s Asset Management group, where she was charged with ensuring the successful execution of hotel projects through the development life cycle, from deal closing through hotel opening. She led the asset management effort for high-profile openings such as the Marriott Marquis Washington, DC, Marriott Marquis Chicago, Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage, and Marriott Port-au-Prince, Haiti. During her time in Asset Management, she also negotiated complex hotel and portfolio transactions, from financial distress workouts to gaining capital investments for product transformations. Jennifer’s extensive hotel experience, development savvy, and owner relations expertise made her the perfect candidate to assume leadership of Autograph Collection and Tribute Portfolio, two of Marriott’s independent collection brands in 2017. During her tenure leading these brands, each has seen material growth in customer satisfaction, revenue performance and unit growth. Jennifer has been named as one of the Top 30 Influential Women in Lodging by Hotel Management Magazine and recognized as one of the 15 Women Moving up the Career Ladder by Lodging Magazine. She holds a BA in Political Science/Mathematics from Georgetown College and Masters of Science, Real Estate Development from Johns Hopkins University.

Susan Furbay

Vice President
HVS

Based in Washington, DC, Susan joined HVS as Vice President of Business Development. In this role she is responsible for developing new business for all of the HVS offices and divisions throughout the world. Susan brings over 14 years of expertise in hospitality investment through her experience as a broker, lender and manager at her most recent position as VP of Acquisitions and Business Development at Sage Hospitality. Prior to joining Sage, Susan spent five years as Director of North America Lending in GE Real Estate’s Hospitality division. During her tenure, she was instrumental in growing GE Real Estate’s hospitality lending platform which included both CMBS and balance sheet lending. While she was at GE, Susan originated and closed 18 hotel loan transactions totaling nearly half a billion dollars in volume. Prior to GE, Susan worked as a broker at Eastdil and Molinaro Koger where she was responsible for sourcing and marketing new listings for luxury, full-service and mid-market hotels to prospective investors. Susan is a graduate of Cornell University, School of Hotel Administration.

Eric Zuena

Managing Principal
ZDS

Eric is the founding Principal of ZDS and a lead contributor to the firm’s continuing success. He carries over two decades of project management experience in the hospitality industry. Eric’s keen ability to direct his staff of talented architects and designers through the successful completion of all of the firm’s projects produces outstanding results for the assignments in which the firm is engaged. Eric is impassioned with providing stellar design solutions that are lucrative for the entire project team. His hands-on, learned and enthusiastic approach from the onset of a project instills a perpetual forward motion, affording immediate results. Eric has led the design and project management of numerous luxury hotels and mixed use properties through the United States, Middle East, China, and Southeast Asia. Some of his greatest works include luxury hotels for clients and major operators in India, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Riyadh. His veteran work experience in both the domestic and international markets equip him with the ability to foresee a myriad of practical and innovative design and business solutions. A strong business sense paired with his innate design talent makes certain for solid project success. After 15 years as a Principal, Director of Operations, and Lead Project Manager at his previous firm, Eric pivoted his focus to building his firm that threads those international experiences into the more regionalized fabric of the United States. Eric’s daily quest for a successful balance between creative thinking, exceptional design, and efficient execution, reinforces his passion for the design industry and his persistent desire to provide his clients with profitable and successful properties. Eric is a mentor for young architects and designers in the industry. Eric frequents universities offering his skillful knowledge in portfolio reviews and is a champion of ensuring an optimistic future for the next generation of architects and designers. He received his B.Arch from Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island. He is licensed to practice architecture in multiple states, is NCARB certified, and is LEED accredited. Eric also served as Past President on the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Rhode Island Board of Directors in 2018/19. He was born and still a proud resident of the State of Rhode Island.

Mark Carrier

President
B. F. Saul Company Hospitality Group

Corry Oakes

CEO & Co-Founder
OTO Development

Corry Oakes is a Founding Partner, the President and Chief Executive Officer of OTO Development. He serves on the Franchise Advisory Council for Hyatt Place by Hyatt and is the President for the AC by Marriott Advisory Council. Mr. Oakes was previously 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.

Thomas Penny

President
Donohoe Hospitality

Thomas Penny is President of Donohoe Hospitality Services LLC (DHS). As the senior leader of Donohoe Hospitality, Thomas guides the operation of a portfolio of 11 business class hotels, which are affiliated with the Marriott, Hilton, and InterContinental Hotels Group. Thomas’ leadership responsibilities for DHS include strategic planning, overall operational direction, development and acquisition of properties, and long-term financial and capital planning. Thomas is a career hospitality professional with multi-brand hotel experience and a history of achieving above-average results in the areas of employee satisfaction, guest satisfaction, market share and profitability. Thomas joined The Donohoe Companies in 1996 and he has shared a successful 21+ year career with the company in both a developmental and hands-on operational capacity. In his most recent role with Donohoe Hospitality, Thomas served as General Manager at DHS’ Courtyard by Marriott Convention Center (CMCC) where he was responsible for oversight of the hotel’s day-to-day operations, guest service training, and strategic management of financial performance. During his nine year tenure as General Manager, the property achieved the 2nd highest RevPAR of any Marriott brand in the city for four consecutive years (Ritz Carlton excluded). Additionally, the hotel maintained the highest guest satisfaction score of any Courtyard in the city two of the last three years. Prior to his role as CMCC General Manager, Thomas served as Assistant General Manager at DHS’ Holiday Inn Capitol where he shared responsibility for 250 employees and $40 million in annual operating revenues. In this position, Thomas served as the hotel’s guest service culture leader, while also mentoring the growth and development of his staff.

Naveen Kakarla

CEO
Hersha Hospitality Management

Naveen Kakarla is the President and Chief Executive Officer and also on the Board of Directors of HHM, which manages over 120 hotels in the Northeast, Florida, and California. These hotels range from three to five star properties in urban and leisure resort destinations. Naveen is responsible for HHM’s investment and fund management, acquisitions and development, finance and accounting, human resources, and capital projects. He prior led HHM’s New York City region and also oversaw its construction and technical services division. Prior to joining Hersha in 2005, Naveen worked with a private equity firm and its portfolio companies on early stage investments and "roll ups" in various industries. Naveen had been an active real estate investor in the multifamily space prior to joining Hersha. Outside the real estate sector, Naveen was previously a partner specializing in corporate and securities law at the national law firm of Jenkens & Gilchrist, P.C., and was previously associated with Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer Feld, LLP in Washington D.C. Naveen earned a Bachelor of Arts from Austin College and a law degree from Cornell Law School.

Marc Magazine

Executive Managing Director
Savills Hospitality Group

Marc Magazine’s hotel experience began when his family owned the renowned Hay Adams Hotel in Washington, DC. As General Manager Marc had the hotel accepted into The Leading Hotels of the World. His hospitality experience includes economic and market-based consulting, financing, investment analysis, venture structuring, management selection, contract negotiation and strategic planning. Before joining Savills to lead its hospitality practice in the US, Marc was a Principal of Humboldt Hospitality Advisors, LLC, a full service hospitality company he co-founded with Tom Baker and Justin Magazine. Before Humboldt, Marc was Senior Vice President with CBRE and led its Hotel Practice in the Mid- Atlantic region. Marc has had a lead role in over $4.5 billion in hotel transactions involving properties throughout the US, Canada and the Caribbean. Marc is known for his creativity and ability of structuring highly complicated transactions. Marc and his team recently sold a three property portfolio in Washington DC to three separate buyers. He is Past President of Big Brothers of the National Capital Area and is currently on the Board of Trustees for The National Jewish Hospital in Denver, CO. He is also on the advisory board for the University Of Denver’s Hotel School. Marc was previously a Faculty member of Georgetown University for their Master of Professional Studies in Real Estate where he taught Hotel Valuation.

Jennifer Dakin

SVP & Team Leader, Hospitality Finance Group
Wells Fargo

Jennifer A. Dakin is a Senior Vice President and Team Leader in Wells Fargo Bank’s Hospitality Finance Group in Washington, D.C. She has 19 years of lending experience in all property types of commercial real estate and has focused primarily on the lodging space for the past nine years. Ms. Dakin started her banking career in the Corporate Management Training program at KeyBank National Association in 1997 and subsequently worked in various lines of business at KeyBank, including mezzanine finance, structured finance and loan sales and syndication. In 2002, she moved to Washington, D.C. to join the KeyBank Institutional Real Estate Finance Group where she provided financing to REITS, opportunity funds and large private real estate companies in Washington, Philadelphia and New York. In 2004, Ms. Dakin joined the Wells Fargo Bank Real Estate Banking Group where she was a commercial lender marketing all product types (office, industrial, retail, multi-family and hotels) and concentrated on customers in the greater Washington D.C. area. In 2008, Ms. Dakin helped to establish Wells Fargo’s Hospitality Finance Group and has primarily focused on East Coast customers. Since its formation, the Wells Fargo Hospitality Finance Group has hired a team of over 50 professionals who currently manage nearly an $11B in commercial loan portfolio. Her current customer base includes opportunity funds and large private real estate companies that are headquartered on the East Coast. Ms. Dakin was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. She currently resides in Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C. Ms. Dakin received her B.A. in Economics in 1997 from Trinity College and an M.B.A., with a concentration in Finance and International Management, in 2001 from Case Western Reserve University.

John O'Neill

Professor & Director
The Pennsylvania State University

Professor and Director Hospitality Real Estate Strategy Group The Pennsylvania State University

Judy Chen

VP, Development
Dream - Hyatt Hotels

Judy began working in hospitality after an internship with hotelier Andre Balazs. Prior to her position at Dream - Hyatt Hotels, she was Director of Design and Development at Petit Ermitage in West Hollywood where she was responsible for analyzing potential acquisitions and management opportunities as well as overseeing property renovations and new construction. She held the same position at the corporate office of Thompson Hotels (now Sixty Collective) in New York City from 2008-2011. She has also worked as an analyst at Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, assisting with asset sales, hotel valuations, development advisory and management selection. As a lecturer at NYU’s Real Estate Institute, Judy implemented its first hotel development overview course for its graduate program, where she is an alum. Judy holds a BS in architecture design from the University of Virginia and a MS in real estate development from New York University. She is also fluent in Mandarin Chinese.

Chef Robert Wiedmaier

Partner & Executive Chef
RW Restaurant Group

When you spend countless hours of your days-off in a freezing cold duck blind, or stalking deer, or waiting for fish to bite, you gain a whole new appreciation of the animal you're attempting to kill. That time and effort [and let's admit it: a certain amount of discomfort] makes you respect it more. You have a deeper investment in its fate. And you have a responsibility for what it becomes. It's a responsibility chef Robert Wiedmaier takes very seriously. He practices classic, whole animal butchery. "If you're going to kill a rabbit, don't strip out its loins and toss the rest. Use all of it!" roars the robust, 6', goatee-d, Harley-riding chef. This attitude applies equally to rabbits as to the 30 Randall Lineback calves that are reared for him annually at Chapel Hill Farm out in Berryville, Virginia, and to the thousands of fish delivered fresh and intact to his restaurants in downtown and suburban Washington. Named Washington's Chef of the Year by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington in 2009, Wiedmaier was inducted in Brussels, in the summer of 2012, into The Knighthood of the Brewers' Mashstaff, a century old brewer's guild that honors individuals who embrace and promote Belgian beer. Chef Wiedmaier's establishments offer the largest selection of Belgian beer around and also has an exclusive beer brewed for him, Antigoon, a double blonde ale, named for the gory aftermath of the legendary conflict between Brabo and the mythical giant, Antigoon, of medieval Antwerp. Less concerned with honors than with living life to the fullest, when he's not in the kitchen Wiedmaier is out on his 32-foot Luhrs, having fun with his boys as he teaches them not just how, but the full meaning of bringing fish from open waters to the table. The James Beard award winning PBS program Chefs A'Field captured that exact scenario in one of its episodes. As a member of the Wild Alaska Seafood Congress of Conscious Chefs, Wiedmaier confirms his deep regard for nature. "This is the most raw and natural way of teaching respect, as it's truly not all about the sport." His new found branding -Full Circle Chef-exemplifies what he holds closest to him-living the dream, but practicing it with grace, admiration, and humility.

Jay Coldren

Managing Director
Streetsense

As Managing Director of the Eat + Drink Studio, Jay coordinates the activities of a team of talented industry experts on projects that include concept visioning and development, operational analysis and oversight, and full concept implementation. Jay has spent over 30 years in the restaurant and hospitality sector and has served as the Managing Director for Dean & Deluca, Global Brand Leader for EDITION Hotels, VP of Lifestyle Brands for Marriott International, and has held key leadership roles at iconic properties such as The Inn of the Anasazi, La Mansion del Rio, and the Inn at Little Washington. As an independent restaurateur, Jay has co-developed concepts in Santa Fe, Baltimore, and Washington DC.

Greg Friedman

CEO & Managing Principal
Peachtree Group

Since co-founding Peachtree Group in 2007, Greg has successfully overseen investments exceeding $11.0 billion in commercial real estate and various other enterprises. With over 25 years of experience, he brings extensive experience in credit and equity investing, particularly in hotels and other commercial real estate assets. Previously, Greg served as senior vice president of business development for Specialty Finance Group, where he originated more than $2.0 billion of credit transactions. Before that, 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 $10.0 billion. Greg is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and is a board member of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. He also serves on the real estate fund advisory board for the Texas McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin.

Bruce Wiles

Managing Partner, Real Estate for Hospitality
Brookfield

Mr. Bruce G. Wiles, CPA, serves as a Managing Partner of Real Estate at Brookfield Asset Management Inc. He serves as the Managing Partner of Real Estate for Hospitality at Brookfield Property Partners Limited. Mr. Wiles serves as the President and Chief Operating Officer at Thayer Lodging Group and has been its Managing Director and Principal since April 16, 2007. He serves as Senior Advisor to Thayer Ventures, a venture capital fund with a focus on travel and hospitality.

Kate Henriksen

Co-CIO
RLJ Lodging Trust

Kate B. Henriksen, a veteran RLJ executive, is Co-Chief Investment Officer. Since joining RLJ, Henriksen has overseen the underwriting on completed transactions totaling $8.0 billion, including the merger with FelCor Lodging Trust. Henriksen has also been actively involved in RLJ’s capital recycling program, marketing for sale nearly $3.5 billion in sold assets. When RLJ was privately held, she also oversaw the portfolio management function and her responsibilities included tracking the performance of the company’s investment portfolios, assisting with capital raising efforts and managing relationships with investors in RLJ’s investment funds. Prior to joining RLJ in 2002, Henriksen served as a Director of Development Planning and Feasibility at Marriott International. Henriksen’s experience also includes consulting on and appraising over $4 billion in existing and proposed lodging facilities for HVS International. Henriksen graduated from the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration with a B.S. degree with a concentration in Real Estate and Property Asset Management.

Joseph DeMatteo

Founder
JDM Capital

For almost three decades, Joseph W. DeMatteo has been an industry expert in the field of hospitality and real estate investment. Joseph’s passion for the hospitality industry, as well as his unique experience adds a touch to the properties he works with. These abilities continue to enable him to identify hotel opportunities and to find value where others have looked passed it. To bring those visions to life he founded JDM Capital and has led the firm’s growth into a multidimensional, fully integrated real estate and hotel organization. His passion and commitment to detail can be seen everywhere from the hotel’s design decisions, operational excellence and financial management of the underlying operating business.

Vamsi Bonthala

CEO
Arbor Lodging Partners

Vamsi Bonthala is Chief Executive Officer of Arbor Lodging Partners, an award-winning national hotel investment firm that he co-founded. In this role, Vamsi leads all company activities including general corporate strategy, investor relations, strategic relationships, acquisitions, dispositions, and asset management. Vamsi has led all efforts related to approximately $1 billion of transaction volume since the inception of Arbor Lodging Partners. Vamsi is also co-founder and Principal of Arbor Lodging Management, the management affiliate of Arbor Lodging Partners, which has been named one of the nation’s top hotel companies multiple times by Hotel Management Magazine. Prior to co-founding Arbor Lodging Partners, Vamsi practiced law in the Private Equity group of Kirkland & Ellis LLP and the Real Estate group of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP. Vamsi earned his AB in Economics and Political Science from the University of Michigan, where he received Class Honors and University Honors. Vamsi earned his JD from the University of Michigan Law School, where he was an Associate Editor of the Michigan Journal of International Law. Vamsi has been a speaker at numerous industry events and is a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), the Economic Club of Chicago, and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Vamsi was recently selected as an Emerging Leader by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and recognized as one of Real Estate Forum Magazine’s 50 Under 40 of 2015.

Aaron Boker

Senior Manager
Aronson