LA's Hospitality Outlook & Landscape

Covering Market Trends, Hotel Development & Investment, Supply & Demand And Elevating Guest Experiences

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  Christopher Henry

  Travel, hospitality, and architecture—these are a few of Chris’ favorite things, and he’s lucky enough to live out his childhood dream of making a career out of them. He’s also a card- carrying member of the vintage United Airlines Red Carpet Club (#teamtulip) though he prefers to spend his time with his feet planted on the ground, exploring the outdoors with his partner and a mojito in hand.

  Majestic Hospitality

  CEO

  Christopher Henry

  CEO

  Majestic Hospitality

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  Mark Davis

  Mark Davis (President & Chief Executive Officer) has over 40 years of hospitality experience with major brands including Hilton, Marriott, Holiday Inn, and Days Inn. A repositioning expert, Mark’s specialties include financial performance improvement, market share penetration, team development, and increasing property net worth. He’s a board member of Los Angeles Hotel Lodging Association, VICA, Los Angeles Tourism, and Asian Hotel Group. In 2020, the San Fernando Valley Business Journal named Mark one of the Top 200 Most Influential Leaders in the San Fernando, Conejo, Santa Clarita, and Antelope Valleys.

  Sun Hill Properties

  President & CEO

  Mark Davis

  President & CEO

  Sun Hill Properties

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  Doane Liu

  In March 2017, Doane Liu was appointed by Mayor Eric Garcetti as the Executive Director of the Los Angeles Department of Convention and Tourism Development (CTD), with the goal to further enhance and increase Los Angeles’ prominence and attraction as a world class tourist and convention destination. Liu joined the CTD after serving as Deputy Executive Director and Chief of Staff at the Port of Los Angeles, where he was the second in command at the busiest container port in North America and head of the Port’s External Affairs Bureau. Before the Port, Liu was Deputy Mayor for the City of Los Angeles. He managed the Mayor's Office of City Services and helped the Mayor oversee 15 City Departments, including the Los Angeles Department Water and Power, Public Works, Transportation, Recreation and Parks, Public Library, and LA Zoo. He also established the Great Streets Studio and LA RiverWorks in the Mayor’s Office. A first-generation Korean- American, Liu also was a liaison in the Mayor’s Office to the Korean-American community in Los Angeles. Liu was previously Chief of Staff for Councilman Joe Buscaino and served as Chief of Staff for Councilwoman Janice Hahn, Deputy Mayor for Mayor James K. Hahn and District Director for Congresswoman Jane Harman. He was also Senior Vice President of Government Banking at JP Morgan Chase and Vice President in the Real Estate Industries Group at Security Pacific National Bank. Liu currently serves on the boards of AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Fleet Week Foundation, and Sister Cities of Los Angeles. He has previously served on the boards of LA24 Olympic Bid Committee, Los Angeles County Business Federation, Harbor Interfaith Shelter, Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Mary Star of the Sea High School, and Holy Trinity School. Liu graduated from the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania and received an MBA from University of Southern California. He and his wife have four adult children and have lived in San Pedro for nearly 30 years.

  Los Angeles City Tourism Department

  Executive Director

  Doane Liu

  Executive Director

  Los Angeles City Tourism Department

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  Konstantin Daskalov

  Konstantin Daskalov is an accomplished Senior Executive of Development & Construction with 16 years of diverse experience in all phases of the development process, leading professional teams through entitlements, design development, GC selection, budgeting, scheduling and construction execution of large ground-up, multifamily, affordable, mixed-use, hospitality and healthcare projects with full P&L responsibility. As the Vice President, US Operations, Konstantin is spearheading all the firm's Operations in the US, and Directing: Marketing; Sales; Business Development; Architecture / Developer / Construction Partners & Lenders; Project Entitlements & Approvals; Project Delivery; Product Erection & Assembly and Business Plan Execution. Previously, as Founder & President of Daskoney Properties, Konstantin led all operations for the firm, overseeing acquisitions, development and construction management staff with full P&L responsibility for multi-family projects, while he was also an Executive Consultant for SOLA Impact on their large multifamily and affordable housing efforts. Prior to that, as VP of Development & Construction with a major real estate investment & development company, Konstantin has directed all development and construction operations for a large portfolio of hotels and office assets across the US with annual development budget of over $75M. Previously, as VP of Development for a national condominium developer, Konstantin has directed and successfully completed several ground-up multifamily, high-rise projects in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Chicago with average construction cost of $200M each and delivered great investment returns expediting construction and unit sales. Konstantin started his career as a Project Manager for a General Contractor and later as Director of Construction successfully completed the construction of large multifamily projects in Chicago directing PMs, and Contractors. Konstantin Daskalov holds a M.S./MBA degree from Northwestern University, as well as, a BS in Civil Engineering and a BA in Business Management degrees from Calvin University. He is a proud member of Urban Land Institute (ULI), Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) and variety of other professional organizations in Real Estate and Construction Management, and is a speaker and participant for numerous professional panels.

  STACK Modular

  VP, US Operations

  Konstantin Daskalov

  VP, US Operations

  STACK Modular

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  Brian Kite

  Mr. Kite’s professional experience in commercial real estate design and construction began in 1980 with John Carl Warnecke and Associates, Century City. His work focused on major commercial and institutional projects in California and Nevada including Hyatt Convention Hotel, San Diego, Neiman Marcus Department Stores (Beverly Hills, Las Vegas and San Diego) as well as Thomas & Mac Special Events Center, at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. A California licensed Architect, Brian served as Design Principal for Hotel Nikko (now SLS Hotel) and authored the renovation master plan for Beverly Hills Hotel. Additionally, he oversaw repositioning of the one million square foot Great Mall of the Bay Area in Milpitas for Florida based Swerdlow Group. More recently, he directed expansion of Hotel Bel Air spa and villas and served as Principal-In-Charge of Tom Bradley Terminal Renovation completed in 2010. Brian launched SRK Architects, Inc. in 2012, with renovation of Los Angeles Athletic Club as well as reconstruction of the famed San Pedro Elks Lodge. Currently, the firm is under contract to renovate Los Angeles Tennis Club and luxury resorts in Sonoma, Calaveras and Riverside Counties, respectively. Graduate of the University of Southern California, Brian is a past board member of Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation, member of the Urban Land Institute and was recently inducted into Lambda Alpha International, an invitation only land-use economics society.

  SRK Architects

  Managing Principal

  Moderator

  Brian Kite

  Managing Principal

  SRK Architects

Navigating LA's Retail Market

Top Locations, Leasing Insights, Tenant Demand Drivers And Consumer Desires

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  Donna Blair

  Donna brings more than 25 years of experience in executive leadership, real estate development, property management and asset management of high-profile commercial office, retail and mixed-use projects to Pacific Retail. In her role, she will be guiding the strategic growth of the company, supervising the company’s daily business operations and leading key initiatives. Previously, Donna was the Chief Operating Officer for Continuum Partners based in Denver, CO. There she was involved in overall business operations and strategic oversight of their Block A, 9th & Colorado and Market Station development projects. While in Colorado, she served on the Civic Ventures Board for the Downtown Denver Partnership, as well as the Upper Downtown Task Force, 16th Street Mall, Development Council and the Urban Exploration Steering Committee. Prior to joining Continuum, Donna served as Senior Vice President, Portfolio Management at Pacific Retail and oversaw the KKR-owned portfolio of shopping centers in New York and Illinois. She was responsible for over $100 million of capital improvements and new tenant development initiatives and worked with municipalities to create entitlement opportunities for new dynamic walkable-livable environments. Donna’s previous experience includes development roles for Meadowlands Xanadu, a 2M square foot retail, restaurant and entertainment mixed-use project developed as a Public/Private and for Tishman Speyer Properties, where she oversaw over $100M of public space, retail, common areas and tenant improvements related to the redevelopment of Rockefeller Center. Donna resides in Denver with her husband, Tim. She has two college-aged sons, Andrew and Christian. She enjoys outdoor adventures including hiking, skiing, rafting and biking and loves to explore new cultures, art, dining and music through her travels throughout the United States and internationally.

  Pacific Retail Capital Partners

  COO

  Donna Blair

  COO

  Pacific Retail Capital Partners

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  Joel Mayer

  Joel leads Lowe’s national retail platform targeting assets that can be developed or redeveloped into mixed-use properties. Over his 30+ year career, he has developed expertise in all aspects of retail real estate. He recently led Rockwood’s retail property investment business, overseeing all strategy, development, acquisitions, leasing, management, and dispositions. Previously he was with BlackRock; was SVP for California Pizza Kitchen, responsible for managing national expansion; and oversaw leasing, development, management, marketing, and portfolio management of properties in the west for Madison Marquette. Joel enjoys all forms of sports including cycling, softball and skiing. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, Urban Land Institute (ULI) and is immediate past Chair of ULI’s Commercial Retail Development Council. Education: University of Michigan, BA

  LOWE

  EVP & National Retail Platform Leader

  Joel Mayer

  EVP & National Retail Platform Leader

  LOWE

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  Jim Dillavou

  Jim is the National Head of Retail Investments and Retail Capital Markets for Lincoln Property Company, and co-founder of the retail investment firm, Paragon Commercial Group, Lincoln’s west coast retail investment partner. Jim began his career as a real estate and finance attorney with Latham & Watkins LLP where he represented developers, equity investors and lenders in capital structuring, acquisitions, dispositions, leasing and entitlements throughout the United States. Jim co-founded Paragon in 2009 to capitalize on retail real estate investment opportunities resulting from the GFC market dislocation. Since that time, Jim has been honored by the Urban Land Institute as one of the “Top 40 Under 40” land use and real estate professionals in the United States, by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the top 5 retail real estate professionals in Los Angeles, and twice recognized by the Los Angeles Times as a Commercial Real Estate Visionary. Jim currently serves in various industry leadership capacities including the Executive Committee of the Southern Methodist University Folsom Institute for Real Estate, Policy Advisory Board for the Fisher Center for Real Estate & Urban Economics at UC Berkeley, Executive Committee Board of the USC Gould School of Law Real Estate Law and Business Forum, immediate past Chairman of the Urban Land Institute's Small Scale Development Council, and lecturer at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law and the UC Berkeley Masters of Real Estate programs. Jim’s civic involvements include his current service as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Manhattan Beach, California, as well as a founding donor and advisor to the SMU Real Estate Impact Fund, a student-driven investment vehicle focused on impact investing in underserved communities.

  Paragon Commercial Group

  Principal

  Jim Dillavou

  Principal

  Paragon Commercial Group

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  Ryan Hawley

  VP, Retail Brokerage

  JLL

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  Christine Deschaine

  Christine Deschaine is a Senior Vice President at Kennedy Wilson Brokerage, specializing in the leasing and sale of retail properties. She has more than 30 years of experience in tenant and landlord representation and has worked extensively in urban redevelopment with some of the industry’s most prominent investors and developers. Christine is currently the exclusive agent for more than 210,000 square feet of commercial space. Since 2022, she has completed more than 193,000 square feet of commercial real estate transactions valued at $42 million. Christine has been an integral part of the real estate groups responsible for the resurgence of neighborhoods including Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade, Montana Avenue, downtown Burbank, Hollywood Boulevard, Marina del Rey and Culver City. Her expertise and familiarity with city planning officials and processes in the region have allowed her to shepherd projects through these municipalities then identify and secure a successful tenant mix. Recent notable transactions include lease deals with Poppy Bank and Noma Sushi in Santa Monica, AJA Vineyards and BodyROK Pilates in Downtown Santa Monica, Surnright Tea Room in Beverly Hills and Crumbl Cookies at West Hollywood Gateway. In March of 2023, Deschaine completed 100% of the retail leasing (41,000 SF) at The Culver Steps in Culver City. Deals included Erewhon Market, Sephora, CorePower Yoga, Mendocino Farms, Salt & Straw, Philz Coffee, Pop’s Bagels, Afuri Ramen + Dumpling, Yunomi Handroll and Formula Fig. Prior to joining Kennedy Wilson Brokerage, Christine served as a Senior Vice President and partner at Lee & Associates for 20 years.

  Kennedy Wilson Brokerage

  SVP

  Christine Deschaine

  SVP

  Kennedy Wilson Brokerage

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  ROY HASSON

  Roy Hasson is the President and CEO of Permit Advisors, a Milrose Company, which he founded in 2008 to provide comprehensive permitting and entitlement solutions to architects, developers, and major retail and restaurant clients nationwide. A UCLA graduate and Oxford University Master’s in Law, Roy has over a decade of expertise, transforming Permit Advisors into a trusted partner for the nation’s leading brands. His firm has managed complex projects such as the Century City Mall Renovation & Redevelopment in California, the Chanel on Rodeo Drive, and numerous national retail rollouts for companies like Nike, Footlocker, Dollar Tree and much more. Under Roy's leadership, Permit Advisors has grown into a full-service firm known for its in-depth research, meticulous due diligence, and strategic quality control, ensuring that every submittal package is ready for smooth review. With an extensive network of municipal connections across the country, Roy has expedited thousands of projects, leveraging his problem-solving skills to keep clients on schedule and on budget, even in challenging jurisdictions. In addition to his role at Permit Advisors, Roy is actively involved in real estate, finance, and private equity. Outside of work, he enjoys skiing, tennis, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. Roy’s dedication to operational excellence and customer service has positioned Permit Advisors as a leader in the permitting and entitlement industry.

  Permit Advisors, a Milrose Company

  President & CEO

  ROY HASSON

  President & CEO

  Permit Advisors, a Milrose Company

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  Peter Balance

  Peter Ballance is a partner in the Real Estate, Energy, Land Use & Environmental Practice Group in Sheppard Mullin's Los Angeles office. With a deep commitment to building strong relationships, Peter represents lenders, borrowers, developers and property owners in a wide range of commercial real estate transactions throughout the country. He provides clients with significant experience in commercial real estate financing, including loan workouts, and the purchase and sale of improved and unimproved real property. Representing institutional lenders, financial institutions, developers and other property owners, Peter is familiar with many forms of financing and acquisition, as well as acquisition and disposition transactions and related matters. He is fluent in securitized lending, mezzanine loans, and construction loans, and his transactions have touched on a wide range of property types, including office, industrial, residential, multifamily, retail, and mixed use. Peter possesses real-time, in-depth market knowledge and extensive national experience in advising lenders and borrowers throughout the loan life cycle. He delivers efficient and practical guidance to help his clients accomplish their specific business and legal objectives. A significant part of Peter’s practice is the representation of institutional lenders in loan restructurings and workouts, foreclosures, deed-in-lieu and deed-in-the-box transactions, as well as positioning REO assets for sale. He also advises clients on nonperforming loans and distressed real estate in all asset classes. Peter’s significant experience in all real estate finance matters enables him to provide exceptional counsel and up-to-the-minute insight.

  Sheppard Mullin

  Partner

  Moderator

  Peter Balance

  Partner

  Sheppard Mullin

Welcoming Remarks

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  Brian Parent

  General Manager

  The Taubman Company