HVS Alumni Reunion

On Monday, January 14th, the New York office hosted its first alumni reception at Stout’s Pub in New York City with over 50 attendees consisting of both alumni and current associates. Stephen Rushmore, Jr, HVS President & CEO. welcomed everyone and gave a short update on what is going on at HVS. In addition, he briefly discussed our new initiative where we will be hosting a concurrent conference across 15 different markets in the United States on May 1st. Branded as US Hotel Market Connections, all the different locations will be connected via webinar so attendees can efficiently capture both the local and national perspective.

Gisle Sarheim of Hilton Worldwide is married to a former HVS London associate, Lara Sarheim, and the Sarheim’s and their two children are thoroughly enjoying life in Singapore. He and Roland deMilleret swapped many interesting C&V anecdotes. Wendy Pong, who recently joined Denihan Hospitality, was delighted to greet her old friends. Wendy maintains a vacation home in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania which her children delight in visiting. World traveler, Anjali Mansukhani, will soon be traveling to India for a few weeks, hasn’t lost her enthusiastic sense of fun, and has had several humorous articles published on her life’s experiences. After traveling extensively through Israel and India, Shira Amrany has transitioned into the specialty cake decorating business.

Kate Henriksen of RLJ Lodging is enjoying Virginia farm life with her husband and two children. She feels it is worth the hour commute to the office to reap the benefits of the pastoral setting. Jasmine Chay stopped in to chat with her former colleagues, and was on her way to inspect some of Wyndham’s properties throughout the United States. In addition to a full-time schedule at GB Lodging, Dionis Rodriguez is quite active with extracurricular activities, including planning many Harvard Social events.

One of our first HVS associates, Dan Lesser, stopped by to reminisce and commented that he acquired a phenomenal education during his first year of employment listening to Steve Rushmore’s telephone conversations while sharing a small office. Gene Ference continues to globe trot while pursuing assignments for Ference Leadership & Strategy, and Bruce Ostroff of Hotel Dynamics is working with his father, Allen Ostroff. Sue Griffan is actively pursuing new hospitality ventures, and Ryan Meliker, formerly of the Boulder office, is Senior Analyst Equity Research of MLV & Co. in New York City. Ian Davis is pursuing his keen financial instincts at Lodging Capital Partners, LLC. Kelly Fitzpatrick is indulging her culinary passion, and is also asset managing a Florida property recently acquired by her family. She had such a great time at the New Orleans Roadfood Festival last year that she is hoping to include it on her itinerary once again in March 2013. Matt Melville is still involved in the consulting side of hotel appraising. Stephen Chan, a San Francisco alum, was happy to mingle with the crowd as was Pamela Mathiowetz and Larry Carrozzella. Teresa Lam still maintains her New York City address, and is working for Global Hospitality Cushman & Wakefield Capital focusing on debt, structured finance and markets equity.

Stout’s food offerings were sumptuous with cheeseburger sliders, superb chicken wings, crab meat cakes, spicy shrimp skewers, spring rolls, and guacamole to die for and everyone’s favorite – “pigs in a blanket”. Though the gala was slated from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, it was evident everyone was enjoying the evening since many did not depart until well after 9:15, and continued on to other venues. And many eagerly inquired as to the next HVS Alumni event – it was decided this will become an annual gathering.

Roland deMilleret and Gisle Sarheim


Stephen Rushmore, Jr. and Larry Carrozzella


Jasmine Chay, Kate Henriksen, Keith Kefgen and Bob Flapan


Dionis Rodriguez, Anjali Mansukhani and Wendy Pong


Chu Xu, Katharina Kuhnle, Cassaundra Brownell, Dorothy Jennings, Erin Kim and Shira Amrany


Gene Ference and Susan Griffan


Court Williams, Katharine Kuhnle, Parris Jordan, Nicole Roantree, and Lacey Hagen


Teresa Lee and Leora Lanz

Alumni Events

The San Francisco office is in the process of planning an Alumni Reunion. Kindly prepare your calendars’ and wait for more details to come.

U.S. Hotel Market Connections

Hundreds of hotel stakeholders. Fifteen markets. Three extraordinary hours. One memorable event. HVS invites hotel investors, owners, brokers, and experts to make connections and experience a revolutionary delivery of local and nationwide hotel market intelligence.

On Wednesday, May 1, 2013, HVS will host U.S. Hotel Market Connections, an interconnected hotel intelligence seminar series held simultaneously in 15 local markets from coast to coast. Through a network of telecommunications connecting each market, the local seminars will deliver critical insights from a panel of experts on issues regarding the hospitality industry in their respective locations; Issues include: trends in hotel lending and valuation; up-to-the-moment snapshots of hotel values, transactions, cap rates, and operating trends in each location; and a forecast of nationwide hotel values through 2016.

“We wanted to provide a unique information experience, unlike any other existing conference – a highly efficient way to present local market intelligence across the United States at the same time” comments HVS CEO and President Stephen Rushmore, Jr. “U.S. Hotel Market Connections will deliver insights about the present and future challenges and opportunities in each city while connecting delegates to other industry professionals throughout the country. Attendees will have an efficient means to network and learn over a period of three hours.”

Rushmore will present a simultaneous address to all 15 seminar sites to share results from the latest HVS-STR Hotel Valuation Index (to be released May 1), including national hotel trends, statistics, and analysis. Experts from HVS, in conjunction with panels of leading hotel stakeholders from each region, will draw on their own extensive, on-the-ground expertise to present insights and projections about trends, challenges and opportunities in their markets.

U.S. Hotel Market Connections offers a novel exchange of critical hotel intelligence, along with the opportunity to network with other national, regional, and local hotel analysts, consultants, investors, financiers, owners, and insiders. The event is designed to help hoteliers seeking funds for a new project, investors looking for viable opportunities in hotel markets across the U.S., and stakeholders eager for insights on the dynamics of the U.S. hotel industry in 2013 and beyond.

Registration is open now at www.hotelmarketconnections.com. Breakfast or lunch (according to local times) will be served at each location.

Contact Information

For more information on U.S. Hotel Market Connections, please contact Leora Lanz at llanz@hvs.com or Jennifer Pope at jpope@hvs.com.

Andrew Reed

HVS Office: Miami

Years with HVS: 3 years

Fun facts about yourself: I enjoy playing competitive volleyball, basketball, and going backcountry skiing with my dog, Lloyd.

Personal and/or Professional Update: Andrew has decided to join Destination Hotels & Resorts in Denver, Colorado after three wonderful years with HVS. Andy will assist in underwriting investment opportunities in key urban and resort markets across the United States, the Caribbean, and Mexico. Please join me in wishing him well in this new endeavor.

HVS Events on the Horizon

9TH HOTEL INVESTMENT CONFERENCE - SOUTH ASIA (HICSA) 2013
3-4 April 2013
Grand Hyatt Mumbai, India

9TH CHINA HOTEL INVESTMENT CONFERENCE (CHIC)
17-19 April 2013
Grand Hyatt Shanghai, China

US Hotel Market Connections 2013
1 May 2013

• Atlanta
• Chicago
• Columbus, OH
• Dallas
• Denver
• Los Angeles
• Minneapolis
• New York
• Orlando
• Philadelphia
• San Francisco
• Seattle
• St. Louis
• Washington, D.C.

4TH UKRAINE & CIS HOSPITALITY OPERATIONS FORUM (UHOF)
11-12 April 2013
Fairmont Grand Hotel Kyiv, Ukraine

1ST INDONESIA HOSPITALITY & TOURISM INVESTMENT CONFERENCE (IHT) 2013
7-8 May 2013
Ritz-Carlton Pacific Place, Jakarta, Indonesia

Where will you be on January 14, 2013? Will you be in New York City? If so, then pay close attention and JOIN US...

HVS President and CEO Stephen Rushmore, JR. and the New York Office cordially invite you to our HVS ALUMNI REUNION Monday, January 14, 2013 for drinks and hors d’ouevres at The Greene Room at Stout - 133 West 33rd Street New York, NY (north side of 33rd between 6th and 7th; right by Madison Square Garden and Penn Station).

At The Greene Room at Stout 133
West 33rd Street
New York, NY
Phone +1 (212) 629-6191
Website: here

Be on the lookout for an E-VITE so you can register. Encourage your HVS ALUMNI friends to come as well. in the meantime if you have questions feel free to email Leora at llanz@hvs.com.

Richard Williams

After an impressive and diverse career spanning several decades, Dick Williams, who heads up the HVS Food and Beverage Division, is enthusiastically charting a course for the next exciting stage in his life as he retires in December.

Dick is a graduate of the Cornell Hotel School where he took every food and beverage course offered. This included studying international hotel cuisine, restaurant management, small quantity cooking, and quantity cooking. After graduation from Cornell, he did an apprenticeship as a sous chef at the Café Promenade, the best restaurant in Denver in 1970. Immediately following his apprenticeship, he was lured away by a fine French establishment, Chateau Pyrenees, where he assumed the role of executive chef. In 1978, a unique opportunity presented itself for Dick to utilize “sweat equity” to re-open the Buckhorn Exchange as managing partner. The Buckhorn Exchange is still going gangbusters and has been featured on the Travel Channel’s Man vs. Food, Steak Paradise, and other television shows.

After many years in the restaurant business, Dick joined Coldwell Banker Commercial in its downtown Denver office as a retail broker specializing in the sale and leasing of shopping centers. This eventually led to Dick’s becoming a hotel appraiser. Dick initially worked with Bill Hopping, MAI. Dick joined HVS in 1993 when Greg Hartmann opened an HVS office in Boulder. In 1994, Dick started the Food & Beverage division.

The HVS Food & Beverage Services division has served a variety of clients over the years, performing both food and beverage consulting, and appraisals and market studies. As a result of Dick’s experience as a property tax hearing officer and arbitrator for several Denver area counties, the Food & Beverage division had a successful sideline of preparing real estate tax appraisals for property tax protests of large full-service hotels.

Dick is not saying “goodbye” to his colleagues, and already has plans to be available for the HVS Miami office on specific assignments and special projects.

Office Buzz

HVS Executive Search’s film “The Power of Advice” has been selected as a winner at the prestigious Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards in the online film category. The awards ceremony will be held in Cannes on October 18th, where the exact award will be announced. Pooja Vir and Keith Kefgen will be attending with Tom Haines, the movie’s director. You can see the full film and bonus features here.

Alumni Events

The HVS New York office will host an alumni event this upcoming January 14th, 2013. Kindly mark your calendars’ and wait for more details to come.

Brian Guernier

HVS Office: San Francisco

Years with HVS: 3 years

Fun facts about yourself: After 25+ years of hotel real estate related work, I finally changed the direction of my career. I recently became LEED accredited, and combined with my BS in Natural Resources Management, I am focusing my efforts on green initiatives.

Personal and/or Professional Update: I just launched Pillow-Fresh to service the hospitality industry. Pillow-Fresh provides a sustainable alternative to pillow replacement, at a fraction of the cost of purchasing new while significantly reducing landfill waste. Go to www.pillow-fresh.com for more info.

Sandra Lien

Personal and/or Professional Update: Sandra, who worked for HVS in San Francisco, is currently working with Pinnacle Advisory in their new West Coast office. Sandra joins Karen Johnson, who is President of Pinnacle Advisory, after working alongside her at Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels. Sandy will assist Karen in asset management, appraisals, and general hospitality consulting assignments. Please join me in congratulating her and wishing her well in this new endeavor!

Gustav Bjoern

HVS Office: New York

Personal and/or Professional Update: Gustav, who worked for HVS in New York, has decided to establish his own advisory firm, G.C. BJOERN. Located in Copenhagen, G.C. BJOERN, focuses on hospitality dept and restructuring and origination. The move comes after four and a half years as Vice President of Hotel Finance at Aereal Bank, of which two years spent commuting between Frankfurt and Copenhagen to see his wife and two boys. Please join me in wishing him well in this new endeavor!

Paul Soblik

HVS Office: New York

Personal and/or Professional Update: Please join me in congratulating Paul Soblik with the arrival of their baby girl, Amelie. She was born on March 21st and is quite healthy and full of life. Professionally, Paul is working with Credit Suisse in Zurich purchasing hotels for one of the bank’s many funds.

Laurent de Kousemaeker

HVS Office: London/Madrid

Years with HVS: 6 years

Fun facts about yourself: In the 6 years with HVS, there were a lot of market trips, lots of GM interviews, lots of research, analysis and RNA/FxVAR modeling (damn Simon wouldn’t let us get away with any shortcuts nor assumptions!) but also lots of fun memories: Dominique with his “funny walks”, Gerard fantasizing about starting his Yotel idea, and storming out of the annual bonus discussion meetings, playing jokes on Justin in the library… and many laughs at the local corner pub on Fridays with Bernie, Michael (O’Hare or was it Hehir?), Carine, Philippa and many others. Also great to see how well Sophie did at HVS after helping me start-up the Madrid office, from its inception, renting corner space at the DTZ Madrid office. I always enjoy reconnecting with my ex-colleagues and friends from the HVS times.... see you soon.

Personal and/or Professional Update: Laurent currently leads the hotel development team for all the brands for the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and South America, which includes Bulgari Hotels & Resorts, Edition, JW Marriott, Renaissance, Courtyard, AC by Marriott, Marriott Executive Apartments, Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn and the Autograph Collection. Prior to his current position, Laurent was Senior Vice President for the same region and, prior to that, vice president development for Spain and Portugal, based in Madrid.

He started at HVS in London in 1999 as a consultant & valuation analysts in, where he grew to become senior associate, to then move on to open up the HVS Madrid office, which he lead from 2002 to 2005. Prior to that, he worked in a range of hotel operation divisions for a number of years in Europe and the Caribbean. Having grown-up in Africa, Asia and Europe, he is fluent in Spanish, French, Dutch and English. He and his wife, Paula, now live in Bethesda (MD) with their son (Sascha) and a daughter (Felicia).

Animesh Pandey

HVS Office: Dubai

Years with HVS: 2 years

Personal and/or Professional Update: Animesh recently accepted a position in Real Estate Development with Emaar, The Economic City. Emaar.E.C, established in September 2006, is a Saudi joint stock company managed by Emaar Properties PJSC, one of the world’s largest property developers, and a number of investors.

Emaar.E.C leads the master-planning and development of the 168 million sq m King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), a project being built on a pristine location off the Red Sea in the north of Jeddah. SAGIA (Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority), the body responsible for inward investments into the Kingdom, is the prime facilitator for KAEC.

KAEC, a New Age City being built today for tomorrow’s generation of Saudi citizens, has six components – sea port, industrial valley, educational zone, central business district with commercial, mixed-use, retail outlets and financial island, resorts and residential area.

The mega-project works closely with the Kingdom’s on-going drive to expand the economy create employment opportunities for its youthful population and function as a catalyst to attract foreign investment, global trade, commerce and industry. Based on initial forecasts, the project and its several components will create up to one million employment opportunities in the various industries and service-oriented companies that will open in KAEC. It will also be home to 2 million residents.

Zubin Saxena

HVS Office: New York

Years with HVS: 7 years

Personal and/or Professional Update: Please join me in congratulating Zubin in his new role as a proud Dad! On August 13, Vandana and Zubin were delighted by the arrival of their daughter, Zara. Both Vandana and the baby are doing quite well.

Holden Lim

HVS Office: San Francisco

Years with HVS: 2 years

Personal and/or Professional Update: Holden is the Managing Director in the San Francisco office of HFF and is primarily responsible for institutional-grade hotel and resort property transactions throughout North America. During the course of his 23-year career, Mr. Lim has completed more than $3.5 billion in real estate transactions, representing a variety of structures that include dispositions, debt financings and equity recapitalizations.

Mr. Lim joined the firm in November 2010. Prior to HFF, he was President of Hospitality Link, a real estate advisory firm specializing in the hospitality sector. Previously, Mr. Lim was Senior Director with Cushman & Wakefield Sonnenblick Goldman for 11 years. Some of the deals with which he was intimately involved include the sale of the Westin St. Francis, JW Marriott San Francisco and San Diego Hilton Gaslamp Quarter, the financing of the Ilikai Hotel (currently The Modern Honolulu Hotel), Montage Beverly Hills Hotel, Spa & Residences, AMANGANI, Beverly Hilton, Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort and the Palomar Hotel Philadelphia, and the joint-venture equity raise and financing of the OHANA Waikiki Beachcomber. Mr. Lim also has hotel operations and consulting experience, including a variety of management positions with Westin Hotels and HVS International in San Francisco.

Emily Lustig

HVS Office: Chicago

Years with HVS: 1 year

Personal and/or Professional Update: Emily has decided to join Jones Lang LaSalle after one wonderful year with HVS. Her new role consists of strategic advisory and research. Please join me in wishing her well in this new endeavour.

Upcoming Conferences and Events Hosted by HVS

TRE - TOURISM REAL ESTATE - CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION: HVS is pleased to announce the third edition of TrE, the Tourism real Estate event dedicated to hospitality and tourism related real estate developments, set against the marvelous scenery of the city of Venice. TrE will focus on the Mediterranean area's and Italy's hotel development, investor climate, and many of the current issues facing the industry. It will also open windows on some emerging countries by hosting delegates, exhibitors, and showing the ongoing trends.

Produced by Tre-Expovenice, at its 3rd edition, TrE will see HVS, as a partner, hosting some of the main conferences and supporting the internationalization of the event. TrE involves the top players in the hospitality and tourism real-estate community (including local and international investors, lenders, developers, hotel groups, public authorities, consultants, lawyers, architects, region’s decision makers, and opinion leaders) to address the current opportunities and challenges in the industry. TrE will provide a great platform for delegates to share views, insights, and proposed strategies for advancing the hospitality and tourism sectors in the region. Last year numbers showed: 1,200 participating companies and institutions, 15 countries represented, 100 exhibitors, 5,000 visitors, 200 speakers, 40 conventions, and workshops.

This year, TrE will be held October 3-5 in Venice. For more information, visit www.tre-expo.com To benefit from the HVS friends and family discount of 10% enter the promotion code "HVS" when completing the registration form.

LIFESTYLE/BOUTIQUE HOTEL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE 2012: Join us in Miami at the fabulous Fontainebleau for the 4th annual Lifestyle/Boutique Hotel Investors Conference. This exciting conference is a two-and-half day conference which focuses on the growing lifestyle and boutique sectors of the lodging industry. Major topics include all aspects of development and the unique aspects of operations and marketing in this special segment. This conference is produced by Lodging Hospitality in affiliation with HVS Hotel Management.

This year, Lifestyle/Boutique Hotel Investors Conference will be held October 17-19 at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. For more information, visit www.lifestyleboutiquelh.com.

2012 U.S. HOTEL APPRAISALS HOSPITALITY CONFERENCE: Join U.S. Hotel Appraisals at its third-annual hotel and hospitality conference at the Embassy Suites Washington, D.C. Convention Center hotel. The conference is dedicated to helping limited- and select-service hotel owners, lenders, investors, managers, and other stakeholders make new connections and plans for realizing goals for their hotels in the coming year.

A focus of the upcoming conference bears on recent trends and projections for performance and values of limited- and select-service hotels, as well as the current market for financing, selling, and buying properties in these asset classes. Other topics on the agenda include the potential impact of the upcoming presidential elections on the U.S. hotel market and panel discussions on current trends, opportunities, performance strategies, and market updates for U.S. limited- and select-service hotels.

This year, U.S. Hotel Appraisals Hospitality Conference will be held October 18th at the Embassy Suites Washington, D.C. Convention Center hotel. For more information, visit www.ushaconference.com.

POWER OF ADVICE (FOR IN FOCUS)

"Advice is a part of what you get from people – it’s part of the food that feeds you. Without it, you’re alone."
Michael A Leven, President & COO, Las Vegas Sands in the film The Power of Advice produced by HVS Executive Search

On our journey to becoming trusted advisers, HVS Executive Search explored what business leaders are looking for in an advisor. We asked the question: "What is the power of advice?"

Our 12-month enquiry transformed into a film called The Power of Advice. Directed by British filmmaker Tom Haines with an original score by French composer Jean-Gabriel Becker, the film features twenty of the most successful hospitality leaders from around the world. It explores themes surrounding the giving and receiving of advice and offers exclusive insight into the careers of some of the hotel industry’s brightest minds.

We shot the film in London, New York, Las Vegas and Hong Kong and interviewed the heads of companies such as MGM Hospitality, Hilton Worldwide, Wyndham Hotel Group, Four Seasons, Loews Hotels and Las Vegas Sands. The film’s the stars divulge their greatest sources of advice, along with the people who have encouraged and advised them in their journey to the top of the hospitality industry.

“My partners and I thought the Power of Advice was a theme worthy of further exploration. Rarely is the role of advisor discussed, and yet most successful business leaders seek advice on a regular basis. We are extremely pleased with the quality and message of the film and hope that it proves to be thought-provoking for our viewers,” Keith Kefgen.

Patrick Imbardelli, President and CEO Pan Pacific Hotels Group was one of the hospitality chiefs who stars in the film. He commented: “I am delighted to be part of this great initiative by HVS Executive Search. Sharing my own experiences for this film really made me reflect on the importance on advice, coaching, mentoring and leadership - and all the people in my career who did that for me. It also reminded me of the very positive and instrumental role I could, and should play, in providing advice, a sounding board, professional insight – and in so doing shape someone else’s career, even enhance or broaden a particular worldview.”

The first screening of The Power of Advice took place last week at the HVS Hotel Investment Conference South Asia (HICSA) in Mumbai this year. The first film will be followed by further five-minute films scheduled for release over the next 12 months. All can be viewed at www.powerofadvice.com.

You can watch the film at www.powerofadvice.com and do follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

HVS EXECUTIVE SEARCH

• The 3rd HVS UHOF (Ukrainian Hotel Operations Forum), hosted by HVS Executive Search in Kiev was a tremendous success and saw a 100-strong attendee list from all the major local and international players currently building their portfolios in the Russia and Ukraine hotel market. Amongst the most popular subjects of discussion was the upcoming EURO 2012 event and its projected impact on trade and tourism.
• New hires: Kristina Nikolaeva as intern
• Both HVS ES and HVS C&V under Tatiana’s supervision in Moscow are having an extremely busy year and are looking to add to our current 6-person team at least 3-4 new associates between the two services.
• Picture (left to right) of the HVS ES Moscow team: Galina Kuzmina (sitting), standing – Varvara Ivanova, Mikhail Taratynov, Tatiana Veller, Kristina Nikolaeva.

HVS CONSULTING & VALUATION – Moscow

• HVS Moscow will organize the 1st CIS Investment Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan in September 2012. The aim of this event is to gather the finance institutions, hotel brands, investors and developers interested in doing business in the untapped market of the CIS countries.
• HVS Moscow participated in a charity event together with major Russian hoteliers. In March we ran a clothing drive to support an orphanage located in the hardship locations of Russia. Also in April, together with the Ararat Park Hyatt Moscow, we organized a charity Sunday brunch that featured an art auction. We helped raise more than $5,000 for a charity that helps orphans in Russia.

Carter Wilson

In addition to working for STR Analytics, Carter Wilson has been a writer for many years. Carter landed an agent with his first novel, but it wasn’t until his fifth completed work that he finally made a sale. In June 2012, Vantage Point Books published FINAL CROSSING: A NOVEL OF SUSPENSE, which is available in bookstores and online. Carter’s books are all thrillers to some degree, and FINAL CROSSING is his first work where he explored the mind of a serial killer. In the book, a man named Rudiger is obsessed with the concept of the End of Days, and he believes he can bring about the end of the world if he finds the right person to crucify. Only he doesn’t know who that person is, so he uses clues provided by his deranged mind to select his victims. The protagonist—a Senator’s Chief of Staff—knew Rudiger in the Army, and enlists the help of a psychic criminologist to help stop Rudiger.

If you would like to learn more about Carter or the book (and links to buy it online), please visit his website at www.carterwilson.com.

Upcoming Conferences and Events Hosted by HVS

HVS Regional Hospitality Valuation Summit Series: Whether you’re a hotelier seeking funds for a new project, an investor looking for variable opportunities in hotel markets across the U.S., or a stakeholder eager for insights on the present and future dynamics of the industry, join us for a series of enlightening discussions on the state of the U.S. hotels in 2012 and beyond. Each summit will deliver critical insights from a panel of experts on trends in hotel lending and valuation. You’ll also receive an up-to-the-moment snapshot of hotel values, transactions, cap rates, and operating trends for hotels in your region, as well as a forecast of hotel values through 2016.

Portland, OR - Portland Downtown Waterfront Marriott – July 12th
Orlando, FL – Embassy Suites Hotel, Lake Buena Vista – July 20th
Columbus, OH – Westin Columbus – July 26th

Midwest Lodging Investors Summit (MLIS): The Midwest Lodging Investors Summit is a leading conference for lodging industry owners, developers, operators, lenders, consultants and brand company marketers. Now in its fifth year, MLIS is expected to bring together 400 hotel industry executives to Chicago in July to listen, learn, share and socialize. This year, MLIS will be held July 16-18 at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place.

Hyatt Regency McCormick Place – Chicago, IL – July 16-18th

South American Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference (SAHIC): Following the 2011 Edition held in Santiago, Chile, and attended by over 450 participants from 20 countries around the world, this new SAHIC will be once again the "perfect place" to promote investment opportunities in the hotel and real estate-related business in the region. Key industry players, executives from major international holdings, and investors will again meet to explore new projects, make contacts, and conduct business.

Westin Lima Hotel & Resort Convention Center – Lima, Peru – September 10-11th

CIS & Georgia Hospitality Investment Conference (iCON): HVS is pleased to announce the first CIS & Georgia Hospitality Investment Conference (iCON) which will focus on the region's hotel development, investor climate and many of the current issues facing the industry. Scheduled for September 18-19, 2012 at the brand new JW Marriott Absheron Baku, iCON will bring together international investors and operators as well as some of the region’s decision-makers, governmental representatives and opinion leaders to address the current opportunities and challenges in the industry. iCON will provide a great platform for delegates to share views, insights, and proposed strategies for advancing the hospitality and tourism sectors in the region.

JW Marriott Absheron Baku – Baku, Azerbaijan – September 18-19th

Lucienne Anhar

Lucienne, who worked for HVS in New York, was recently wed to Aloisio. Her wedding was held in Istanbul, Turkey and was featured on the cover of "Martha Stewart’s" Turkish magazine. She has a beautiful 9-month old daughter named India. Lucienne is currently working along with her family Bali and Java with Tugu Hotels Group (www.tuguhotels.com). Tugu Hotels Group operates four luxury boutique hotels and four restaurants throughout Indonesia.

Saurabh Chawla

Saurabh, who worked for HVS in London, has decided to join Louvre Hotel Group (Starwood Capital) after six exciting and rewarding years with HVS. His new role consists of overseeing investment based developments and acquisitions opportunities outside Europe. His new role also involves swapping fish and chips for frog legs as he will be relocating from London to Paris.

Message from Saurabh: “It really was a pleasure to collaborate with you all and to have worked on various exciting projects with you. This world of ours is really small and I have no doubt that our paths will cross again soon. I look forward to being in touch and to (hopefully) working with you on other opportunities.”

Marah Hutcheson

Marah, who worked for HVS in Las Vegas and San Francisco, has decided to join Orbit Medical after two wonderful years with HVS. Her new role consists of promoting durable medical equipment. She joins others in the effort to provide thousands the opportunity to regain their independence and receive medical supplies in the future. Please join me in wishing her well in this new endeavour.

Message from Marah: “It has been a wonderful privilege to have been given the opportunity to work with such a talented bunch of people. I wish you all great success, and your future endeavors.”

Nevius Glussi

Nevius, who worked for HVS in New York and Singapore, has decided to join New World Hospitality as Corporate Director of Development. New World Hospitality is an international hotel management company that operates an expanding collection of properties under three distinct brands, including the ultra-luxury Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, deluxe New World Hotels, and select-service pentahotels brands. Please join me in congratulating him

Greg Perry

Greg, who worked for HVS in Dubai, has decided to join IFA Hotel Investments. IFA Hotel Investments is a wholly owned subsidiary of IFA Hotels & Resorts and provides strategic direction to its operational assets and works to expand its portfolio. IFA Hotels & Resorts portfolio operational portfolio includes hotels, hotel condominiums, commercial, retail, and food and beverage ventures. IFA Hotel Investments also oversees the IFA Collection, which manages the company’s private residence clubs as well as yacht ownership club.

Fun Facts: - Advanced Open Water certified SCUBA diver – Learned how to drive at the age of 10 – Never lived in the same city more than 6 consecutive years – President of two student organizations in college – Once flew 12,500 km just to attend a friend’s wedding.

Rodolfo Carlos

Rodolfo has been selected by the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) to be among the torchbearers who will carry the Olympic flame as it journeys around the United Kingdom. He will be passing on the Olympic toch in Willenhall on June 30. Carlos, who works as a lead investment analyst at InterContinental Hotels Group in Atlanta, was chosen for this honor through LOCOG’s “Moment to Shine” campaign, which encouraged members of the public to nominate someone with an inspiring personal story or who has made a real difference in his or her school or local community. After suffering from thyroid cancer, Carlos began practicing Filipino martial arts as a way to rebuild his strength. He has been active in promoting their practice and sharing his knowledge with various branches of military, police, and community watch volunteers.

Carlos was also honored in March with two awards at the IHG the Americas conference. He was presented with the Aim Higher Award, and the President’s Award, the company’s highest honor.

Anand Halankar

Nevius, who worked for HVS in New Dehli, has decided to join Red Planet Hotels. Red Planet Hotels Limited (RPHL) is a regional hotel investment company focused on Asia’s emerging markets. Please join me in congratulating him.

Fun Facts: "I love traveling, and Red Planet’s focus on Tier 2 cities in Asia has given me a chance to see some unique places such as Iloilo and Bacolod in the Philippines! Looking forward to more exciting travel!"

Social Media Updates

We are pleased to share with you that HVS has entered the social media realm as another outlet to maintain our outreach and relationships. Please friend us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, join our HVS Global Hospitality Services group on LinkedIn, and subscribe to our channel on YouTube:

Will Lee, formerly HVS New York

We regret to share the sad news that our friend Will passed away in his sleep November 1, 2011. For those whose lives were touched by Will and would like to send their condolences, you may reach out to Will’s widow Christina at christina533@gmail.com Will was a bright light here at HVS and his intelligence , enthusiasm and smile will surely be missed by all.

Terry Bickhardt, formerly Co-President of HVS Hotel Management

Terry recently joined Colwen Management, based in Nashua, NH as Senior Vice President. In Terry’s current role with Colwen he is primarily responsible for their hotel operations which include 20 properties - a mix of select and full service hotels, scattered around the New England states. Terry specifically oversees all the Marriott branded hotels in the company’s portfolio; Colwen also manages several Hilton select service brands.

Terry shared that his “time with HVS was very beneficial and educational to his career, specifically the Hotel Performance Analysis and Hotel Situation Analysis consulting and various asset management assignments” he was involved with. He learned much greater attention to detail with respect to hotel operations and hotel management while working with the HVS Hotel Management.

When he is not traveling around New England, Terry enjoys spending as much time as he can with his family and friends, playing his guitar barefoot so he can “feel the music,” and enjoying his lake house.

Paul Rosenberg, formerly HVS Dubai

HVS Couples News: Gisle and Lara Sarheim, formerly HVS London

Proud Papa Gisle was thrilled to share with us that on October 1, 2011, Lara (on maternity leave from HVS London) "gave birth to our second son, Alexander Christian, in the UK. Alexander was a healthy boy weighing 3,840g (8.4 lb), and a warmly welcomed addition to the family. Only 6 weeks thereafter we packed our household and set course for Singapore, where we are now settling in. Lara will tend to baby Alexander and Phillip (who is now three years old) for the immediate future, while I have changed roles within Hilton. Formerly a Director with Hilton’s Real Estate & Asset Management group based at Hilton’s international headquarters in the UK, I have now taken on a dual role as Senior Director, Feasibility & Investment Analysis | Real Estate & Asset Management. In my new capacity I will look after Hilton’s owned, leased and joint venture portfolio in Asia/Australia, as well as head up the Feasibility & Investment Analysis group in Asia Pacific and the Middle East, based at Hilton’s Asia Pacific office in Singapore. The family will be spending a warm holiday season in our new home country."

HVS Couples News: Gisle and Lara Sarheim, formerly HVS London

Proud Papa Gisle was thrilled to share with us that on October 1, 2011, Lara (on maternity leave from HVS London) "gave birth to our second son, Alexander Christian, in the UK. Alexander was a healthy boy weighing 3,840g (8.4 lb), and a warmly welcomed addition to the family. Only 6 weeks thereafter we packed our household and set course for Singapore, where we are now settling in. Lara will tend to baby Alexander and Phillip (who is now three years old) for the immediate future, while I have changed roles within Hilton. Formerly a Director with Hilton’s Real Estate & Asset Management group based at Hilton’s international headquarters in the UK, I have now taken on a dual role as Senior Director, Feasibility & Investment Analysis | Real Estate & Asset Management. In my new capacity I will look after Hilton’s owned, leased and joint venture portfolio in Asia/Australia, as well as head up the Feasibility & Investment Analysis group in Asia Pacific and the Middle East, based at Hilton’s Asia Pacific office in Singapore. The family will be spending a warm holiday season in our new home country."

And Lara added...

"Greetings from Singapore! It has nearly been three weeks since we arrived in Singapore and nearly one month since my last visit to the office. The past few weeks here have been exciting and I am glad to report that everything will soon settle down. We have found an apartment and are moving in as soon as our furniture arrives. The joy and glamour of living out of a suitcase with baby and toddler in hand are starting to wear off! As I did not have a chance to see everyone before leaving, I wanted to share my contact information for the future (lsarheim@gmail.com). My life with HVS has been an exciting, eye-opening, challenging, learning, memorable, life changing, and definitely never boring, and most of all a pleasure to work with each of you."

Julie Bourque Crawford recently shared with HVSAN (HVS Alumni News)

"I've been working on my master’s degree (M.A. in Teaching / Secondary Education) for a little over a year, and starting in January I’ll be student teaching. I’ll graduate in May, and I’m hoping that by this time next year I’ll be teaching high school English and Theatre.

I have really enjoyed working with you and all the other HVS’ers over the past twelve years, and I wish you the best!

HVS Alumnus Wins HICSA Award
Former HVS India Associate Director for Consulting and Valuations, Saurabh Gupta, was honored at the HICSA conference held in Mumbai April 7th and 8th.

Saurabh is the General Manager of the first Premier Inn in India in Bangalore. In his current role, he has been responsible for the pre-opening of the hotel and is actively involved with the strategic decisions of the group. Prior to joining HVS, Saurabh was with the Taj Group in various hotels and also tried his hand as an entrepreneur. He has written numerous articles on the hospitality industry in India, some of which have been widely quoted. Congratulations, Saurabh!

Erik Warner and Rebecca Ruf
Erik and Rebecca here writing to touch base with everyone since we moved on from HVS in 2001 and 2000, respectively. As many of you know, Rebecca went off to Starwood and worked in their international development group under Karen Rubin, and I was hired by Art Adler of Jones Lang LaSalle to do national hotel brokerage. Fast forward to 2003, and I was hired by a Cargill-backed entity called RHF to oversee hotel investment underwriting, and then in 2004, Rebecca left Starwood to pursue her masters in International Development and Advanced International Economics at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Bologna, Italy.

By then, Bec and I had been dating for over three years, and our relationship was put to a test as bi-monthly travels to and from Europe became routine. As the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder, and by 2007, we were married in a little town in California called Napa at a little property called Auberge du Soleil. Within a year, we had our first child, Jakob, and moved out of Tribeca to our current home in Brooklyn, near the Brooklyn Bridge.

Presently, I am still with RHF but now as a partner (our outstanding portfolio of hotel investments stands at about $200mm). Our business plan has evolved from being a lender to the industry to a buyer. Over the past four months, we have actively bid on over ten deals and $500mm of hotel assets; sadly, not converting any of those bids to purchases.

Rebecca switched gears a bit and is now in the capital markets group of Women’s World Banking (“WWB”). Her organization is the godmother of women’s micro-finance initiatives, supporting a network of 40 microfinance providers and banks in 28 countries that provide financial services to low-income women. What is extremely interesting about WWB is that through loans the size of less than $500, her group has been able to serve over 20 million women, helping them move out of poverty.

In general, we are both doing well and look forward to hearing from those of you we have not spoken to in awhile. Should you want to reach us our websites are: http://www.ramsfieldrealestate.com/ and http://www.swwb.org/.