Hosted by Red Roof Inns, Inc. and sponsored by Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Inc., participants in the roundtable included: Andrew Alexander, president, Red Roof Inns, Inc.; Richard Conti, president, The Plasencia Group, Inc.; Keith Daub, president/COO, Winegardner & Hammons, Inc.; Christopher Diffley, managing director/investment management group, RockBridge Capital, LLC; J.P. Ford, senior vp/director of business development, Lodging Econometrics; Robert Habeeb, president/COO, First Hospitality Group, Inc.; Joseph Smith, executive vp; Chesapeake Hospitality; and Robert Wallace, executive vp, brand operations & franchising, Red Roof Inns, Inc.

With the economy in recovery mode, the hospitality industry is beginning to come alive again with more renovation, adaptive reuse, conversion and even new construction projects. HOTEL BUSINESS® addressed the pros and cons of each of these development avenues at its most recent Executive Roundtable held at the Red Roof Inn Columbus Downtown-Convention Center in Columbus, OH.

Print coverage of the event appears in the July 15, 2011 issue of HOTEL BUSINESS.

Hosted exclusively by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Participating in the event were Mary Beth Cutshall, Hospitality Ventures Management Group; Navin Dimond, Stonebridge Companies; Kenneth H. Fearn, Integrated Capital; Warren Fields, Pyramid Hotel Group; Patrick Goddard, Trust Hospitality; Norman Jenkins, Capstone Development, LLC; Hung Luk, The Lam Group; D.J. Rama, JHM Hotels; Alison Reid, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.; Paul Sacco, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Print coverage of the event appears in the June 7, 2011 issue of HOTEL BUSINESS.

Hosted by JMBM and sponsored by CSI MasterCard, Hotel Business conducted an executive roundtable just prior to the start of the Meet the Money Conference. The event was moderated by Hotel Business Editor Dennis Nessler and examined the capital markets and current lending conditions and touched on a number of other topics, such as asset values, workouts and deal structures.

Participants included Bill Sipple, HVS Capital; Jim Butler, JMBM; Judy Hoffman, Trigild; Mike Cahill, HREC; Sam Winterbottom, Grubb & Ellis; Marty Collins, Gatehouse Capital Corp.; Greg Hartmann, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels; Thomas Prins, Gemstone Hotels & Resorts; Tim Dick, TriMont Real Estate Advisors; and Todd Wynne-Parry, Pan Pacific Hotel Group.

Print coverage of the event appears in the May 21, 2011 issue of HOTEL BUSINESS.

Hosted by Hilton Worldwide and sponsored by Ferguson - A Wolseley Co.; Keurig; and A.J. Gallagher and Co. Participants included: Bruce Baltin, Colliers PKF Consulting USA; Peter M. Heinemann, Passport Resorts; Richard C. Kessler, The Kessler Collection; Greg Miller, Destination Hotels & Resorts; Greg Mount, Richfield Hospitality, Inc.; Sean Mullen, Noble House Hotels & Resorts, Ltd.; Bill Otto, Marcus Hotels & Resorts; Jim Petrus, Trump International Hotels Management, LLC; Paul Toner, RockResorts International, LLC/Vail Resorts Hospitality; and John Vanderslice, Hilton Worldwide.
Stefani C. O'Connor, Executive News Editor/Hotel Business and Managing Editor/HB Roundtables, moderated the event.

In a world where cost-containment and thrift are daily watchwords, but "bling" and the luxe life drive consumer interest, leading industry executives gathered in March at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa – A Waldorf Astoria Hotel & Resort to examine how companies in the "new norm" are tackling changes in the luxury segment via strategic moves and creative initiatives, and to see what's ahead for luxury lodging as a concept.

Industry veteran and well-known developer Bruce White of White Lodging Services was recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference. This video presentation, which was put together by HOTEL BUSINESS®, was shown to attendees of the conference just prior to White accepting the award.
Print coverage of the event appears in the March 7, 2011 issue of HOTEL BUSINESS.

Hosted exclusively by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Participating in the event were Gerald P. Chase, New Castle Hotels & Resorts; Teague Hunter, Hunter Realty Associates; Dave Johnson, Aimbridge Hospitality; Naveen Kakarla, Hersha Hospitality Management; Jeffrey S. Laliberte, Wheelock Street Capital; Jim Merkel, RockBridge Capital; David Mumford, Mumford Company, Inc.; Chandrakant (CK) Patel, AAHOA/BVM Holdings; Russell Urban, HEI Hotels & Resorts; Bruce Wiles, Thayer Lodging Group; and Paul Sacco, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Stefani C. O'Connor, Executive News Editor/Hotel Business and Managing Editor/HB Roundtables, moderated the event.

With the lodging industry seeing some traction in fundamentals, top executives across a variety of disciplines gathered in New York City to relate how their respective companies have been weathering the economic storm and what has been learned that will now make for an increasingly successful year ahead as business transitions to a more-positive side.

Hosted exclusively by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Participating in the event were Gerald P. Chase, New Castle Hotels & Resorts; Teague Hunter, Hunter Realty Associates; Dave Johnson, Aimbridge Hospitality; Naveen Kakarla, Hersha Hospitality Management; Jeffrey S. Laliberte, Wheelock Street Capital; Jim Merkel, RockBridge Capital; David Mumford, Mumford Company, Inc.; Chandrakant (CK) Patel, AAHOA/BVM Holdings; Russell Urban, HEI Hotels & Resorts; Bruce Wiles, Thayer Lodging Group; and Paul Sacco, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Stefani C. O'Connor, Executive News Editor/Hotel Business and Managing Editor/HB Roundtables, moderated the event.

With the lodging industry seeing some traction in fundamentals, top executives across a variety of disciplines gathered in New York City to relate how their respective companies have been weathering the economic storm and what has been learned that will now make for an increasingly successful year ahead as business transitions to a more-positive side.

Hosted by IH/M&RS and sponsored by Protect-A-Bed, Samsung and U.S. Acrylic. Participating in the event were Carlton Harwood, Ferguson Enterprises, Inc.; Rick Betz; W.W. Grainger; Walt Sheffler, Avendra, LLC; Matt Schwarz, Courtesy Products, Inc.; Paul Davis, Wyndham Hotel Group; Jeff Palla, LaQuinta Inns & Suites; Jennifer Jones, BuyEfficient; Rick Summa, Choice Hotels International; David Kahn, HD Supply; Larry Morse, American Hotel Register; and Rick Bennett, Best Western International.

Executives from a number of different disciplines within hospitality discussed the evolution of Supply Chain Management over the course of the last decade and its impact on the industry.

Hosted by Carlson Hotels and sponsored by Gallagher Hospitality Services, a division of Arthur J Gallagher & Co. Participating in the event were C.A. Anderson, The Dow Hotel Co.; Daniel W. Daniele, Corporex Select Service Hotels, LLC/Corporex Capital; Bill DeForrest, Lane Hospitality; Douglas N. Dreher, The Hotel Group; Leigh Hitz, Magnolia Hotels; Leo M. Sand, Sand Companies, Inc.; Philip M. Silberstein, Carlson Hotels, The Americas; R. Mark Woodworth, Colliers PKF Hospitality Research; Deno Yiankes, White Lodging Services Corp. Moderated by Stefani C. O'Connor, Executive News Editor Hotel Business and Managing Editor HB Roundtables.

A host of industry professionals gathered recently at the Country Inn & Suites in Chanhassen, MN, for the annual Hotel Business Owners & Developers Roundtable. The discussion examined a number of key issues moving forward such as market conditions, development challenges and the current deal climate.

Hosted by Carlson Hotels and sponsored by Gallagher Hospitality Services, a division of Arthur J Gallagher & Co. Participating in the event were C.A. Anderson, The Dow Hotel Co.; Daniel W. Daniele, Corporex Select Service Hotels, LLC/Corporex Capital; Bill DeForrest, Lane Hospitality; Douglas N. Dreher, The Hotel Group; Leigh Hitz, Magnolia Hotels; Leo M. Sand, Sand Companies, Inc.; Philip M. Silberstein, Carlson Hotels, The Americas; R. Mark Woodworth, Colliers PKF Hospitality Research; Deno Yiankes, White Lodging Services Corp. Moderated by Stefani C. O'Connor, Executive News Editor Hotel Business and Managing Editor HB Roundtables.

In an effort to look ahead to 2011, Hotel Business canvassed a number of industry executives on their opinions regarding economic conditions as well as future hotel development.

Hotel Business DESIGN™'s presents its Import vs. Domestic Sourcing roundtable held at the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas. Taking part in the discussion are: Ricardo Moreno, Kay Lang & Associates; Giancarlo Giacchi, WATG; Ted Caroll, The Carroll Adams Group; Mark Friesen, Beyer Brown; Jeffery Jensen, HKS Hill Glazier; Cory Thomas, Monolith Companies; Sean Hatch, Hatch Purchasing; Jennifer Ramsey, Ramsey Purchasing; and Igor Krnajski, Denihan Hospitality Group.

Exclusive Host and Sponsor, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Participating in the event were Paul Sacco, Starwood Hotels & Resorts; Raymond Garfield, Jr., Garfield Traub Development; Kenneth Geist, Sage Hospitality; John Ferchill, the Ferchill Group; Anne Lloyd Jones, HVS; James LeFrak, LeFrak Organization; Mark Gordon, Cushman & Wakefield Sonnenblick Goldman; Paul Gladd, Presidential Hotel Investors; and Rob Winchester, Waterford Hotel Group. Print coverage of the event appears in the May 21 issue of HOTEL BUSINESS®.

Like all projects in today's economy, mixed-use development projects have become extremely difficult to finance and execute. However, there are still many advantages to getting involved in these types of projects as these interviews will demonstrate. HOTEL BUSINESS brought together a handful of executives with extensive experience in mixed-use developments to share some of their strategies and experiences.

Exclusive Host and Sponsor, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Participating in the event were Paul Sacco, Starwood Hotels & Resorts; Raymond Garfield, Jr., Garfield Traub Development; Kenneth Geist, Sage Hospitality; John Ferchill, the Ferchill Group; Anne Lloyd Jones, HVS; James LeFrak, LeFrak Organization; Mark Gordon, Cushman & Wakefield Sonnenblick Goldman; Paul Gladd, Presidential Hotel Investors; and Rob Winchester, Waterford Hotel Group. Print coverage of the event appears in the May 21 issue of HOTEL BUSINESS®.

Like all projects in today's economy, mixed-use development projects have become extremely difficult to finance and execute. However, there are still many advantages to getting involved in these types of projects as these interviews will demonstrate. HOTEL BUSINESS brought together a handful of executives with extensive experience in mixed-use developments to share some of their strategies and experiences.

The hotel industry and the business world at large seems to have a preference for neat and tidy buzzwords that, in just a few characters, succinctly sum up the current market trend. The word of today? Distress, of course.

"Finessing Distress" was, therefore, the logically paramount subject matter for this year's HOTEL BUSINESS® Management Companies Roundtable, which was hosted by Carlson Hotels Worldwide at the Radisson Plaza Hotel Minneapolis and sponsored by American Hotel Register Co., Arthur J. Gallagher and Co., Cintas Corp. and LodgeNet Interactive Corp. Moderated by Stefani C. O’Connor, HOTEL BUSINESS® executive news editor and the managing editor of roundtables, the event provided an esteemed roster of participants that shed, for the first time in some cases, light on today's distressed hotel operations underworld.

Industry veteran and well-known developer Gary Tharaldson of Tharaldson Inc. was recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference. This video presentation, which was put together by HOTEL BUSINESS®, was shown to attendees of the conference just prior to Tharaldson accepting the award.
Print coverage of the event appears in the March 7, 2010 issue of HOTEL BUSINESS.

Exclusive Host and Sponsor, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Participating in the event were Rob Leven, The Procaccianti Group; Paul Sacco, Starwood Hotels & Resorts; Benjamin Brunt, Noble Investment Group; Art Adler, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels; John Tsunis, Long Island Hotels; Ron Danko, Jr., CB Richard Ellis Hotels; Jeff Cohen, Gatehouse Captial Corp.; CA Anderson, Interstate Hotels & Resorts; and Michael Medzigian, Watermark Capital Partners.
Print coverage of the event appears in the January 15, 2010 issue of HOTEL BUSINESS.

Two thousand-and-nine was clearly a year where the hotel investment and operational business opportunities were few and far between. Survival was instead the modus operandi for companies as they tried to overcome or steer around countless hazards and obstacles. It was not a year for the weak.

But out of even the darkest of times can often come new opportunities that can embolden an entire industry. So in an attempt to shed light upon such business prospects and their long-term implications, HOTEL BUSINESS® recently convened the Opportunity 2010 Roundtable, which was sponsored and hosted by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. at the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers and featured a group of industry-leading investment and management experts who are indeed gearing up for much bigger things this year and beyond.

This Hotel Business Executive Roundtable included firms representing a number of different disciplines discussing how they are preparing for a potential recovery. The discussion was centered around such issues as asset values, the current lending environment, changing customer expectations and performance of the industry. While many of the participants are preparing for a turnaround, most agreed that it is not imminent.

In preparation for its “Positioning For Recovery” Executive Roundtable, HOTEL BUSINESS® conducted interviews with participants in an attempt to gauge just how far off an economic recovery is, as well as just how it will occur for the hospitality industry.

The annual Hotel Business Owners & Developers Roundtable focused on “Current Capitalization Trends and Transaction Strategies.” The event included not only owners & developers, but also lenders, brokers and industry analysts and was aimed at providing a broad range of perspectives on the current climate. The topics addressed during the session include, but were not limited to, asset values, deal structures, availability of capital and brand standards.

As part of its annual Owners and Developers Roundtable, Hotel Business canvassed participants on a number of topics related to today's dealmaking environment throughout hospitality. Whether discussing the current bid/ask gap or cap rates, the executives on hand offered varying opinions.

Hotel Business canvassed a number of IH/M&RS board members and other prominent hotel executives on the impact of the annual IH/M&RS as well as the many different aspects of the event.

Hotel Business canvassed a number of IH/M&RS board members and other prominent hotel executives on the impact of the annual IH/M&RS as well as the many different aspects of the event.

Hotel Business canvassed a number of IH/M&RS board members and other prominent hotel executives on the impact of the annual IH/M&RS as well as the many different aspects of the event.

HOTEL BUSINESS Magazine's® Green Debate Roundtable brought together a mix of experts from different industry segments, including architecture, interior design, purchasing, brand, logistics and installation, to discuss and debate the current state of the sustainability movement. Topics included challenges facing each of the participants' respective businesses, their personal experience with sustainability and potential legislation for building green hotels. The discussion was moderated by Lauren Esposito, managing editor, New Look Magazine and Greg Sleter, executive editor, New Look Magazine. Participants included: Margaret McMahon, Wilson Associates; John McDonald, JMC Global; Deidre Schwartz, American Hotel Furnishings; Brent Lynch, HFS Concepts 4; Darlene Henke, Audit Logistics; Mitch Parker, The Parker Company; Brooke Pearsall, HVScompass; Jonathan Nehmer, Jonathan Nehmer + Associates; and Donald Griner, Choice Hotels International.

Moderated by Stefani C. O'Connor, executive news editor and managing editor of Roundtables for Hotel Business, this inaugural Conversions Roundtable brings together a a mix of industry disciplines and experts--owners, operators, lenders, asset managers, brokers, designers, analysts--who provide a wealth of different viewpoints and information on the subject and its role in the current lodging environment. Participating in the event were Simon Turner, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.; Paul Sacco, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.; Scott Berman, PricewaterhouseCoopers; Jeffrey Kolessar, GF Management; Walter Isenberg, Sage Hospitality; John DePaul, National Hospitality Holdings; Richard Jabara, Meyer Jabara Hotels; Daniel Lesser, CB Richard Ellis; Richard Warnick, Warnick + Company; Louis Hedgecock, BBG-BBGM; Vail Brown, Smith Travel Research; Clark Hanrattie, HEI Hotels & Resorts; Steven Nicholas, Noble Investment Group; and Jeffrey Davis, Jones Lang La Salle Hotels.

Moderated by Stefani C. O'Connor, managing editor of Roundtables for Hotel Business®, this event takes an in-depth look at operating hotels during a difficult economic period from the perspective of well-respected management executives. Specific topics discussed include the importance of meetings to the industry's health, forecasting measures and owner/operator dialogue. Participating in the event were Nancy Johnson and Steve Hedberg of Carlson Hotels Worldwide; Leo Spriggs, Hospitality Management Corporation; Charlie Peck, Destination Hotels & Resorts; Mike Marshall, Marshall Hotels & Resorts; James Evans, Ardent Hotel Advisors; Atul Patel, HMB Management, Inc.; Naveen Kakarla, Hersha Hospitality Management; Mark Rosinsky, The Dow Hotel Company; Tom Conran, Richfield Hospitality Services; and Kirby Payne, HVS Hotel Management.

Roundtable moderated by managing editor of NEW LOOK™ magazine, Lauren Esposito, and included Gregory Portman, president, PVFS Architects, Inc.; Vanessa Edden, principal, RTKL Assoc.; Gerald Koi, principal/director, hospitality studio, Morris Architects; Stacy Garcia, CEO, Stacy Garcia, Inc.; Michael Suomi, vp, design, Stonehill & Taylor; Luanne Fausett, designer, Innvision Hospitality Supply, Christina Hart, design partner, BBG-BBGM; Berkley Allen, allied member, Hatchett Hospitality, Inc.; and Stacy Ellison, principal, RDH& Associates.