Back to back Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria have devastated vast regions of Texas, Florida and states all along the Gulf and East Coast as well as Puerto Rico. My heart goes out to all who have suffered loss and continued adverse impact of these deadly storms. That being said, there is some silver lining to these events, and that's the ability to see the hospitality spirit that came from out loud and clear. During Hurricane Irma, the Hyatt Regency in Orlando opened their doors to more than 900 dogs and their families to be extra accommodating as the storm went on. Pets were able to feel at home and roam at will which meant families and animals alike felt an immense measure of peace during a time of uncertainty. Equally heartwarming are the donations from Marriott and Hilton to help out in the affected areas. And too many hotels to count or list lowered their rates in Texas and Florida to welcome guests and make it affordable for them to stay. With that generous spirit in mind, I invite and encourage you to
donate to the Red Cross to help those who are in need. Count yourself lucky to be part of a great industry who came to the rescue when it mattered. I know I do.
Hotel Management Magazine Recognizes 30 Influential Women in Hospitality!
The most
recent issue of Hotel Management magazine honors 30 Influential Women in Hospitality, and I'm so proud to be a part of this groundbreaking group of women who stand next to me. As a self-proclaimed "connector", it's always been exciting to be able to see and make those valuable connections throughout my career in hospitality. To me, this is something I have a passion for in my personal life, and I'm able to bring that to my work every day. It's in my nature and part of why I have been successful in my career to date.
While this issue celebrates women, the letter from the editor attributes this celebration more to the successes they have had in the industry than being about gender. It's a great reminder that both men and women contribute every day in a meaningful way. For me, I'm grateful for the chances I've had to serve the hospitality market in various roles and extremely fortunate to count myself as someone who has made a difference. Thank you to everyone who has supported me and my career!
Join me at the upcoming Lodging Conference
October 30-November 2, Phoenix Arizona at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa
I hope to see you at the Lodging Conference later this month. I will be moderating the session "Deals Under 20 Million" to help attendees learn about investing, renovating, flagging or reflagging to meet their short or long-term goals for profitability, market share and customer satisfaction in a think tank session at 11:30 on Wednesday, November 1. The panelists for my session include the following hospitality leaders:
Kevin Brickner, Senior Vice President, Wyndham Hotel Group Peter Nichols, Vice President/National Director - National Hospitality Group, Marcus & Millichap Mehul "Mike" Patel, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, NewcrestImage Michael Sonnabend, Managing Member, PMZ Realty Capital LLC
Please join us for this exciting exploration of these type of deals!
Want to chat about ideas related to hotel real estate and finance? Or talk about an end of 2017 strategy? You can reach me via
e-mail to schedule a time to meet in person at the event.
