THE NHIF FALL 2016 MEETING

October 27, 2016 by Sandman Savrann NHIF Meeting 0 comments

THE NHIF FALL 2016 MEETING

Thursday, October 27, 2016, 4:00-7:30 p.m.
The Cedarbrook Lodge, 18525 36^th Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98188

AGENDA:

4:00 pm – Registration and Check-in

4:00-5:00 pm – Opening Networking Reception

Refreshments and light appetizers

Reconnect with regional and national industry colleagues. Learn from each other about deal opportunities and projects in the pipeline. Whether you’re equity, debt, management, development, or ownership, make the acquaintances and connections you need to help achieve your objectives.

5:00-6:30 pm – Presentation and Panel Discussion

Short Program—Transactions and Operations Performance. Our presenters will provide current information and data on hotel transactions and performance.

Presenters:

Alison Hoyt, Director of Consulting & Analytics, STR (Boulder, Colorado, and London, England). Alison serves as a liaison between STR’s Colorado office and STR’s international headquarters in London, overseeing the collection and input of annual profitability data for approximately 2,000 hotels. She also designs custom data dashboards for clients, and she is a frequent presenter at industry conferences. STR is the industry’s unparalleled information gatherer and provider.

Mark Lukens, Managing Director with LW Hospitality Advisors (LWHA)(Seattle, Washington). Mark has over 25 years of experience in hospitality real estate and holds the MAI designation from the Appraisal Institute. LWHA provides advisory, valuation, feasibility, investment counseling, asset management, and transactional services focused exclusively on hotels, resorts, gaming properties, and conference center assets worldwide.

Centerpiece Program: “Brand CEO Interview”.

This is the first in what we plan as a recurring NHIF program format—a CEO of a major U.S. hotel company joins us for a one-on-one interview to discuss penetrating questions about the industry’s and the company’s challenges and opportunities. We are very lucky to have David Kong as our first guest in this series.

David Kong, President and CEO, Best Western International (Phoenix, Arizona).

David has served as Best Western’s President and CEO since 2004. He has guided the company’ launch of initiatives in technology, customer satisfaction, customer rewards, and property prototypes. He spearheaded international development in Asia, South America and the Middle East. Under David’s leadership, in 2010 Best Western introduced the Premier and Plus descriptor program, and in 2015 launched a new brand identity that clarifies the brand’s offerings and broadens its appeal. The company now offers seven hotel brands, including two new concepts – GLo, a broad-midscale, new-construction brand that offers a “hip experience for savvy travelers” and Vib®, a “chic, hip, urban hotel concept focused on style, technology and guest engagement.”

Before his appointment as Best Western’s CEO, David served as Best Western’s executive vice president of international operations, senior vice president of marketing and development, and senior vice president of strategic services and operations. Before joining Best Western, David held leadership positions with KPMG Consulting, Hyatt Hotels, Omni International and Hilton Hotels.

David served as AHLA’s chairman in 2010 and continues to be active on the CEO Council and Government Affairs. In 2010, David was appointed to the United States Department of Commerce Travel and Tourism Advisory Board and served for three years.

David received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) in 2014. In 2013 he received the Stephen W. Brener Silver Plate Award at the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference for his contributions to the resurgence of Best Western and services to the industry.

Best Western now has over 4,000 hotels in over 100 countries, with annual hotel revenue of over $7 billion. Some honors achieved by Best Western under David’s leadership include: 50 HSMAI Adrian Awards in 2015; AAA’s recognition as the “Partner of the Year” every year since 2008; a top three rating for Best Western Rewards® by J.D. Power’s 2015 Hotel Loyalty/Rewards Program Satisfaction Report; Best Upper Midscale Hotels for Best Western Plus® in the 2014 and 2015 Business Travel News survey; and Best Midscale Hotels for Best Western in the 2014 Business Travel News survey.

Moderator: Irvin Sandman, Attorney – Counselor, Sandman Savrann PLLC (Seattle, WA).
Sandman Savrann is a national law firm devoted exclusively to providing comprehensive legal counsel to the hospitality industry. Irv has counseled hotel clients in thousands of hotel matters and transactions regionally, nationally and internationally, including hotel developments, acquisitions and dispositions, financial and entity structuring, management and franchise agreements, operational matters, and dispute resolution. He is the 2008 recipient of the Anthony Marshall Award for lasting contributions to hospitality law, a past president of the Hospitality Industry Bar Association, and editor-in-chief of the Washington State Hospitality Law Manual, Third Edition (2012).

6:30-7:30 pm – Post-Presentation Networking and Cocktail Reception

Cocktails and appetizers

Pick up your discussions and connections from earlier in the evening. Meet those still on your list. Make plans for follow-up meetings or visits to northwest sites, hotels, or markets.

7:30 pm – Adjournment

REGISTRATION AND NHIF MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION:

Registration is open only to Members of NHIF and to NHIF’s invited guests. Early registration (through Thursday, October 7, 2016) is $60; later registration is $75. Early registration is recommended.

Membership is considered for executives and principals of hotel owners, investors, developers, branded and third-party management companies, franchisors, and lenders. If you feel you are qualified for membership and would like to be considered for an invitation, please email isandman@sandsav.com.

NHIF STEERING MEMBERS:

Irvin W. Sandman, SANDMAN SAVRANN PLLC ~ Mark Lukens, LWHA

NHIF PATRON SPONSORS: