Steve's career in the lodging industry spans three decades. He took the helm of Choice Hotels in 2008, and has increased the company's market share position, expanded into new markets, advanced new brands. He was previously EVP, global development/owner & franchise services for Marriott International, where he was responsible for the development of Marriott's lodging brands worldwide.

Neil leads Hersha's active hotel acquisitions program and new development projects. Prior to Hersha, he served as a Director and Consultant with The Advisory Board Company and the Corporate Executive Board, strategy consulting firms based in DC. Mr. Shah has also worked with the Phipps Foundation in New York City contributing to urban renewal projects.

Mike has been responsible for hotel acquisitions, asset management and advisory activities since the company's IPO in April 1998. LaSalle Hotel Properties is a leading multi-tenant, multi-operator real estate investment trust that owns 31 up-scale and luxury full-service hotels totaling over 8,500 guest rooms in eleven states and the District of Columbia. Before joining LaSalle in 1995, Mike was Vice President of Strategic Realty Advisors responsible for asset management in the hotel investment group.

Raphael is head of his firm's east coast originations. Mesa West has $2B in lending capacity and primarily provides non-recourse first mortgage loans for value added or transitional properties throughout the US. The portfolio includes all major property types with loan sizes from $10M to $100M.

Liam has been with Marriott since 1989. He is responsible for the managed operations and franchise business for Marriott's Select Service and Extended Stay brands. Marriott has 3,600 lodging properties in 71 countries and territories. In fy 2010, the company reported sales of $12B.

The Apple REIT Companies own 256 Marriott- and Hilton-branded hotels throughout 35 states. Apple REIT Companies' focus is to acquire and own high-quality real estate that generates attractive returns for its shareholders. Justin also served as President of Apple Hospitality Two, a REIT which owned 66 Marriott- and Hilton-branded hotels that began in 1999 and was sold to ING Clarion in 2007, and Apple Hospitality Five, a REIT which owned 28 Marriott- and Hilton-branded hotels from 2002 until 2007 when it was sold to Inland American Real Estate Trust.

Ed oversees Crestline's efforts to acquire new properties and to grow the firm's management business. Crestline is a leading independent hotel management company, managing upscale hotels across the U.S. Previously, Ed was Vice President of Acquisitions for Sunrise Senior Living and he headed up asset management for Highland Hospitality during its IPO in 2003. Ed has more than 15 years of financial and hospitality industry management experience. He began his career with Deloitte & Touche and then joined Marriott International where he held various finance positions.

Mark is responsible for the origination and placement of hospitality-related transactions, including debt, equity, JV equity, and transaction sales. He was formerly a VP at Sonnenblick Goldman and closed $3B in transactions. He also worked at HVS International, where he consulted on $2B in hospitality real estate.

A 35 year veteran of the industry, Tom began his career with Marriott and served stints in California and New York. He was the Hotel Manager for Nikko Hotels International before departing to join Durbin Companies, Inc, co-founded by Jim Durbin, former president of Marriott, and Dave Durbin. Durbin Companies was later acquired by Crestline Capital, where it formed the core of Crestline Hotels & Resorts. Tom served as Crestline's Chief Investment Officer until his departure in late 2009.

Andrew provides financing solutions to commercial real estate developers, funds, REITS and other various owners across the country. He joined Walker & Dunlop in 2001. Since arriving to the firm, he has been involved in over $2B of financing assignments with a specialty focus on hospitality financing.

Pebblebrook owns 11 hotels totaling 2,552 rooms in six states and the District of Columbia. It is a publicly traded REIT organized to opportunistically acquire and invest primarily in upper-upscale, full-service hotels in large urban and resort markets. Ray was previously CFO for Phillips Edison & Co, the largest private owner of community shopping centers in the US.

Mark joined Morgan Keegan in 2011 and has more than 14 years of corporate finance and real estate experience including involvement in over 150 transactions worth in excess of $30 billion. Morgan Keegan's Real Estate Investment Banking Group provides advisory services as well as equity and debt capital markets expertise and execution to clients in the real estate and hospitality industries. Prior to joining Morgan Keegan, Mark was a managing director and co-founder of the real estate group at Robert W. Baird & Co.

Dan brings more than 30 years of expertise in a wide range of hospitality operational, investment counseling, valuation, advisory, and transactional services. Most recently, Mr. Lesser created and served as the Senior Managing Director-Industry Leader of the Hospitality & Gaming V4aluation Advisory Services Group at CBRE. Prior to joining CBRE, Mr. Lesser funded and led the Hospitality & Gaming Group at Cushman & Wakefield and was a founding member of the team at HVS International.

Richard has transacted $20B of real estate over 25 years of national experience with complex portfolio and single asset financings and dispositions and. He is a founding partner of Allied. Key transactions include the $400M Mainland Savings retail portfolio, $500M First Union REIT liquidation, and the $320M Marathon Mall portfolio.

Starwood is the world's largest luxury hotel operator and has a portfolio of nine distinctive brands ‐ St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, Westin, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, Le Méridien, aloft, and Element. Allison oversees managed development for all nine brands. She has 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, including ten years in real estate, development, finance, operations, and branding.

Gene practices all aspects of commercial real estate and focuses on joint ventures, acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, financings and workouts. He served as general counsel for Walton Street Capital from July 2005 to May 2010 and has also represented Commonfund Realty Investors, JMB Realty Corporation, Oaktree Capital Management, Starwood Capital Group, Westport Capital Partners, and Waterton Associates.

Under Barbara's leadership, OPX has designed significant hospitality projects including the Hilton Washington Hotel (1,110+ room and public space renovation), Courtyard Marriott Chevy Chase (one of the first LEED Gold properties in Marriott's portfolio), RLJ Kendeja Resorts & Villas (the first new hotel in Liberia in more than 20 years) and University of Maryland University College Inn & Conference Center (first LEED® certified hotel in North America). Barbara organizes the firm resources to solve clients' real estate and organizational challenges.

Nelson heads the Mid-Atlantic Real Estate practice group. He has been practicing law in the hospitality area for 25 years, and has extensive experience in negotiating management agreements. He's been involved in several significant hotel projects recently, including the hotel management agreements for Hard Rock Holdings for the Eurovegas project in Hungary. Nelson is a member of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants, Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys, and a Chambers USA (2011) leading lawyer both in real estate (DC) and in Hospitality (National).

Kimberly is Chair of Arent Fox's Hospitality Industry Practice Group. She represents clients in a wide variety of real estate and corporate transactions on both a national and local level for hospitality companies, with particular expertise in large and/or complex transactions. Kimberly has been named one of the leading real estate lawyers in DC by Chambers USA (June '10); has served as lead outside counsel on one of Real Estate Forum's "Deals of the Year" – the 1,000-room JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa; and in 2008 was selected by Legal Times as Washington's "Leading Real Estate Lawyer of the Year.