Registration Questions

Call: 202-684-2034
Email: eventregistration@bisnow.com

Request Speaker Information

Speaker Topics

Tell us a Little More

Speakers and Panels

Aaron Richter

Aaron Richter

SVP, Luxury Architecture and Designs

Marriott International

Hotel Resurgence & Identifying Future Development Trends

Identifying Trends that Will Impact Future Development

Vijay Dandapani

Vijay Dandapani

President & CEO

Hotel Association of New York City

Sofie Issembert

Sofie Issembert

Managing Director, Head of Asset Management

EOS Investors

Matthew Janukowicz

Matthew Janukowicz

Managing Director

Moelis & Company

Rika Lisslö

Rika Lisslö

Development, Luxury Lifestyle Leader

Hilton

Daniel Lesser
Moderator

Daniel Lesser

President, CEO

LW Hospitality Advisors

Vijay Dandapani

President & CEO

Hotel Association of New York City

Mr. Dandapani is a hotel industry veteran who cofounded Apple Core Hotels, an owner-operator of boutique hotels in Manhattan in 1993 and was president of the company till December 2016. He was appointed President and Chief Executive officer of the Hotel Association in January 2017.

He is an active participant in the hospitality industry and has spoken on hospitality issues at many forums sponsored by organizations such as the Lodging Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, the ALIS conference, University of California at Los Angeles, Columbia University, New York University and the National Association of Corporate Real Estate Executives.

In 1998, he was recognized by Crain’s New York Business as one of the top 100 minority business leaders in New York City. In 2002, the Asian American Business Development Center, New York selected him as one of 50 Outstanding Asian Americans in Business. He has written in a number of industry publications and the mainstream media on topics affecting the hotel industry.

As a Part of New York's response to the COVID crisis, Mr. Dandapani has been appointed by Mayor de Blasio to the COVID-19 Arts, Culture and Tourism Sector Advisory Council. He was also appointed by Governor Cuomo to the “New York Forward Advisory Board” tasked with guiding the state’s reopening strategy in the aftermath of the Covid 19 crisis.

Mr. Dandapani has a Master’s degree from Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and is a winner of the Aga Khan Foundation Scholar for graduate studies. He also holds the CHAE certification from HFTP.

Matthew Janukowicz

Managing Director

Moelis & Company

Matthew Janukowicz is a Managing Director at Moelis & Company, where he provides strategic and financial advice to Real Estate, Gaming, Lodging & Leisure (REGLL) clients, with a focus on the hospitality and leisure sector. Matt has over 15 years of investment banking and advisory experience, with expertise in executing a range of transactions throughout the corporate lifecycle, including M&A, restructurings, and capital raises for public and private companies.

Prior to joining Moelis & Company, Matt was a member of the Valuation Advisory practice at Duff & Phelps. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida and received an MBA (with Honors) from The Stern School of Business at New York University.

Investment & Acquisition Outlook

Financing & Deal Flow

Eric Jacobs

Eric Jacobs

Chief Development Officer

Marriott International

Adi Bhoopathy

Adi Bhoopathy

Managing Principal & Head of Capital Markets

Noble Investment

Rani Gharbie

Rani Gharbie

Managing Director, Investment & Development, Americas

citizenM

Joe Delli Santi

Joe Delli Santi

Chief Investment Officer

MCR Hotels

Adam Etra

Adam Etra

Vice Chairman, Co-Head of Lodging Capital Markets

Newmark

David Wilkes
Moderator

David Wilkes

Partner

Cullen and Dykman LLP

Eric Jacobs

Chief Development Officer

Marriott International

Responsible for the strategy, developement and growth of Marriott's' Select Service and Extended Stay Brands in the US and Canada. By partnering with our owners and investors, our brand leaders, architecture and construction, franchise and managed operations, I strive to drive future strategic growth and ensure the success of our brands.

Brands include: AC by Marriott

Courtyard, SpringHill Suites, Fairfeild Inn and Suites

Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites

Adi Bhoopathy

Managing Principal & Head of Capital Markets

Noble Investment

Mr. Bhoopathy is a managing principal and head of capital markets responsible for debt relationships, asset

dispositions, and transaction management. In addition, he leads contract documentation and closings

related to new acquisitions, development, and financing for all investments.

Mr. Bhoopathy has more than 23 years of hospitality industry experience and has participated in more than

$4.5 billion worth of real estate transactions for the Noble organization since joining the firm in 1999. He

became a partner in 2006 and is a regular panelist at lodging, investment, and financing conferences.

Mr. Bhoopathy earned a BS from the Cornell University School of Hospitality and is a past-president of the

Cornell Georgia Chapter and the Atlanta Hospitality Alliance. He is also a member of the Atlanta Capital

Markets Council for the Urban Land Institute.

Adam Etra

Vice Chairman, Co-Head of Lodging Capital Markets

Newmark

Adam B. Etra founded Newmark’s Lodging Capital Markets Group upon

joining the company in 2018. As the co-head of the group, Mr. Etra

provides oversight of Newmark’s lodging practice and advises

companies on the disposition, financing and recapitalization of lodging

and leisure assets (and companies) throughout North America. He also

provides advisory services for large corporate transactions, including

mergers, acquisitions, and other corporate deals. Within the lodging

space, Mr. Etra has a diverse range of experience that includes full and

select service hotels, resorts, gaming/casinos, golf/club programs and

mixed-use assets.

Prior to joining Newmark, Mr. Etra was a Managing Director at Eastdil

Secured, where he helped oversee the lodging practice. He previously

worked as an attorney in the real estate group of the law firm Hughes,

Hubbard & Reed. Over his career, Mr. Etra has been involved in lodging

transactions with an aggregate value in excess of $100 billion, including

over $45 billion since joining Newmark. His diverse client roster

includes private equity funds, hedge funds, public REITs, family offices,

private real estate investors, institutional investors, hotel

owner/operators and hotel brands.

Mr. Etra earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of

Pennsylvania and a Juris Doctor degree from George Washington

University Law School. He currently lives in Scarsdale, New York, with

his wife and two children.

David Wilkes

Moderator

Cullen and Dykman LLP

David C. Wilkes is an attorney and frequent national public speaker with over two decades of experience concentrated in property taxation, land value disputes, advising local New York State governments, managing property taxes for national and global portfolios, and advising economically- developing nations in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Africa on the design of property tax and rights legislation and infrastructure. He is quoted in and interviewed regularly for national publications such as Bloomberg Tax, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Vanity Fair, Bisnow, and local media on real estate matters. David was also lead Counsel of Record on the Amicus Brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in the matter of Tyler v. Hennpin County, challenging property tax forfeiture laws, which has received significant national attention. David is Partner in the Corporate Department of the law firm of Cullen and Dykman, LLP, which has a distinguished history dating to 1850. He was selected as the sole educator on property tax law for the

Justices and Court Attorneys of the NYS Supreme Court’s Appellate Division. He is a member of the Real Estate Board of New York’s (REBNY) Economic Development Committee, and a member of the State and Local Taxation Committee of the New York City Bar Association. David is a Director of the International Property Tax Institute and co-founder and President of the National Association of Property Tax Attorneys (NAPTA). He is a former Chairman of The Appraisal Foundation, the source of appraisal standards for the U.S. (USPAP) designated by Congress. He is also the founder of BroadTree Advisors, which partners with major national valuers to focus on the nexus between valuation and law. David has served as Senior Legal Advisor to the Republic of Egypt and the Serbian Government on homeowner financing and property tax projects. He was Editor-in-Chief of the New York State Bar

Association’s flagship magazine, the “Journal”, for 14 years, with a readership of 74,000 lawyers and judges, and was Editor-in-Chief of “Real Estate Review” (New York University) for seven years. He also served as Contributing Editor for the American Alpine Journal. He is a designated “Counselor of Real Estate” (“CRE”) and a Fellow of the London-based “RICS”, the largest

organization of property advisors in the world, where he was an elected member of its International Governing Council representing the United States, and was Chair of the Americas Valuation Council. David received the 2003 International Association of Assessing Officers’ Distinguished Real Estate Research and Development Award; the Counselors of Real Estate’s Ballard Award for Best Article of 2005; and the 2008 APEX Award for Property Tax Reform from the Westchester County Association. He is currently the

Chairman of the Westchester County Bar Association’s Tax Certiorari and Condemnation Committee. Locally, David sits on the Board of Directors of the Mohonk Preserve and has served as a member of Mohonk’s Land Protection Committee for many years and is a Life Member of the Preserve. He is also a

member of the Board of Directors of Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress, and David is the President of Roost Studios, Inc., a New Paltz not-for-profit community arts organization that was recognized as Best Art

Gallery of the Hudson Valley in 2020 by Hudson Valley Magazine. David also served as President of the Dutchess County Community Action Agency.

Enhancing Luxury Hospitality Assets Through Brands, Retail & Design

Enhancing the Customer Experience & Long Term Value of Hospitality Assets

Chip Ohlsson

Chip Ohlsson

Chief Development Officer

Wyndham Hotel Group

Gilda Perez-Alvarado

Gilda Perez-Alvarado

Chief Strategy Officer

Accor

Dan Thorman

Dan Thorman

SVP, Development

Aimbridge Hospitality

Peter Kressaty

Peter Kressaty

Chief Commercial Officer

LW Hospitality Advisors

Ian Mills

Ian Mills

Executive Director

Morris Adjmi Architects

Christy Reuter
Moderator

Christy Reuter

Partner

Blank Rome

Chip Ohlsson

Chief Development Officer

Wyndham Hotel Group

Chip Ohlsson is executive vice president and chief development officer, North America, for Wyndham Hotels &

Resorts, the world’s largest hotel-franchising company. In this role, he is responsible for the development

strategy for Wyndham’s 22 brands across North America, identifying and building strategic partnerships to

position Wyndham in new markets and increase presence in existing markets.

Ohlsson is also responsible for strengthening and expanding relationships with owners

and key ownership groups including real-estate investment trusts, developers and

financial institutions with hospitality portfolios. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts partners with

owners to provide powerful marketing and sales programs to drive reservations to hotels

while the company’s competitive online travel agencies and supplier pricing reduces

costs for hotel owners.

A 30-year veteran of the hospitality industry, Ohlsson brings with him hotel financing and portfolio management

experience, as well as many established industry relationships. Ohlsson, previously served as vice president of

North American development at Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Prior to this, Ohlsson held several leadership

positions across the industry including senior vice president, vice president and franchise sales director with

Cendant/Wyndham. During this time he oversaw sales, business development and financial management

initiatives and was consistently a top sales producer, earning accolades including Vice President of the Year.

Ian Mills

Executive Director

Morris Adjmi Architects

With a commitment to delivering exceptional projects that balance comfort with a deep respect for context, Executive Director Ian Mills, AIA, plays a pivotal role in shaping MA’s portfolio across the U.S. From large-scale residential developments to boutique hotels, he thrives on creating authentic places where people feel connected and inspired.

In Charleston, Ian is currently leading the delivery of the Four Seasons Hotel & Residences on Meeting Street—a landmark development that will bring luxury accommodations, branded residences, and world-class amenities to the heart of the historic district. His recent Charleston work also includes overseeing the delivery of The Nickel Hotel on Upper King Street, a boutique 50-key residential-style hotel that opened this summer.

Ian’s ongoing project work includes similarly ambitious mixed-use developments, such as the St. Regis Hotel & Residences in downtown Nashville, as well as the adaptive reuse of a historic Beaux-Arts bank as a boutique hotel in New Orleans. Ian also recently oversaw the delivery of two signature towers in Tampa’s Water Street District: The EDITION Hotel & Residences, the city’s first five-star hotel, and Asher/ROOST Tampa, a residential hybrid that blends long-term rental, short-term stay, and a resort-style amenity experience.

Across all projects, Ian is known for his hands-on leadership and dedication to creating meaningful, memorable places that resonate with a distinct sense of place.

Christy Reuter

Moderator

Blank Rome

Christy Reuter focuses her real estate practice on domestic and global hospitality

transactions, notably representing hospitality companies seeking to expand within

the United States and in countries around the world. She has negotiated deals in

cities throughout the United States and in various countries and cities, including Abu

Dhabi, Dubai, Japan, Turkey, Monaco, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, and Hong Kong.

Christy provides strategic legal and business counsel to clients at every stage of a

transaction. She regularly guides clients through the material business and legal

issues in complex transactions, including commercial leasing, joint venture

negotiations, operating or shareholder agreements, and license and management

agreements.

Prior to joining Blank Rome, Christy served as the chair of the hotel & hospitality

group of a New York City-based firm, and as general counsel for the internationally

acclaimed hospitality group Cipriani. She also previously served as the Assistant

Attorney General for the State of New York in the NYC Litigation Bureau

(1995–1997).

Why This 2024 NYC Hospitality Event Matters

What You'll Learn:

  • Hear the latest on the airbnb crackdown in New York City as well as the impact from the migrant crisis on the New York hotel sector.

  • Gain insight into what to expect for acquisition activity in the Northeast market for 2024 amidst the capital markets recovery.

  • Hear how New York City development activity compares to other major markets and what it will take for there to be an increase in new hotel development.

  • Hear how travel numbers and the challenging economic climate is impacting investor appetite in the New York City hotel market. 

  • In a competitive hotel market, how are asset managers and property managers enhancing the appeal of their luxury assets?

  • Which areas in New York City are in highest demand for guests and how does that compare to other markets across the country?

How you'll do more business:

Hear from developers, hotel owners, investors, designers and city officials on the future of hotel development and investment activity. Furthermore, learn how the hotel industry is navigating this choppy market while insuring the supply and demand dynamics are ready for when the market normalizes. 

Who attends:

Investors, hotel owners, developers, lenders, brokers, lawyers, city officials, architects, engineers, contractors and property managers. 

Why should you attend:

Bisnow events bring together the biggest power players in the industry to identify opportunities, build your network, and expand your business. With the largest audience of commercial real estate professionals in the world, no one knows how to help your business more than us.

For questions, recommendations, comments, or press inquiries please email our Director of New York Events, Chris Picher at chris.picher@bisnow.com. 

To request disability-related accommodations, please contact lucrezia.manzo@bisnow.com no later than seven business days prior to the event.

2024 New York Hotel Featured Projects

Venue

Venue 42 by Convene
5 Times Square (the corner of 42nd st & 7th Avenue)
New York, NY

Function room/Level: West Gallery - 5th Floor

Please find more information regarding the building security access and how to find the venue here.


Get Directions

Agenda

Time Activity
12:00 PM
1:00 PM
Coffee, Breakfast & Networking
1:00 PM
1:45 PM
Hotel Resurgence & Identifying Future Development Trends

1. Gain insight into New York's impressive rebound for the lodging industry and what lies ahead for hotel development.
2. Hear the latest on trends impacting investment and development activity in the hotel sector, including the migrant crisis and the airbnb crackdown.

1:45 PM
2:30 PM
Enhancing Luxury Hospitality Assets Through Brands, Retail & Design

1. Design, property and asset management strategies that allow hotel brands to get ahead in the competitive market.

2:30 PM
3:15 PM
Investment & Acquisition Outlook

1. Owners, operators, lenders and brokers discuss the lending markets and how this impacting overall investment levels in the hotel sector.
2. What to expect in 2024 for acquisition activity.

3:15 PM
3:30 PM
Networking

WANT THE ATTENDEE LIST FOR FREE?

Biscred's sales and marketing CRE prospecting tool allows users to identify companies and contacts based on industry, asset class experience, job seniority, location, and more CRE-specific indicators. Schedule a demo with Biscred here and receive the attendee list for free when you mention this promotion.