Hotel Investment Landscape: Current Dynamics and Emerging Opportunities

Who’s investing, where the capital is flowing, and what it means for the next wave of hospitality development.

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  Daniel Berman

  Daniel Berman is a visionary entrepreneur originally from Venezuela who moved to the United States to pursue a bold dream—to build one of the most respected hospitality and real estate companies in the industry. In 2008, he founded AD1, which has since grown into a dynamic platform known for acquiring, developing, and managing high-performing hospitality assets. With a relentless focus on excellence, Daniel led AD1 through economic shifts and personal challenges, guided by strong values, work ethic, and a deep commitment to people. His leadership has fostered long-term relationships with employees, investors, and global hotel brands, while expanding into full-scale development and mixed-use projects. Daniel believes that success is most powerful when it’s shared—a principle that continues to shape his company culture and long-term vision to elevate the guest experience, empower teams, and create lasting value through world-class hospitality and transformative real estate.

  Mint Developers

  Co-CEO

  Daniel Berman

  Co-CEO

  Mint Developers

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  Alinio Azevedo

  As Managing Director, Luxury and Lifestyle for Driftwood Capital, Alinio brings his 25+ years of luxury and lifestyle hospitality experience to lead Driftwood Capital’s further expansion into these segments, as well as to support Driftwood Hospitality’s management and operating expertise in highly-amenitized, service-focused and mixed- use properties. Most recently, prior to joining Driftwood Capital, Alinio was CEO of Aspen Hospitality, where he led the company’s management and expansion strategies as well as oversaw the operation of its portfolio of owned and operated hotels and residences. These consisted of The Little Nell, Aspen’s only Five-Star, Five-Diamond, ski-in/ski-out hotel, and its affiliated Residences at The Little Nell, both located at the base of Aspen Mountain; and the upscale Limelight Hotel Aspen and Limelight Hotel Snowmass in Colorado, as well as the Limelight Hotel Ketchum/Sun Valley in Idaho and the Limelight Hotel in Denver. Alinio also managed $700M in capital deployment to initiate development of three new hotel properties in Mammoth Lakes, Boulder, and New York City under the Limelight and The Little Nell brands. Alinio was also a global board member of Relais & Chateaux. Alinio’s twenty-five-year career also includes hotel/resort acquisitions and development for Loews Hotels, the opening of a Miami development office and brand expansion in the Americas for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, hospitality and real estate advisory services for Ernst and Young LLP in Miami, and hotel investment and development for Cardel Hotels. An internationally-experienced and quadrilingual industry professional, Alinio’s past experiences include investor relations and projects in North America, Caribbean, Latin Americas, Europe and the Middle East. Community involvement has always been vital to Alinio as a third-generation Rotary International member and as a board-member of the American Business Immigration Council, a bi-partisan group of business leaders which promotes policy changes in support of immigrant families. As a former adjunct Professor of Hospitality Feasibility in the Hospitality Management Master’s Program at Florida International University, Alinio served as a mentor to the next generation of hospitality leaders. Alinio recently completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School, has an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the Universidade Federal Do Rio Grande Do Norte, Natal, Brazil. Alinio has also attended the École Supérieure des Sciences Économiques et Commerciales (ESSEC) in Paris, France.

  Driftwood Capital

  Managing Director

  Alinio Azevedo

  Managing Director

  Driftwood Capital

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  Russell Urban

  Russ Urban is the CEO, Principal and Managing Partner for Electra America Hospitality Group. A hospitality professional with over 45 years of U.S., global institutional, and entrepreneurial experience, Russ has served in leadership roles for multiple owner/operators including HEI, High, Lowe, and Marriott. He has also founded his own hotel ventures, including Hotel Partners. Russ has extensive expertise in resort, urban, and suburban hotel asset acquisition, and development/renovation, including site selection, entitlements, financing, pre-construction, architectural design, construction, lease negotiations, and historic tax credits. Russ has considerable experience in island communities, including Nevis, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, and Martha’s Vineyard. Other areas of expertise include talent acquisition and development, collaborative decision-making, culture building, and results-driven financial accountability. Russ graduated from Cornell University School of Hotel Administration in 1981 and serves on the board of Cornell Hotel Society Foundation. Further, Russ is a current Trustee and past Chairperson of the Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, its Presidential Search Committee, Leadership & Governance Committee, and the former Board Chair of Lancaster County Tourism Authority.

  Electra America Hospitality Group

  CEO & Principal

  Russell Urban

  CEO & Principal

  Electra America Hospitality Group

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  Glenn Alba

  Co-Founder & Managing Partner

  TMGOC Ventures

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  Marco Roca

  VP, Development

  Sonesta International Hotels

• Moderator

  Daniel Lesser

  President, CEO

  LW Hospitality Advisors

The Power of Hospitality Branding: Strategic Expansion & Development

How top hotel brands are partnering with developers, investors, and local markets to drive growth and build the next generation of hospitality destinations.

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  Pamela Vasquez

  Director of Development, Caribbean

  Marriott International

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  Alex Mai

  Regional VP- Caribbean & Latin America

  IHG Hotels & Resorts

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  Stephan Strenk

  VP, Development

  Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

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  Michael Register

  Michael Register, Chief Development Officer HE CALA, a division of Hotel Equities Michael Register is Chief Development Officer for Hotel Equities CALA where he leads the Hotel Equities CALA division’s sourcing of new opportunities and owner relations. Before joining Hotel Equities, Michael was a Managing Director at Highgate Hotels focused on the Caribbean and Latin America, where he was instrumental in sourcing and negotiating management contracts in the CALA region. Prior to Highgate, Michael was a partner in Trust Hospitality, a boutique hotel management company primarily focused on the Caribbean and Latin America. Trust managed hotels in Mexico, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Brazil, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Panama, Anguilla, Aruba, Curacao, the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Trinidad, and St. Lucia. Before forming Trust Hospitality, Michael oversaw business development and legal matters for Nikki Beach worldwide, opening locations in St. Tropez, St. Barths, Marbella, New York, Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Marrakesh, and Koi Samui. Prior to working in the hospitality industry, Michael was the co-founder of a successful software company, AAT, which was acquired by a publicly traded Swiss company. He also practiced international corporate and business law in Brazil (Pinheiro Neto Law Firm in Sao Paulo) and Miami (Valdes-Fauli, Petrey and Bishoff).

  Hotel Equities

  Chief Development Officer

  Michael Register

  Chief Development Officer

  Hotel Equities

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  Louis Journel

  Sr. Development Manager

  Hilton - Caribbean

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  Nolan Carter

  Nolan Carter is a standout business leader dedicated to driving real estate owners towards growth and success. With a strong skill set and a passion for helping companies thrive in a competitive market, he stands out among his peers. Currently serving as a Senior Advisor in the Hospitality Practice at The Baldwin Group, Nolan previously graduated from The University of Tampa's Sykes College of Business. In his role, he handles strategic responsibilities such as identifying clients' objectives, designing insurance programs, and building lasting client relationships. Nolan has spent his career learning the real estate business across various asset types to truly stand out as an advisor in his role. He also collaborates with colleagues and industry experts globally to develop risk management strategies.

  The Baldwin Group

  Senior Advisor

  Moderator

  Nolan Carter

  Senior Advisor

  The Baldwin Group

Beyond the Stay: Redefining Hospitality with Elevated Amenities and Experiences

How top developers and operators are using branding, technology, and curated experiences to redefine success in today’s competitive hospitality market.

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  Rika Lisslö

  Hotel Development

  Formerly of Hyatt Hotels

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  Gilberto Garcia-Tunon

  COO

  MG Hospitality

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  Mark Pratt

  Mark Pratt is Vice President and the Global Hospitality Practice Leader for LEO A DALY’s internationally renowned hospitality design group. With over 30 years of experience working with major hotel brands, he has devoted his career to building lasting relationships with developers, hoteliers and brands to envision and realize extraordinary hospitality projects. His contributions have significantly impacted the development of the industry with proficiency in brand selection and approval processes, site selection and design and the ability to source equity for the capital stack. Mark’s expertise is comprehensive, covering all phases of planning, design and construction across the spectrum of hospitality, including luxury, full-service, boutique, resort and convention center hotels. Working with top brands such as Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide and IHG, he has been involved in hundreds of hospitality projects both in the United States and internationally. Mark is visionary, bringing forward-thinking leadership skills to guide the LEO A DALY Hospitality Team towards aspirational growth working on an ever-increasing list of impressive projects with exceptional clients. Additionally, as an accomplished speaker and presenter immersed in the world of hospitality, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the firm, expanding the hospitality portfolio and services in new and exciting markets. Under Mark’s leadership, the hospitality team is consistently ranked as one of Interior Design Magazine’s Top 100 Hospitality Giants, recently received multiple NEWH TopID Honors, Ranked in the top 25 on Building Design + Construction’s Giants 300, Hotels & Resorts and Ranked in the top 10 for Hotel Business Design’s Top Designers/Architects. His list of projects is impressive, including recent work on the following: Leading Hotels of the World, Luxury Resort and Spa in Mammee Bay, Jamaica; Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club in Rendezvous Bay, Anguilla; Cap Cove Redevelopment in St Lucia: A luxury Resort in Barbuda Antigua: A Branded Residence Lifestyle Resort in Montego Bay Jamaica: LaQuinta Resort & Golf Club in LaQuinta, California; Ritz Carlton Las Colinas in Las Colinas, Texas; Grand Hyatt Indian Wells in Indian Wells, California; Westin Washington, DC in Washington, D.C. and The Diplomat in Hollywood, Florida.

  LEO A DALY

  Global Hospitality Market Leader

  Mark Pratt

  Global Hospitality Market Leader

  LEO A DALY

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  Todd Tyler

  Todd Tyler is an accomplished interior designer, furniture designer, and creative leader with over two decades of experience in the industry. He is currently the Chief Creative Officer of Studio IDC, a full-service Miami-based interior design and procurement firm specializing in luxury residential and hospitality projects. After earning his BFA in Interior Design from The Art Institute, Todd worked with Kenneth Brown Design in Los Angeles, then moved on as a Senior Designer with Jennifer Bradford Davis Interior Design, where he collaborated on a range of high-profile residential projects in NYC and Mustique. Todd also served as a furniture designer for Blue Leaf Hospitality, where he created case goods, indoor and outdoor seating, upholstery, tables, and banquettes for the hospitality and commercial industries. His work has been featured in national design publications and received praise for its beauty, functionality, and attention to detail. Throughout his career, Todd has been recognized for his professionalism and dedication to the tenets of interior design. He draws inspiration from all forms of art, including fine art, film, fashion, music, and theater, and in his downtime can often be found visiting museums around the world. As a former competitive elite gymnast, Todd learned valuable life lessons such as always putting your whole heart into everything you do, discipline, competitive spirit, and accountability, which continue to serve his colleagues and clients today. He is a proud member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and holds certification from the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ), two of the most respected professional organizations in the industry.

  Studio IDC

  Chief Creative Officer

  Todd Tyler

  Chief Creative Officer

  Studio IDC

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  Sara Shake

  Principal

  Vacancy

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  Ken Shook

  Ken Shook is a Principal at Trinity with over two decades of consulting experience. Ken is driven to provide excellent acoustical solutions customized to each client’s unique needs. Ken is known for his focus, collaborative approach and ability to manage a wide range of projects—large or small—with uses spanning hospitality, residential, corporate interiors and higher ed. He’s particularly adept at translating municipal requirements for building glazing and facade design, which allows him to streamline the approval process for developers.

  Principal

  Trinity

  Moderator

  Ken Shook

  Trinity

  Principal