I joined HVS as a Consulting & Valuation Associate at our firm’s newly launched Washington, D.C., office in 2016. Over the next five years, I worked on a wide range of assignments across the country, including hotel valuations, feasibility studies, and market analyses. In 2021, I left HVS to join Rosewood Hotel Group’s development team, gaining valuable experience on the brand side of the industry. I rejoined HVS’s Asset Management & Advisory division in late 2022, where I now lead business development efforts and help grow our portfolio of asset-managed hotels. I also serve as Asset Manager for two full-service hotels in Pennsylvania and lead many of our brand and operator search and selection engagements.
I’ve always appreciated the diverse exposure HVS provides, working on unique assignments across the Americas and building relationships with interesting clients. My foundation in hotel operations stems from hands-on roles at luxury properties, such as The Ritz London; Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C.; Ritz-Carlton Georgetown; and Rosewood Washington, D.C. (formerly Capella Georgetown), which was incidentally asset managed by HVS from 2013 to 2016. Working alongside the HVS Asset Management team during my time at Capella gave me a firsthand understanding of what it means to view hotel operations through an owner’s lens—an experience that ultimately inspired me to join the firm.
No two weeks are alike, but here’s a snapshot of a typical week, including some specifics related to a project:
Monday (Setting the Tone)
- I start the week with our internal team meeting, where we share updates and set key goals.
- I review emails and messages from over the weekend and organize my calendar around client meetings, site visits, and proposal deadlines.
- I begin work on the owner’s quarterly asset management presentation for one of our hotels, ensuring it reflects current operating performance and strategic priorities.
Tuesday–Wednesday (Asset Management Site Visit)
- I travel to one of our asset-managed hotels for an onsite visit and financial performance review with the hotel’s management team. At HVS, we aim to visit every asset in our portfolio at least once per quarter; some receive more frequent touchpoints depending on ownership needs.
- Site visits include a full walk-through of the property to ensure brand standards are upheld and to identify any capital expenditure (CapEx) needs.
- After the visit, I compile a detailed property report summarizing findings and recommendations, which is shared with ownership.
Thursday–Friday (Offsite Brand Presentation)
- I travel to Miami, where one of our clients is based for meetings. We are running a Brand Search & Selection process for this client for a ground-up development project in the LATAM region.
- Various brands participating in the Brand Search & Selection process make formal brand presentations and showcases of their products. Fortunately, Miami is home to a wide variety of hotel brands, making it logistically easier to go from hotel to hotel to view the respective showcases and presentations. After the presentations, I meet with the client to debrief, provide feedback, and discuss next steps.
- I take the opportunity to meet potential clients we are prospecting while I am in the city. Prospecting clients is a regular part of my job, and I relish the opportunity to make in-person connections.
- On Friday afternoons, I catch up on missed calls, follow-ups, and final tasks to close out the week strong.
What I enjoy most about being part of HVS is the culture of shared success. We all work hard, challenge each other to grow, freely share knowledge, and celebrate wins together. I’ve had the opportunity to learn from some of the best minds in the industry, including many of my managers, whose guidance has shaped the way I approach problem-solving and client service. HVS has a trusted reputation in the hospitality industry, and it’s a privilege to represent a firm that is well respected and relied upon by hotel owners.
