Hospitality Asset Managers Association (“HAMA”) Names 2021 Board of Directors
Officials of theHospitality Asset Managers Association ("HAMA") today announced their new board of directors for 2021. Appointed at the group's semi-annual conference held virtually this past year, the new members include:
- Larry Trabulsi, CHMWarnick, CHAM - President
- Matthew Arrants, Pinnacle Advisory Group, CHAM - Vice-President
- Sarah Gulla, Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, CHAM - Membership Chair
- Kerry Gaber, Host Hotels & Resorts - Treasurer
- Chad Sorensen, CHMWarnick, CHAM - Marketing Chair
- Elizabeth Lloyd, Ashford Hospitality Trust - Industry Chair
- David Danieli, Pebblebrook Hotel trust - International Chair
- Derrick Yee, Kahana Capital Partners, CHAM - Education Chair
- Kim Gauthier, HotelAVE, CHAM - 2020 President
- Justin Epps, Watermark Lodging Trust, Inc. - At-Large Board Member
- Dina Winder, Walton Street Capital - At-Large Board Member
New HAMA president Larry Trabulsi brings more than 20 years of hospitality industry experience and a career largely dedicated to hotel asset management, including his current role of executive vice president with CHMWarnick, a leading hotel asset management and owner advisory company. He has served as an active member of the HAMA organization for 10 years, holding numerous board and committee positions, including international chair. Trabulsi is one of only 43 active professionals in the world holding the coveted CHAM (Certified Hotel Asset Manager) designation, the only advanced certification available to accomplished hotel asset management professionals. Trabulsi has experience across a wide range of land-uses, including hotels, resorts, restaurants, golf courses, marinas and other recreational assets. His clients have ranged from developers and private equity firms to lenders and public entities, including convention center authorities, the National Park Service, the United States Forest Service and branches of the U.S. Department of Defense. He currently serves as a senior member of CHMWarnick's asset management team collectively responsible for a client portfolio of more than 70 hotels with a total value of approximately $15 billion in hospitality real estate under asset management. Trabulsi has extensive development, capital planning and renovation oversight experience and has been involved in large-scale renovation projects of over $30 million. He also is actively engaged in advising the lender community on distressed assets and on hotel receivership engagements. Trabulsi has a proven track record for collaborating with property management teams to identify opportunities for revenue enhancement, cost containment and risk mitigation and is regarded as an industry thought leader in asset management. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance/Investments and a Master's in Business Administration from Babson College.
"In light of the continued uncertainties faced by the hospitality industry, asset management has become more important than ever for owners looking for guidance and strategies for stabilizing distressed assets and effectively positioning for recovery," Trabulsi said. "This new board is comprised of some of the biggest companies and most respected professionals in the hotel sector. Under the newly formed board, we plan to deliver on the organization's core values of education, networking, and being a voice for hotel owners during these challenging times."
About HAMA
HAMA members are involved in asset management, acquisition, financing and disposition of hotels and resorts and are directly responsible for making decisions concerning capital investments, renovations, asset repositioning, operational policies and management selection. The association's mission is to, "Further the knowledge and skills of our members, facilitate peer relationships, and serve as the collective voice of members and hospitality asset owners." Its U.S. members represent more than 3,500 hotels and resorts across every major brand, accounting for 775,000 hotel rooms, 250,000 employees, $40 billion in annual revenue and $3 billion in capital expenditures. The organization boasts an additional 245 international affiliate members, as well.
