034 | Thank, Appreciate and Connect with Your Associates with Walter Isenberg

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Walter Isenberg is Co-Founder, President & Chief Executive Officer of Sage Hospitality, one of the top hotel investment, management and development companies in the United States for more than 30 years. Based in Denver, Sage Hospitality owns and operates over 75 hotels and 10 restaurants in 23 states, from urban full-service hotels to smaller select-service suburban properties. Isenberg directs all company operations, including property management, development and finance.

Last year, Hotel Business ranked Sage Hospitality #17 in their Top 100 Management Companies of 2014 report. Keep Reading »

033 | Attitude Decides the Latitude in Life with Hemant Patel

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Hemant “Henry” Patel CHO CHA was born and raised in India, and he immigrated to the United States in 1986. Within a few short years, he and his wife settled in Miami, Florida, where they invested in their first property – The King Motel – an independent property on Biscayne Blvd. He also has an interest in a franchised property and another one in the pipeline. Keep Reading »

032 | Bridging the Generation Gap with Nimesh Zaver

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Nimesh “Nick” Zaver was born and raised in London, England, and he immigrated to the United States with his family in 1981. After graduating from high school, Nimesh attended college-level courses in business and architecture at institutions including the University of Central Florida, the University of Arkansas at Monticello and Louisiana Tech University.

Before completing his college education, Nimesh opted to pursue a career in the hospitality industry with his parents, and by the age of 22, he built his first hotel. He now owns and operates 5 properties in local Lake Charles, La, and he has several more in the pipeline. Keep Reading »

031 | Do the Right Thing, Then Do the Thing Right with Sterling Stoudenmire

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Sterling Stoudenmire is versatile executive proven in uniquely challenging situations involving transformation, turnaround, re-engineering and disruption. A successful, top-tier consultant and chief executive, he delivers value through the synthesis of a unique and distinct skillset in finance, strategy and technology combined with innate ability to lead, inspire and mentor others. Keep Reading »

030 | Find a Mentor and Listen! with Greg Plank

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Greg Plank’s diverse hospitality career spans more than 50 years, beginning as a receiving clerk at the Barclay Hotel in Philadelphia. He graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel Administration. He worked in advertising for hotel clients in New York in account management and some creative work. Greg moved to Boston to work with: Sheraton Corporation as Manager of Food and Beverage Marketing and Director of Marketing for Sheraton’s Franchise Division. Keep Reading »

029 | Student of the Industry: A Foot Soldier’s Journey with Chip Elbers

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Chip is a hospitality veteran and he’s been serving the industry for more than 30 years. He’s done it all. From Dish Washer, to Front Desk Agent, Assistant General Manager, General Manager, Sales Manager, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Development Officer, and Vice President. Keep Reading »

027 | Actionable Performance Data: Knowing is Growing with Bobby Bowers

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Bobby Bowers is the Senior Vice President of Operations for STR – formerly known as Smith Travel Research. STR is the leading global provider of competitive benchmarking, information services and research to the hotel industry. STR gathers performance data from over 50,000 hotels located in more than 160 countries, and those properties use STR products, such as the STAR Report or Hotel Survey, to benchmark their hotel’s performance versus a competitive set or market segment. Keep Reading »

025 | Bringing Magic To Hotels With Kunal Patel

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Kunal Patel grew up in the hotel industry. The son of successful multi-property owners, he learned firsthand how difficult it is to make a hotel run efficiently.

Kunal commenced studies in Business at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Fla, before transferring to Florida State/Florida A&M College of Engineering, where he majored in Chemical Engineering. Keep Reading »