The Hotel Buy Beechwood

On this episode of #TheHotelBuy, we are joined by Tony Cohen, Partner and Executive Vice President of Crescent Hotels & Resorts, as well as President and CEO of Global Edge Investments.

Tony has had many accomplishments in his career, opening many hotels and restaurants, in addition to founding his own company.

As Partner & Executive Vice President, Tony is the driving force behind Crescent Hotels & Resort's growth in Canada. In addition to venturing jointly with Crescent in Canada, Tony is President and CEO of Global Edge Investments (GEI), a hospitality and lifestyle-based investment company he founded in 1998. Global Edge has a range of investments in the hospitality industry, ranging from restaurants and hotels to online hospitality sites. His continued success in the hospitality business stems from a long-held passion for customer satisfaction and a drive to provide the best service.

Tony has launched 45 restaurants throughout Canada and, in 2003, opened the successful Hotel Le Germain Toronto, in which he partnered with Groupe Germain. Quebec City-based Boutique Hoteliers recently voted as one of the 50 best-managed Canadian companies for the seventh year in a row. GEI, in partnership with Freed Developments, opened the phenomenally successful Thompson Toronto Hotel. Global Edge has also taken an active role in the launch of Wahanda.com, a spa and wellness resource guide, booking engine and online community-based in London, England. Tony attended the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, and is the 2012 recipient of the Ontario Hostelry Institute Gold Award for Hotelier of the Year.
The Hotel Buy is presented by Beechwood Real Estate Advisors.

For more information about Beechwood, please visit: https://www.beechwoodadvisory.com

On this episode of The Hotel Buy, Sylvia & Jennifer are joined by Bob Jackson from Vintage Hotels & the CEO of Lais Hotels Properties Limited.

Bob Jackson is the CEO and a Board Director of Lais Hotels Properties Limited (LHPL). In this role since 2009, Bob brings a successful track record of more than 25 years of experience in corporate and executive leadership. He is responsible for the overall financial and operational performance of the business, as well as the expansion through business/property acquisition and development. Along with the Board and Executive Team of LHPL, Bob has been highly successful in expanding the size, scope and value of the company.

Bob joined LHPL in 2004 when he was appointed General Manager of the Prince of Wales; where he concurrently directed the Sales and Marketing effort for the entire group. He also assumed the position of General Manager of Queens Landing in 2005. And in 2007, was appointed to the position of Vice President of Operations and Managing Director for the group. Beginning his career in Toronto, Bob grew through the hotel ranks in progressively senior positions before relocating to Niagara Falls in the late 90’s. He then spent 7 years in executive positions with Canadian Niagara Hotels Inc., before joining Lais Hotel Properties in 2004. 

Bob is a graduate of the University of Windsor, the Cornell Hotel School Professional Development Program, and is the recipient of an Honorary Bachelor of Applied Studies degree from Niagara College. He also previously served as the Chair/Director of the Niagara College Foundation Board, Board Director of The Niagara Wine Auction Foundation, and mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of North & West Niagara.
The Hotel Buy is presented by Beechwood Real Estate Advisors.

For more information about Beechwood, please visit: https://www.beechwoodadvisory.com

On this episode of The Hotel Buy, Sylvia is joined by Sarah Sklash & April Brown, Co-Founders of The June Motel.
They share their experiences from acquisition to branding strategy, and how their current renovations are going at their Beaver Valley property.
 
To watch the video version of this episode, please click here.


Sarah Sklash is the co-founder of The June Motel. Prior to becoming a motelier, Sarah spent a decade working in public service, focused on creating customer-centric, efficient processes. She continues to focus on keeping operations running smoothly at The June and is always seeking to make the guest experience as great as possible. She also finds a decade of government experience useful in navigating all the government interactions required as an entrepreneur. Sarah is a graduate of Ivey Business School. Most recently, she and her co-founder April Brown were the subject of a Netflix series - Motel Makeover - that followed their renovation of The June Sauble Beach.
Sarah is a passionate traveler, and believes that the moment you first open the doors to a new hotel room is the best feeling in the world. A globe-trotter through and through, Sarah has lived in Australia, Belgium, France, Hong Kong, Israel and is now living part-time in Bermuda.  Further hobbies of Sarah’s include skiing, leisurely bike rides, and of course, travel.

April Brown is a co-founder of The June Motel and star of the Netflix Series - Motel Makeover,  a reality series that follows the renovation of The June. Prior to becoming a motelier, April studied business and public relations at Western University, then began her career at a PR Agency where she worked on big name consumer brands.  Always a fan of a girls’ getaway to wine country, in 2016 April and her best friend Sarah were craving something new, so they ditched their desk jobs and bought a dingy roadside motel to become the ultimate destination for rosé lovers everywhere. The rest is history. In addition to having a keen eye for design, April’s decade of experience, as the brains behind massively successful PR campaigns, made her the perfect curator behind The June Motel’s lively social media presence, which has gained a massive global following and become a huge driver of their business. 
April currently lives in Prince Edward County, where she’s  renovating her house. With a passion for travel and exploration, April’s favourite type of travel is what she calls ‘slow travel,” where she is able to spend several weeks in one destination to get a comprehensive taste for the environment and the people. A few of April’s other passions include design, where she believes in the mantra “paint it pink!” and wine, in the belief that the brevity of life calls for good wine. 


The Hotel Buy is presented by Beechwood Real Estate Advisors.

For more information about Beechwood, please visit: https://www.beechwoodadvisory.com

On this episode of The Hotel Buy, Sylvia & Jennifer are joined by Don Cleary from Marriott International, Inc.

Don Cleary is the President, Canada of Marriott International, Inc. Mr. Cleary oversees the development, leadership, operation, growth, and financial management of over 270 Marriott International hotels spanning 22 of the 31 Marriott International brands currently in Canada. Mr. Cleary was also responsible for leading the transition of all managed and franchised Delta and Starwood hotels into the Marriott portfolio. 

Mr. Cleary began his career with Marriott International in 1989 as a Senior Attorney in the Law Department. Prior to his current role, Mr. Cleary was based in Hong Kong as the Chief Operations Officer, Asia Pacific where he had operating responsibility for the region’s portfolio of hotels and played an integral role in portfolio development. Mr. Cleary also served as the Chief Financial Officer, Asia Pacific, where he led all continent finance functions driving profitability and growth. 

Before joining the Asia Pacific team, Mr. Cleary held multiple leadership positions in North America including Area Vice President of Operations for the Western Region, Senior Vice President, Asset Management, and Vice President, International Hotel Development for Central and South America, where he was responsible for leading all new and converted managed and franchised hotel projects. 

Mr. Cleary received his bachelor’s degree in political science and government from the University of Notre Dame, while also earning his law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School. 

Mr. Cleary currently resides in Canada and the United States. He is a husband and father to one son and twin daughters.

To watch the video version of this episode, please click here.
The Hotel Buy is presented by Beechwood Real Estate Advisors.

For more information about Beechwood, please visit: https://www.beechwoodadvisory.com

On this episode of The Hotel Buy, Sylvia & Jennifer are joined by Minaz Rahemtulla, Executive Chair & Managing Director from LHM Canada.

With over 30 years of experience, Minaz is the go-to source and resource in the hospitality industry. Minaz brings an extraordinary level of deal structuring expertise, from viability, to financing, to partner sourcing. He has participated in many property acquisitions in many markets around the globe.

Spearheading the LHM team, he focuses specifically on due diligence, brand selection and negotiation, and financing and strategic planning. He is the current Co-Chair of the Jubilee Hospitality Association Canada, a non-profit organization (22,000 rooms strong) bringing knowledge and resources to hotel owners across Canada. He is also Incoming Chair of the IHG Canada Committee for 2024.

Minaz enjoys spending his downtime golfing, travelling, playing squash and volunteering.

To watch the video version of this episode, please click here.
The Hotel Buy is presented by Beechwood Real Estate Advisors.

For more information about Beechwood, please visit: https://www.beechwoodadvisory.com