Hodges Ward Elliott to Introduce New Marketing Concepts in Response to Change in Hotel Real Estate Dynamics

ATLANTA, GA, June 1, 2009—Hodges Ward Elliott, Inc. (HWE), the nation’s premier hotel brokerage and investment banking firm, today announced that it will introduce new proprietary marketing concepts to respond to the change in hotel real estate dynamics and the expected market shift in hotel real estate transactions over the next six to 24 months.

Hotel veteran Bill Linehan (top right photo) has joined the firm to spearhead the new marketing and new business development program.

In addition, the company announced that Chris Martin has joined its London office.

“We see similar opportunities in the coming months that we experienced when the RTC came into being in the early 1990s,” said Mark Elliott, (middle right photo) principal of Hodges Ward Elliott.

“We responded then by introducing the next generation of highly creative and information-rich sales and marketing documents that provided better information to the investor market.

"We believe the stagnation of transactions caused by the current credit crisis is creating another ‘perfect storm’ that will require new tools and techniques, as well as introduce a new generation of buyers.”

Elliott noted that a variety of capital approaches are recalibrating the playing field. “We are consulting with a number of new private investors that are gearing up for a surge in acquisitions.

"We also are working closely with existing clients to help crystallize their capital strategies. This combination, which includes new debt and equity structures, demands new approaches to the hotel investment banking and transaction market.”

“In our nearly 35 years as a firm through numerous real estate cycles, we know that the first-in investor will generate the highest returns,” said Bill Hodges, (top left photo) principal of HWE.

“However, those investors will require data, insight, strategies and a strong courage of conviction.
“Over the past three years, our firm completed more than $12 billion in transactions and our goal is to continue to be the industry-leader,” he said. “The largest transfer of wealth in a generation has begun and it will affect the hotel industry well into the future.”

“The current economic crisis has created a new paradigm, and we expect the next 12 to 24 months to be game-changing as the credit crisis has brought more rigor to the process,” said Bob Webster, (bottom right photo) HWE managing director.

“Although there has been only nominal transaction activity during the first half of 2009, prospective buyers are becoming more engaged and decisive in their acquisition initiatives. On the sell side, we are listing a number of portfolios and strategic individual assets, which we believe is a leading indicator of the next series of transactions.”

Contact: Jerry Daly or Chris Daly, (703) 435-6293