|
Tracy Prigmore |
ATLANTA, GA — Officials of She Has a Deal announced
the six finalist teams selected to advance to the final round of SHaDPitch
2022.
The
annual hotel investment pitch competition allows teams of early-career, women
hospitality students to compete for the prize of $50,000 in hotel deal equity
following the conclusion of a virtual, preliminary round of pitching.
|
Rebecca DelValle
|
The goal of She Has a Deal is to increase
the number of women hotel owners and developers, and the organization offers
inspiration and education to channel the power of collaboration and mentorship. |
Alexandra Vendola
|
She Has a Deal creates new pathways to hotel
ownership and development by exposing participants to the hard-to-find details
needed to successfully source, analyze and close hotel real estate investment
deals. |
Morgan Mason
|
During the preliminary judging round, 10
teams comprised of 20 participants pitched hotel investment acquisition or
development projects live on Zoom to a judging panel of top-level hotel
business executives, entrepreneurs and investors. |
Brylynn Smith
|
The judges evaluated and selected the
following six teams, listed in alphabetical order:
1. ART, LLC: Rebecca DelValle and Alexandra
Vendola from University of New Haven
|
Lauren Graff
|
2. 3. ASM Consolidated, LLC: Morgan Mason
from Purdue University
4. 5. L&B Hospitality Consulting: Brylynn
Smith and Lauren Graff from San Diego State University
6.
|
Lilian Amirfazli |
7. L&J Investments: Lilian
Amirfazli, Lily Payne and Jayln Rowley from Michigan State University
8. 9. Lumine Investments: Shanti Huang
and Valerie Feng from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
|
Lily Payne
|
Quarters & Halves: Yvana Petros, graduate of George Washington University
Elliott School of International Affairs, and Shannah Reagan, graduate of
University of Pennsylvania
|
Jayln Rowley |
12.
The teams, who started the She Has a Deal
process in September 2021, completed more than 30 hours of intensive hotel
investment education to learn how to source, evaluate and raise capital for a
real hotel deal.
|
Shanti Huang |
Pitches included new construction hotels,
acquisitions with complete property improvement plans and conversions of hotels
in markets ranging from St. Louis and San Diego to Central Florida and South
Georgia.
|
Yvana Petros
|
"This year's group of aspiring women
hotel investors and developers brought a fresh, diverse perspective to hotel
development and strategy. |
Ravi Patel |
"Their charisma, professionalism and
potential to transform the industry shined throughout the competition,"
said Judge and Chief Executive Officer of SINA Hospitality Ravi Patel.
|
Geoff Ballotti |
She Has a Deal founder, Tracy Prigmore of
TLTsolutions, said about the virtual competition:
“In
our third year, I remain inspired and impressed by the amount of work and
effort our participants put into their projects. The support of our
luminaries and sponsors makes it clear that we have deep support in the
industry.”
|
Mark Hoplamazian
|
Prigmore went on to say, “Everyone has a
role to play when it comes to making change. As the saying goes, ‘It
takes a village,’ and we need the entire industry to rally together to
accelerate its transformation.
"When more women are owning and
developing hotels, the world will experience the brilliance of these women in
hospitality, and the industry will explode with innovation.”
|
Elie Malouf |
The final pitch competition will take place
at the Innovation Gallery at Hilton McLean Tysons Corner April 28-29.
The competition will be followed by an
awards and networking luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner, where all of
the participants will be celebrated.
|
Chris Nassetta
|
This year, the luncheon will include a
conversation with the CEOs of SHaD’s hotel company partners, Geoff Ballotti
of Wyndham, Mark Hoplamazian of Hyatt, Elie Malouf of IHG, Chris
Nassetta of Hilton and Patrick Pacious of Choice.
|
Patrick Pacious |
For more information and to purchase
tickets, visit www.shehasadeal.com.
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