HHOA Elects Two New Board Members

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Officials of the Hispanic Hotel Owners Association (HHOA), a rapidly growing non-profit organization that seeks to increase Latino ownership of hotels, today announced the election of two new members to its Board of Directors: Juan Carlos Contalba, (middle left photo)  vice president, international development, Benchmark Hospitality, and Jose Luis Lopez, (top right photo) president, Lopez Marketing Group.

“Both of these individuals bring a wealth of valuable experience to our board of directors,” said Angela Gonzalez-Rowe, (bottom right photo)  founder and president of the Hispanic Hotel Owners Association.

“Juan Contalba is with a leading hotel developer/owner/operator with more than 22 hotels and has in-depth experience and expertise in international markets. Jose Lopez is a highly active and visible member of the Hispanic community who can help HHOA identify and reach out to new potential hotel investors. We expect both men to play a key role in our outreach initiatives to increase the presence of Latinos in the hospitality industry.”

A two-decade veteran of the hospitality industry, Contalba has extensive experience in establishing and operating international ventures in the United States, Europe (France, Monaco, UK, Switzerland, Italy), the Caribbean, Central and South America (Mexico, Costa Rica, Argentina, Panama, Chile).

 He began his career with Benchmark Hospitality International and later served with Hyatt Hotels Corporation. He subsequently left the industry to enter the legal and financial fields.

In his career, he has represented foreign companies and individuals doing business in the United States, as well as U.S. entities and individuals doing business abroad. He attended Rice University and the South Texas College of Law.

Lopez is founder and president of Lopez Marketing Group, Inc., an integrated marketing and public relations firm based in El Paso, Texas. During his career in consumer marketing, he spent more than 15 years in El Paso supervising advertising campaigns for such national companies as Nabisco, Kimberley-Clark, Procter & Gamble, Quaker Oats and Pepsi. Prior to founding his own firm, he was responsible for regional marketing for Coca-Cola Foods Division.

 A civic activist, Lopez currently serves on the boards of the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Education Development Foundation and the USHCC (U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce), is past chairman of the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and is former committee chair of the United Way. He earned his BA degree from the University of Texas at El Paso.

Additional information about HHOA is available at the association’s Web site, http://www.hhoa.org/. To learn more about the Hotel Investment Series, contact Angela Gonzalez-Rowe at 202-587-5707, or http://www.hhoa.org/.

Contact: Jerry Daly or Chris Daly, Daly Gray Public Relations, (703) 435-6293, jerry@dalygray.com

HHOA Revises Annual Convention Concept to Regional Events in Response to Economy

First Meeting to Be Held September 21 in Phoenix, Prior to Lodging Conference

PHOENIX, AZ, Aug. 27, 2009—Officials of the Hispanic Hotel Owners Association (HHOA), a rapidly growing non-profit organization that seeks to increase Latino ownership of hotels, today announced they it has re-concepted its annual convention into a series of regional events that will be more cost-effective and reach more interested Latino investors during the current recession.

The first regional meeting will be held in Phoenix on Monday, September 21, 2009, between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Mountain Time at the Arizona Biltmore hotel, (top left photo) the evening before the 2009 Lodging Conference.


Cost to register is $25 for members and $30 for non-members; on-line registration is available at http://www.hhoa.org/.

“Our members and savvy investors told us that interest in hotel investments remains high, but restrained due to the economy and a general desire to cut expenses,” said Angela Gonzalez-Rowe, (middle right photo) founder and president of the Hispanic Hotel Owners Association.

“We have adapted our format accordingly and, where possible, will schedule our regional events to coincide with major hotel conventions, like the Lodging Conference. The regional meetings will give attendees an opportunity to network with the major brands, lenders, developers, management companies and other key players, as well as obtain important insights into the hotel economy and investing.”

Speakers at this event will include: Anthony Falor, COO, Focused Services Division, Hodges Ward & Elliott; Patrick Feltes, SVP – Hospitality Division, GE Capital Solutions; Carlos Rodriguez, President, DVI Cardel and Rod Blu Investment Funds; and Cathleen M. Lease, Lender Relations Specialist - U.S. Small Business Administration, among others.

To learn more about the Hotel Investment Series, contact Angela Gonzalez-Rowe at 202-587-5707, or http://www.hhoa.org/.

Media contact: Jerry Daly and Chris Daly, Daly Gray Public Relations, (703) 435-6293 jerry@dalygray.com

Hispanic Hotel Owners Association to Host “Battle of the Brands”

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 29, 2008—The Hispanic Hotel Owners Association (HHOA), a rapidly growing non-profit organization that seeks to increase Latino ownership of hotels, today announced that the opening event at the group’s first Hispanic Hotel, Development and Investment Conference is designed to permanently alter the concept of hotel conferences.

On Wednesday, October 8, four hotel mega-brands—InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Hilton Hotels Corporation and ACCOR—will square off against each other in a winner-take-all “Battle of the Brands” event.

“Just like China raised the bar with the opening event at the Olympics this year, we wanted to set a new standard for hotel conferences with our opening event,” said Angela Gonzalez-Rowe, (top left photo) founder and president of the Hispanic Hotel Owners Association. “To our knowledge, nothing like this has ever happened at a gathering of hoteliers.

The participation of IHG, Wyndham, Hilton and ACCOR in such a fun event sets the stage for a strong educational and deal-making event.”

Each of the four brand groups will set up an exclusive, highly themed cocktail reception area to entertain members of Latino hotel ownership, development and management groups headquartered in South America, the United States, Central America and Mexico.

Given the extremely competitive natures of the companies involved, each competing brand is guarding their theme with the utmost secrecy. Formatted after the popular “Battle of the Bands” competition, attendees will vote for the best reception area.

“HHOA's Battle of the Brands challenge has our creative juices flowing," said Floyd Pitts, (middle left photo) Senior Director of Diversity Programs for the Hilton Hotels Corporation.

"Our team has worked feverishly to bring to life a theme that is sure to WOW attendees. It was inspired by our flagship brand - Hilton Hotels, consistent with what that Brand strives to deliver to every one of their guests: inspiration, relaxation, fun and excellence -- as with the guest experience delivered by that Brand, our theme will touch the mind, body and soul."

In keeping with the competitive theme, a boxing ring, complete with “card girl,” and announcer will be set in the center of the room. The announcer will periodically highlight the various aspects of each reception area offering and the four hotel companies and seek participant response.

“With over 7000 ports of call, we're cruising right by the competition,” said Nancy Poor, (top right photo) Senior Vice President for Wyndham Worldwide. “Come visit the Wyndham Hotel Group lounge!”

Additional information about HHOA is available at the association’s Web site, http://www.hhoa.org/.

To learn more about the first Hispanic Hotel, Development and Investment Conference, contact Angela Gonzalez-Rowe at 202-587-5707, or http://www.hhoa.org/.

Contact: Jerry Daly, Chris Daly, Daly Gray Public Relations, (703) 435-6293,
jerry@dalygray.com

Hispanic Hotel Owners Association Members Developing Rapidly

HHOA Has Acquired or Began Development on 48 Projects in Last 12 Months

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 23, 2008—The Hispanic Hotel Owners Association (HHOA), a rapidly growing non-profit organization that seeks to increase Latino ownership of hotels, today announced that its members have either acquired or began development on 48 hotels in the past 12 months.


The organization has more than 300 members and continues to attract both existing and potential Hispanic hotel owners and investors at a rapid pace.

“Obviously, this has been an untapped market,” said Angela Gonzalez-Rowe,(top right photo) founder and president of the Hispanic Hotel Owners Association. “Because hotels arguably are the most complex real estate class, investment can be quite intimidating. Through our Hotel Investment Series, we have been able to attract more than 115 Hispanics who have the financial strength and want to learn more about the investment opportunities in the industry.



"Many are invested in other segments of hospitality, such as restaurants, and this is a natural extension for them.”

Of the 48 new Hispanic-owned, 12 have been through acquisitions and 34 are hotels in development. More than 80 percent are branded properties. The hotels range from the limited-service to luxury segments.

“When HHOA was founded, we could identify less than 1 percent of hotels in the U.S. that were Hispanic-owned,” she pointed out. “In less than two years, that number has increased dramatically. We are on target with our goal of having at least 500 Latino-owned, U.S. hotels by 2011.


“Our members are developing in urban, suburban and resort locations,” she noted. “In many cases, they are pioneering new locations. For example, the Finvarb Group, which has four hotels in development, broke ground on the first Hispanic-owned hotel in Washington, D.C.”


Headquartered in Washington, D.C., HHOA is a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase the number of Hispanic-owned, -developed and -operated hotels, further the participation of Hispanic-owned suppliers serving the hotel industry and increase executive level employment opportunities for Hispanics within the lodging industry.

HHOA membership is open to hotel owners, developers, investors, financiers, real estate executives, investment bankers, professional advisors, analysts, franchisors, management company executives, industry product and service providers, hotel general managers, hotel sales and marketing managers, government agencies for tourism and development, hospitality schools, hospitality students or anyone seeking to do business within the Hispanic market.

Additional information about HHOA is available at the association’s Web site, http://www.hhoa.org/. To learn more about the Hotel Investment Series, contact Angela Gonzales-Rowe at 202-587-5707, or http://www.hhoa.org/.

CONTACTS:

Jerry Daly, Chris Daly, Daly Gray Public Relations (703) 435-6293, jerry@dalygray.com

Julie Tullbane, Daly Gray Public Relations, T 703-435-6293, F 703-435-6297
julie@dalygray.com

Hispanic Hotel Owners Association Announces Phoenix Hotel Investment Seminar

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Hispanic Hotel Owners Association (HHOA), a rapidly growing non-profit organization that seeks to increase Latino ownership of hotels, will hold part one of a three-session series of International Hotel Investment Seminars May 28-29 at the Wyndham Phoenix (above photo) in Arizona.

The HHOA-developed seminars were created to inform high-net worth Hispanic investors about available hotel ownership opportunities.

“This first part of our on-going series continues to draw attendance in numbers that surpass our expectations,” said Angela Gonzalez-Rowe, (top right photo) founder and president of the Hispanic Hotel Owners Association.

“While the Hispanic community often provides the backbone for a hotel’s behind-the-scenes operations, there has been a dearth of ownership opportunities. As more and more Latinos move into higher income brackets, that is rapidly changing. Our goal is to provide this financially capable group with information about the benefits of hotel ownership and investment.”

“With some experts suggesting that we are on the brink of a recession, it is becoming increasingly important for savvy investors to become knowledgeable about their investment options in all economic climates,” said Omar Rodriguez, (photo at right) chairman of the Hispanic Hotel Owners Association. “The hospitality markets continue to provide strong investment opportunities, and we wish to communicate this to the Latino community.”

The Phoenix Hotel Investment Seminar will focus on the basics of hotel investment, beginning with an overview of the hotel industry. Topics range from hotel segments and brands to investment strategies; from market, product and site selection to financing the deal.

An overview of the industry will be given by John Keeling, Sr.,(photo at bottom right) vice president of PKF Consulting, specialists in the hospitality industry.

Other speakers include Bill Hall of Wyndham Worldwide, Patrick Feltes (middle right photo) of GE Capital Solutions, Carlos Rodriguez (bottom left photo) of Driftwood Hospitality, Harry Garewal, (middle left photo above Carlos Rodriguez) president & CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Juan Carlos Contalba (top left photo) of Benchmark Hospitality.

Corporate sponsors include Hilton Hotels Corporation, Marriott International, Wyndham Worldwide Corporation, La Quinta, Accor North America, Choice Hotels International, Hotel & Motel Management Magazine and American Airlines.

HHOA will continue the seminar series in Los Angeles on July 1 and 2. The organization will hold its inaugural Hispanic Hotel Investment Conference in October 2008 in Miami, Fla.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., HHOA is a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase the number of Hispanic-owned, -developed and -operated hotels, further the participation of Hispanic-owned suppliers serving the hotel industry and increase executive level employment opportunities for Hispanics within the lodging industry.

The industry’s leading brands, including Hilton Hotels Corporation, Marriott International, Choice Hotels International, Wyndham Worldwide Corporation and Global Hyatt Corporation have joined the organization and have become major corporate sponsors.

HHOA membership is open to hotel owners, developers, investors, financiers, real estate executives, investment bankers, professional advisors, analysts, franchisors, management company executives, industry product and service providers, hotel general managers, hotel sales and marketing managers, government agencies for tourism and development, hospitality schools, hospitality students or anyone seeking to do business within the Hispanic market.

Additional information about HHOA is available at the association’s Web site, http://www.hhoa.org/. To learn more about the Hotel Investment Series, contact Angela Gonzalez-Rowe at 202-587-5707, or http://www.hhoa.org/.

CONTACTS:

Jerry Daly, Chris Daly, Daly Gray Public Relations, (703) 435-6293, jerry@dalygray.com