Shows
Masters of MomentsHow Omni Aligns Real Estate, Operations, and Guest Experience - Kurt Alexander - President of Omni Hotels & ResortsIn this episode of Masters of Moments, Jake Wurzak sits down with Kurt Alexander to unpack how Omni Hotels has built a differentiated hospitality platform by staying deeply rooted in ownership, operations, and long-term thinking. Kurt shares his unconventional path from accounting and investment banking into hotel operations, including the formative experience of working every frontline role at Omni early in his career. The conversation explores why hospitality is fundamentally about people, how ownership mindset shapes better decision making, and what it takes to build hotels that feel both authentic to their destination and durable over decades.
...
2026-02-041h 11
Masters of MomentsWrapping up 2025: Wins, Losses, and Predictions for The Hospitality IndustryIn this solo year end episode of Masters of Moments, Jake Wurzak reflects on the highs, lows, and hard lessons from 2025 across his hospitality portfolio and broader business journey. He walks through recent acquisitions, operational wins, and exits, while candidly unpacking mistakes around debt timing, goal setting, and team management. Jake also shares how shifting guest preferences, declining RevPAR, and rising costs are reshaping the hotel industry, and why experiential and luxury assets continue to outperform. The episode closes with a forward looking view on 2026 and what has him re energized about hospitality.
He discusses:
Key...
2026-01-0730 min
Masters of MomentsExperience is the New Asset Class - Sean Hehir - President & CEO - Trinity InvestmentsIn his return to Masters of Moments, Sean Hehir joins Jake Wurzak for a deeper dive into the future of hospitality, technology, and investment strategy. Building on their first conversation, Sean shares how his firm has embraced AI to transform operations and asset management, using data to predict market shifts and enhance efficiency across a global portfolio. He also discusses the evolving landscape of hotel investing, from luxury experiential travel to large-scale renovations, offering candid insights into leadership, culture, and the importance of partnering with the right people.
They discuss:
• How AI and predictive data are reshaping ho...
2025-11-051h 15
Masters of MomentsElevating Hospitality Through Light, Sound, and Space - John Grossman - CEO of Grossman Company PropertiesIn his second appearance on Masters of Moments, John Grossman joins Jake Wurzak for a deep dive into the philosophy behind his company’s approach to design, operations, and long-term ownership in hospitality.
John discusses why “not fighting the building” remains a guiding principle for every renovation, how his team balances creativity with practicality, and the mindset that drives their additive development strategy. The conversation explores the Arizona Grand Resort renovation, the rebranding of Laguna’s Casa Loma Beach Hotel, and how music, lighting, and landscaping are used to create emotionally resonant guest experiences.
They discuss...
2025-10-221h 21
Masters of MomentsInside Dovehill's Latest Acquisition - Charles Paloux - Chief Investment Officer - DovehillIn this episode of Masters of Moments, host Jake Wurzak sits down with his colleague and DoveHill’s Chief Investment Officer, Charles Paloux, to discuss their firm’s recent acquisition of the White Barn Inn in Kennebunkport, Maine. Jake and Charles take listeners behind the scenes of the deal, from the story of how it came together to the strategy behind investing in luxury experiential hotels. They also share how the property’s unique history, location, and design make it one of the most compelling additions to the DoveHill portfolio.
They discuss:
Charles’s career journey from Fra...
2025-10-151h 05
Masters of MomentsThe Culinary Brilliance Behind Hilton & Wolfgang Puck - Adam Crocini, SVP of Global Design, Wellness, and Food & Beverage @ HiltonIn this episode of Masters of Moments, Jake Wurzak sits down with hospitality leader Adam Crocini for a deep dive into the intersection of food, beverage, and hotel design. Adam shares his journey from working as a teenage barback in Connecticut to shaping global hospitality experiences with iconic brands like Wolfgang Puck, Capella Hotels, and Hilton. Together, they explore how restaurant culture defines hotel success, the role of thoughtful design in guest experience, and why details, from lighting to linen color, can transform an entire property.
They discuss:
• The early influences that sparked Adam’s passion for...
2025-10-081h 28
Masters of MomentsBuilding the Boutique for the Outdoors - Ben Weinberg - Co-Founder & Co-CEO at TrailbornIn this episode, Jake Wurzak sits down with Ben Weinberg to discuss the intersection of entrepreneurship, hospitality, and real estate. Ben shares his journey from investment banking into building Trailborn, a brand focused on transforming three-star properties into four-star experiences in iconic outdoor destinations.
The conversation covers the strategy behind unlevered value creation, the complexities of scaling hospitality businesses, and the importance of design, culture, and people in creating memorable guest experiences. Ben also reflects on raising institutional capital, balancing investment returns with brand-building, and the lessons learned from operating across multiple properties.
2025-09-241h 14
Masters of MomentsBuilding a REIT in Hospitality - Jay Shah - Executive Chairman of Hersha Hotels & ResortsHersha Hospitality Trust (NYSE: HT) is a self-advised real estate investment trust in the hospitality sector, which owns and operates luxury and lifestyle hotels in urban gateway and regional resort markets. The Company’s 25 hotels totaling 3,811 rooms are located in New York, Washington, DC, Boston, Philadelphia, South Florida, and California.
Jay is involved in all areas of the business with a particular emphasis on strategic relationships, capital transactions, asset management, and acquisitions.
On this episode, Jake and Jay discuss:
The story of building Hersha into a publicly-traded powerhouse
Pros & cons of a REIT and st...
2025-08-131h 27
Masters of MomentsBuilding a Scalable Hotel Brand in High-Barrier Leisure Markets - Matthew Mering - EVP of Hospitality - WatertonIn this episode of Masters of Moments, Jake Wurzak sits down with Matthew Mering to explore the evolution of lifestyle hotels and the founding story behind Outbound Hotels. From his early experiences in the hospitality industry, starting with bartending at Club Med to co-founding a nightclub while attending business school. Matthew shares how his path ultimately led to building a distinct hotel brand focused on outdoor destinations.
He and Jake dig into the nuanced thinking behind site selection, brand building, operations, and capital strategy, offering a masterclass in how to create hospitality experiences that r...
2025-07-301h 06
Masters of MomentsThe Street Smart Success Podcast - Jake WurzakThis episode is a repost of Jake's appearance on the Street Smart Success Podcast, hosted by Roger Becker. You can learn more about Street Smart Success here - https://www.streetsmartsuccess.com/
Jake shares his journey from working in his family's hotel business to building a portfolio of unique, experience-driven hotels. The conversation explores why commoditized limited-service hotels have become riskier assets, and why independent lifestyle hotels are now some of the most defensible real estate investments. Jake also explains DoveHill’s current focus on preferred equity and bespoke equity investments, the operational insights th...
2025-07-2551 min
Masters of MomentsDeploying Over $2B into Mispriced Real Estate - Ian Ross - Founder at Somera RoadIan Ross founded SomeraRoad in 2016, bringing a fresh, entrepreneurial approach to opportunistic real estate in growing secondary cities nationwide. He has since led the firm’s rapid expansion, overseeing nearly $2.5 billion in acquisitions of 25+ million square feet in more than 70 unique markets. Ian has also augmented SomeraRoad’s core value-add business, building new verticals in industrial net lease, distressed debt, and opportunity zone investing and creating a robust ground-up development practice. Today, SomeraRoad is arguably the fastest-growing commercial real estate investment and development company in the USA.
On this episode, Jake and Ian discuss:
Buil...
2025-07-161h 11
Masters of MomentsWhy Florida is the Future of Luxury Real Estate - Isaac Toledano - Co-Founder of BH Group [2024]In this episode of Masters of Moments, Jake Wurzak sits down with Isaac Toledano for a wide-ranging conversation on his entrepreneurial journey, development philosophy, and deep commitment to Florida real estate. Isaac reflects on his early start in business at age 15 in Israel, how his risk appetite has evolved, and why partnerships are at the center of his approach. He offers a behind-the-scenes look at marquee deals like Fisher Island and Naples, sharing his methods for evaluating sites, structuring deals, and maintaining a lean, hands-on operation across 31 active projects. Isaac also dives into the importance of location, timing, and...
2025-07-021h 08
Masters of MomentsLessons from Scaling a $400K Restaurant into a $6M Flagship - Jeremy Sasson - CEO @ Heirloom HospitalityJeremy Sasson joins Jake Wurzak to unpack his obsessive, guest-first approach to hospitality and share how he’s built a thriving portfolio of restaurants without external investors or debt.
The conversation traces Jeremy’s evolution from a post-college startup grind to crafting some of Detroit’s most beloved dining experiences. He explains how design, service, and team alignment all flow from a single emotional driver: how a guest feels at every touchpoint. Jeremy also reveals how he builds restaurants through the lens of fashion, explains the overlooked costs of doing hospitality well, and offers rare insight into the op...
2025-06-181h 32
Masters of MomentsCoaching Call: Creating Investor Reports People Will LoveIn this solo Coaching Call episode of Masters of Moments, Jake Wurzak breaks down how to create investor reports that people actually want to read. Drawing from his experience in real estate and hospitality, Jake walks through the fundamentals of reporting with clarity, consistency, and purpose.
He shares the essential elements of an effective update, including what data to include, how to tailor content based on your relationship with investors, and how frequency and tone play a role in building trust. The episode also covers the importance of visual presentation, storytelling through numbers, and why transparency is...
2025-06-0446 min
Masters of MomentsInside the Playbook for Operational Excellence Across Hotel Types - Greg Kennealey - CEO @ Peregrine HospitalityIn this episode of Masters of Moments, host Jake Wurzak sits down with Greg Kennealey, CEO of Peregrine Hospitality, for an in-depth conversation on building and operating a diversified hotel platform with a focus on performance, alignment, and long-term value creation. With a career that includes time at Strategic Hotels and KSL Capital, Greg brings both institutional experience and an owner-operator mindset to the conversation.
They discuss the evolving landscape of hotel investment, from pandemic-driven shifts in demand and staffing, to the renewed importance of leisure travel, stress-testing models, and driving performance across both luxury resorts and...
2025-05-211h 18
Masters of MomentsThe BEST Asset Class in Commercial Real Estate - Hunt Rose - Partner at TruCore InvestmentsIn this episode of Masters of Moments, host Jake Wurzak sits down with Hunt Rose, co-founder of TruCore Investments, to dive into the business of Class B industrial real estate and what makes it one of the most resilient, overlooked asset classes in today’s market. Drawing on his experience in brokerage and acquisitions, Hunt explains how TruCore’s national platform finds value in under-managed, substitutional assets and why a fragmented ownership base presents a unique opportunity for investors with a focused strategy.
They also discuss:
The risk-adjusted appeal of Class B industrial assets in infi...
2025-05-141h 11
Masters of MomentsBuilding Retail Platforms That Endure Across Cycles and Challenges - Brian Harper - 11North PartnersIn this episode of Masters of Moments, host Jake Wurzak sits down with Brian Harper, co-founder of 11North Partners and former CEO of RPT Realty, to discuss leadership, reinvention, and the enduring relevance of retail real estate.
With a background spanning General Growth Properties, Rouse Properties, and RPT, Brian brings decades of insight from navigating some of the most complex moments in the retail sector—including corporate bankruptcies, public-to-private transitions, and large-scale portfolio transformations.
They also discuss:
* The principles behind great retail: hospitality, curation, and community
...
2025-05-071h 18
Masters of MomentsInside America's Most Generous Real Estate Company - Micah Lacher - Principal @ Anchor InvestmentsIn this episode of Masters of Moments, host Jake Wurzak sits down with Micah Lacher, founder of Anchor Investments, for a deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation about real estate, entrepreneurship, and the power of second chances. From growing up in a struggling household in North Memphis to building a respected investment and development firm in Nashville, Micah’s story is both gritty and inspiring.They begin with Micah’s early exposure to real estate, sparked by a life-changing move that took his family from an unsafe neighborhood to one of the best public school dist...
2025-04-161h 29
Masters of MomentsBuilding Service Businesses with an NFL Mindset - Jesse Rack - CEO of Rack ElectricIn this episode of Masters of Moments, host Jake Wurzak sits down with Jesse Rack, founder and CEO of Rack Electric, to unpack one of the most impressive and unconventional entrepreneurial stories in the home services industry.Jesse shares his journey from Queens, New York, where he played college football and briefly pursued the NFL, to running a fast-growing business empire focused on electrical work, energy, and infrastructure across Florida. After stepping away from coaching football and returning to Florida to support his family, Jesse took over his father's small electrical business with a...
2025-04-091h 21
Masters of MomentsCoaching Call - How to Raise CapitalIn this special “Coaching Call” Jake Wurzak goes solo to share everything he’s learned from over a decade of raising capital in real estate. Drawing on personal experience—from his first $7 million deal with no clear path to funding, to building DoveHill into a hospitality investment platform—Jake walks through the real, unfiltered playbook for getting deals financed.This episode is packed with insights on how to approach high-net-worth individuals, build trust with investors, and create compelling deal collateral that actually converts. Jake also breaks down how he structures investor communications, designs pitch decks and...
2025-04-021h 28
Masters of MomentsLeveraging Food Services Success into a Hospitality Real Estate Portfolio - Adam Guy - CEO of Upper Crust Food ServicesIn this episode of Masters of Moments, I sit down with Adam Guy to explore his unconventional path from Missouri to multi-industry success. Adam’s journey started early—performing illusion shows at just seven years old—which soon evolved into a full-fledged business, booking corporate gigs across the Midwest.His entrepreneurial instincts didn’t stop there. After a stint in basketball and communications studies at the University of Missouri, Adam dropped out to launch a wristband company, capitalizing on the craze sparked by Lance Armstrong’s charity bands. That venture turned into a profitable exit, lead...
2025-02-261h 53
Masters of MomentsHospitality Strategic Growth: Leveraging Small Deals for Bigger Wins - Coaching Call w/ Jake WurzakIn this episode of Masters of Moments, I share my experiences in hospitality and real estate investment, from raising $6 million for a preferred equity deal to handling unexpected challenges in hotel management. I also discuss the shift toward experiential and lifestyle hotels and why smaller investment opportunities can offer strong returns. I also discuss how technology improves hotel operations, makes it easier to manage boutique properties, and the potential benefits of incorporating residences into hotel projects. I also break down key strategies for building strong investor relationships and navigating market trends. ...
2025-02-1959 min
Masters of MomentsCreating Spaces with Purpose: Balancing Aesthetics, Functionality, and Investment – Antonia Botero - Principal @ MADDPROJECTAntonia Botero takes us on a deep dive into the evolution of taste in architecture, shaped by her experiences with historic buildings in New York City. We explore the power of intentional design—how the seamless blend of interior and exterior aesthetics can transform a space—and the unique challenges of adaptive reuse projects.Antonia also shares her journey from architecture to development, highlighting the adaptability and teamwork required to succeed in both fields. We unpack the complexities of working on legendary projects like the TWA Hotel, where every design choice plays a crucial role...
2025-02-121h 27
Masters of MomentsConcepting Your Dream Hotel - Jake WurzakIn this episode of Masters of Moments, I take a step back to reflect on how far the show has come and express my gratitude to every listener who’s been part of this journey. If you’ve been enjoying the conversations, I’d love for you to leave a review and send in your dream guest suggestions—your input helps shape the show's future!This time, I’m diving deep into the art of bringing a boutique hotel to life—from the first spark of an idea to the moment guests step through the doors. I...
2025-02-0527 min
Masters of MomentsCoaching Call: Maximizing Your Hotel Investment - Lessons, Strategies, and InsightsIn this episode, Jake emphasizes the importance of having a team for unbiased insights, building cushion into deals, and learning from both your mistakes and others. He shares an in-depth look at his process for underwriting hotel deals, including revenue assumptions, expense analysis, financing structures, and the role of pro forma models. Jake also touches on the significance of community and networking in the hospitality industry, leveraging past partners and peers for feedback and collaboration. From discussing a potential but ultimately avoided deal in New England to highlighting the be...
2025-01-2951 min
Masters of MomentsNavigating NYC & Miami's Toughest Markets: Development Insights with Matthew Baron - President and Founder of Baron Property GroupMatthew Baron is the Founder and President of BPG, Formed in 2021, BPG has an active development pipeline totaling nearly 4 million square feet and over 3,600 new residential units, valued at over $2 billion. Under Matthew Baron’s leadership, the company’s current portfolio includes large-scale mixed-use and rental residential development projects in Long Island City, Queens, and Manhattan’s Washington Heights neighborhood, as well as the Miami metro area cities of Hialeah and Coral Gables.Baron Property Group is a vertically integrated real estate development and investment firm. Leveraging over 30 years of real estate experience, they develo...
2025-01-221h 14
Masters of MomentsHotel Investing Mistakes - Jake WurzakOn this solo episode, we deep-dive into common mistakes when investing in the hospitality space. Enjoy!Connect & Invest with Jake:Follow Jake on X: https://x.com/JWurzak1 on 1 coaching with Jake: https://www.jakewurzak.com/coachingLearn How to Invest with DoveHill: https://bit.ly/3yg8PwoTopics:(00:00:00) - Intro(00:02:19) - There is no substitute for experience(00:05:00) - Location, location, location!(00:19:54) - Broken business plans(00:29:52) - Cost overruns(00:34:52) - Misunderstanding...
2025-01-1542 min
Masters of MomentsHow to Spot Million-Dollar Deals: Avi Greenbaum’s Real Estate Blueprint - CEO of Triple Double REIn this episode, I sit down with Avi Greenbaum to discuss his entrepreneurial journey and the decisions that defined his career. Avi shares his early ventures, including trading baseball cards as a child and running a travel business in college, which laid the groundwork for his approach to business. We explore how his ability to spot opportunities and his drive led him from Wall Street trading desks to ventures in software, real estate, and more.Our conversation dives into Avi’s entry into real estate, where he recounts his first deal in condo conversions an...
2025-01-081h 56
Masters of MomentsBest of 2024: Selling a Micro-Hotel for $1M per Key - Isaac French - Founder of Experiential HospitalityIsaac French crafts micro-resorts & boutique hotels. He designed, built, and sold the massively popular Live Oak Lake in Waco, Texas for $1M per key. He also founded Experiential Hospitality, an exclusive course and community for the next generation of hospitality trailblazers.On this episode, Jake and Isaac discuss:
Building and Selling Live Oak Lake
What's next for Isaac
Naivety as an advantage
Links:Isaac on XExperiential HospitalityConnect & Invest with Jake:Follow Jake on...
2025-01-011h 33
Masters of MomentsThe Restaurant Development Masterclass - John Meadow - Founder & President of LDV HospitalityJohn Meadow is the founder and president of LDV Hospitality, a boutique hospitality group that was founded on his realization of the ambition to bring the dream of “La Dolce Vita,” to everyday life.Focused on concept and business development, John drives the creative process for the company, envisioning restaurants and bringing them to life, as well as forging new partnerships with hotel developers to create bespoke food and beverage experiences for their guests.John began LDV in 2008, with the critically acclaimed flagship Scarpetta restaurant, followed by s...
2024-12-181h 15
Masters of MomentsInside East West Partners: CEO Chris Frampton on Crafting Iconic DevelopmentsAs Managing Partner, Chris oversees all of the company’s development and sales activities. With East West pioneering new communities in Charleston, Denver, Snowmass, Deer Valley and Kauai, Chris works with folks from coast to coast and helps guide these destinations toward the future. From his perspective, the agenda is actually quite simple, “We build places that put people first, where the experience drives design and sustainability governs construction techniques.”Chris is a founding member and the board President for the Civic Center Conservancy, the City of Denver’s private partner at Civic Center Park. He is also Boa...
2024-12-111h 22Masters of MomentsEntrepreneurship, Investing, and Whisky with NHL MVP Chris Pronger - Founder of JRNYChris Pronger is a former NHL MVP who played 19 years in the league before embarking on his journey into entrepreneurship with his adult beverage business.JRNY is a Canadian whisky created by the Brothers Sean and Chris Pronger with award-winning distillery Niagara Falls Craft Distillers Whisky. This episode was originally released March 2024On this episode, Jake and Chris discuss:- Life in the NHL, mistakes, and lessons learned- Developing a professional mindset in athletics and business- L...
2024-12-041h 28Masters of MomentsTurning Wall Street Expertise into a Multi-Million Dollar Value-Add Multifamily Business with Gabe Bodhi, CEO of Tekton GroupGabe has led more than $50mm of multi-family investments in metro Denver, across more than 500 apartment units in Denver, Lakewood and Aurora. Gabe is also the co-manager on over $25mm of multi-family investments (164 units) in Los Angeles.This episode was originally released October 2023On this episode, Jake & Gabe discuss:
Going from Wall St. into Real Estate
Building Generational Wealth
Raising Capital
Executing Value-Add Strategies
Links:Gabe on TwitterTekton Group Connect & Invest with Jake:Follow Jak...
2024-11-201h 19Masters of MomentsUniting Hotel Operators & Institutional Investors - Vamsi Bonthala - CEO of Arbor LodgingVamsi Bonthala is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Arbor Lodging Partners, an award-winning national hotel investment firm. Vamsi has overseen approximately $1 billion of transaction volume since the inception of Arbor Lodging Partners, where he leads all company activities including general corporate strategy, investor relations, strategic relationships, acquisitions, dispositions, and asset management.This episode was originally released March 2023On this episode, Jake and Vamsi discuss:
Breaking down Vamsi's first deal
Growing Arbor Lodging and building a vertically integrated management team
Maintaining efficient deal pipelines
...
2024-11-131h 20Masters of MomentsCreating, Acquiring, and Scaling Brands - Arash Azarbarzin - CEO of HighgateHighgate is internationally recognized as a dominant operator across diverse markets and asset types. They have arms in asset management, development, investor management, and technology that have helped grow them into one of the most successful hospitality companies in the world. This episode was originally released June 2023On this episode, Jake & Arash discuss:
Key components to creating an amazing branded hotel,
F&B strategies and why it’s such an important aspect of hospitality,
Learnings from working with Barry Sternlicht
Acquiring and scaling brands.
Conn...
2024-10-301h 14Masters of MomentsSurviving Real Estate Downturns with Noah Breakstone - CEO of BTI PartnersAs the CEO of BTI Partners, Noah brings over 30 years of real estate finance, construction and development experience to the table with over $3.5 billion in transactions across a wide variety of asset classes.This episode was originally released November 2023On this episode, Jake and Noah discuss:- Spotting patterns in cycles to take advantage of- Debt positioning- Identifying great locations- Biggest makes for folks getting into the land businessLinks:BTI...
2024-10-101h 24Masters of MomentsThe Art of Raising a Fund with Matt Adler, Founder & Managing Principal of Adler Real Estate PartnersAdler Real Estate Partners is an entrepreneurial real estate company pursuing a vertically integrated niche strategy which invests in multi-tenant light industrial and related business parks. The Company is highly focused on a specific market sector, enabling it to generate favorable risk-adjusted returns.Formed in 2012 as an independent company, the firm carries in its DNA the successful 50-year track record of acquiring and operating multi-tenant commercial real estate assets of Matthew Adler’s legacy family business, the Adler Group.This episode was originally released December 2023On this ep...
2024-10-041h 15Masters of MomentsFrom Blackstone to Opterra: Glenn Alba’s Hospitality Journey and Investment PhilosophyOpterra Capital is real estate investment sponsor and operating partner, capital markets advisor, and asset manager with significant experience in all sectors of commercial real estate. Founded by Glenn Alba, a former Managing Director at Blackstone with over 23 years experience in real estate, Opterra Capital seeks to leverage this expertise towards value-add acquisition and proactive investment management to deliver attractive, risk-adjusted returns.Opterra’s core investment strategies focus on both value-add (opportunistic) and stabilized, income-oriented assets in the hospitality, office and multi-family sectors. Our approach seeks to capitalize on mid-market opportunities in the $25 -150 mi...
2024-09-181h 17Masters of MomentsA Deep Dive on GP Fees [Replay]On this solo episode, Jake dives into GP fees. He explains why GPs should charge fees, the differences between deal shops and Real estate private equity firms, how to build great returns, the types of fees you will see from GPs, what to charge as a GP and more. Connect & Invest with Jake:Follow Jake on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jwurzakTake the Hospitality Investing Masterclass: https://learn.jakewurzak.com/ Learn How to Invest with DoveHill: https://bit.ly/3yg8PwoTimestamps(00...
2024-08-2131 minMasters of MomentsNavigating Hospitality Investments - Sean Hehir - CEO of Trinity Investments [Replay]Sean is a Principal and Managing Partner of Trinity Investments as well as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Trinity Investments and Trinity Fund Advisors LLC. He oversees the firms’ investment activities, including sourcing and executing investment opportunities, formulating investment strategies, and structuring acquisitions and dispositions. Prior to joining Trinity, Mr. Hehir worked for HVS International.Mr. Hehir received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Hotel Administration from Cornell University and a Diploma in Hotel Administration from the Hotel Institute Montreux, Switzerland.On this episode, Sean and Jake discuss:
Executing $500m o...
2024-08-071h 33Masters of MomentsThe Family that Transformed Fort Lauderdale - Dev Motwani - Managing Partner of Merrimac Ventures [Replay]Dev Motwani serves as Managing Partner of Merrimac Ventures, a Fort Lauderdale-based real estate firm focusing on value-added investment and development opportunities. Property types owned and operated include hotels, condos, retail, office, and rental apartments primarily in South Florida but also throughout the United States.On this episode, Jake and Dev discuss:
Growing up in the family hotel business
How to build successful partnerships
Creating long-term investment structures
Links:Dev on LinkedInMerrimac VenturesSix Senses Douro Valley...
2024-07-241h 15Masters of MomentsDeveloping Culture in an $8.5 Billion Organization - Rob Lowe - Co-CEO of Lowe Enterprises [Replay]As Co-CEO, Rob Lowe focuses on operations both at the corporate level and across its real estate activities. Additionally, Rob and Mike co-chair the firm’s wholly-owned hospitality affiliate, CoralTree Hospitality Group. He is a past Trustee and President of the Palisades Presbyterian Church, is currently on the Board of Managers at the Palisades-Malibu YMCA and is an active member of Urban Land Institute. On this episode, Jake and Rob discuss:
How Lowe was able to build such a massive organization
Converting Office to Residential
Developing Hotel Properties
Incentivizing teams and developing culture
Lin...
2024-07-171h 13Masters of MomentsA Deep Dive into Value-Add Urban Real Estate with Scott Sherman - Founder & Principal of Torose EquitiesScott is responsible for strategic direction, sourcing investment opportunities, capital markets and operations for the firm.Prior to launching Torose, Scott co-founded Tricera Capital where he led the charge on strategic direction, capital markets and sourcing investment opportunities. In this role, Scott built a portfolio in excess of $700M over five years and consistently delivered returns in excess of 20% IRR and a 2x multiple across realized investments. Scott maintains ownership and major decisions across the Tricera portfolio and continues to be a minority owner of Tricera Capital.Torose Equities is a Miami-based real estate investment...
2024-06-051h 13Masters of MomentsBuilding a Vertically Integrated Housing Company with $2bn AUM - Casey Lynch, CEO of Roundhouse [Replay]Roundhouse is a fully integrated developer and operator of multifamily housing. Starting with a single condominium purchased amidst the financial crisis in 2009, we have since developed and acquired a portfolio of over 5,000 multifamily homes.Today, Roundhouse focuses exclusively on providing high-quality housing options in emerging cities across the Western United States. In order to deliver superior experiences to our employees and residents we have built a fully integrated service offering that spans the construction, property management, and design disciplines. On this episode, Jake & Casey discuss:
Learning to structure long-term horizon deals
Avoiding c...
2024-05-291h 25Masters of MomentsCultivating the California Hospitality Experience - Matt Marquis - CEO of Pacifica Hotels [Replay]Matt Marquis was named CEO of Pacifica Hotels after 7 years as the company's President and succeeded his father who founded the organization in 1970. Pacifica is the largest owner and operator of Boutique hotels on the Pacific Coast. On this episode, Jake and Matt discuss: - A walkthrough of converting an independent hotel in Hawaii- Developing Investor Relations- Growing and evolving a Management Company- Key to differentiating the hotel experience Links:PacificaHotels.comMatt on Ins...
2024-05-011h 16Masters of MomentsUnboxing a Landscape Resort in The Texas Hill Country - Ben Wolff - Co-Founder of OneraIn this special episode, Jake and Ben break down Ben's new deal, thesis, and strategy, as well as critique his pitch and deck. Disclaimer: This episode is not an endorsement of Ben's deal or to aid in raising money for Ben's deal, it is opinion only and purely for informational and entertainment purposes.Links:Ben on Twitter: https://twitter.com/uniquestaysguyBen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-wolff/Connect & Invest with Jake:Follow Jake on Twitter: h...
2024-04-101h 13Masters of MomentsHow to Survive the Next Real Estate Black Swan Event - John Rutledge - Founder, Oxford Capital GroupOxford Capital Group is an award-winning international real estate investment, development, asset, and property management firm. Oxford Hotels and Resorts, LLC is its wholly owned hotel operating affiliate, which specializes in operating, managing, and branding distinctive, high-design lifestyle hotels, and food & beverage venues.John is also the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of its primary hotel operating affiliate, Oxford Hotels and Resorts, LLC., which specializes in operating, managing, and branding distinctive, high-design luxury lifestyle hotels and food & beverage venues including its proprietary lifestyle hospitality brands: Godfrey, LondonHouse, Julian, IO, ALK, SOMA House, Fiona, and Garrett
2024-04-031h 25Masters of MomentsBuilding a $2B+ Real Estate Investment, Operation and Development firm - Greg Freedman - Co-Founder and Co-CEO of BH3 ManagementAs the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of BH3, Mr. Freedman oversees Investments, Financial Analysis, and Capital Markets across all BH3 transactions, and has expertise in financial analysis, credit, and underwriting. Before cofounding BH3, Mr. Freedman was a principal in a private lending company based in South Florida that financed bridge loans on commercial and residential real estate and oversaw capital markets relationships, loan/special servicing, and workouts.On this episode, Jake and Greg discuss:
How to identify A-Players
The best way to comp people in REPE
Organization-defining deals
Capital structures
...
2024-03-271h 31Masters of MomentsLessons from a 19 Year NHL Career, Investing & Entrepreneurship - Chris Pronger - Founder of JRNYChris Pronger is a former NHL MVP who played 19 years in the league before embarking on his journey into entrepreneurship with his adult beverage business.JRNY is a Canadian whisky created by the Brothers Sean and Chris Pronger with award-winning distillery Niagara Falls Craft Distillers Whisky. On this episode, Jake and Chris discuss:- Life in the NHL, mistakes, and lessons learned- Developing a professional mindset in athletics and business- Launching JRNY and competing in the beverage market
2024-03-201h 28Masters of MomentsBuilding a Portfolio of Trophy Hotel Assets - Mark Brugger - CEO of DiamondRock HospitalityMark W. Brugger is the Co-Founder, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of DiamondRock Hospitality Company. Mr. Brugger co-founded the Company in 2004 and successfully led its initial public offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange the following year. Mr. Brugger has received recognition for his work at DiamondRock, including being named to the Forbes list of America’s Most Powerful CEOs 40 and Under and a finalist for the E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year Award.On this episode, Jake and Mark discuss:
Building DiamondRock
Mark's approach to hotel real estate investing
Operating inve...
2024-03-131h 12Masters of MomentsSelling a Micro-Hotel for $1M per Key - Isaac French - Founder of Experiential HospitalityIsaac French crafts micro-resorts & boutique hotels. He designed, built, and sold the massively popular Live Oak Lake in Waco, Texas for $1M per key. He also founded Experiential Hospitality, an exclusive course and community for the next generation of hospitality trailblazers.On this episode, Jake and Isaac discuss:
Building and Selling Live Oak Lake
What's next for Isaac
Naivety as an advantage
Links:Isaac on XExperiential HospitalityConnect & Invest with Jake:Follow Jake on...
2024-03-061h 33Masters of MomentsInside the Palisociety Collection of Boutique Hotels - Avi Brosh | Founder of PalisocietyPaligroup is a fully integrated branded real estate development and hospitality operating company that acquires, programs, develops, owns, and operates unique hotels and residences. Their brands, development, and operational expertise also include specialized retail spaces, highly curated restaurants, bars, and event venues. Avi Brosh founded Paligroup in 1998 and serves as its Chief Executive and President.On this episode, Jake and Avi discuss:- Avi's career in hospitality- Pali's approach to design and placemaking- How to enter ne...
2024-02-281h 35Masters of MomentsAn Infinite Games Mindset - Sieva Kozinsky - Founder of Enduring VenturesSieva Kozinsky is the Managing Partner and co-founder of Enduring Ventures, a long-term holding company dedicated to buying and building beautiful businesses and stewarding them with exceptional, values-driven leadership.On this episode, Jake and Sieva discuss:
Pivoting from being an operator to an investor
Due diligence on potential acquisitions
How to incentivize management teams and CEOs
How Enduring integrates into an acquired company
Links:Sieva on XEnduring VenturesConnect & Invest with Jake:Follow Jake on Twitter: https...
2024-02-211h 34Masters of MomentsDeploying over $2B into mis-priced real estate by becoming local experts and leveraging a vertically integrated strategy - Ian Ross: Founder of SomeraRoadIan Ross founded SomeraRoad in 2016, bringing a fresh, entrepreneurial approach to opportunistic real estate in growing secondary cities nationwide. He has since led the firm’s rapid expansion, overseeing nearly $2.5 billion in acquisitions of 25+ million square feet in more than 70 unique markets. Ian has also augmented SomeraRoad’s core value-add business, building new verticals in industrial net lease, distressed debt, and opportunity zone investing and creating a robust ground-up development practice. Today, SomeraRoad is arguably the fastest-growing commercial real estate investment and development company in the USA.On this episode, Jake and Ian discuss:
Buildin...
2024-02-141h 11Masters of MomentsTaking a Family Business to $500M with Brian Rosen - Chairman of InvestBevBrian Rosen is the founder of the Growth Beverage collective of brands, which includes Sprout Beverage, InvestBev, BevStrat, and Algoma Capital. The Growth Beverage ecosystem serves independent beverage brands at every stage of their growth journey - from inception through exit.On this episode, Jake and Brian discuss:- Growing the family business to over $100M- The reality of Private Equity- Advice to early career folks- The 101 of what makes a great alcohol brandLinks:Brian...
2024-02-071h 30Masters of MomentsThe Most Overlooked Asset in American Real Estate w/ Jordan Breck - President of MRP Capital GroupJordan Breck has been in the real estate investment business for over 10 years and is the President and co-founder at MRP. His primary responsibilities include the structuring and analysis of investments and overseeing the company’s growth strategy. Jordan has been personally involved in over $600 Million worth of transactions.MRP Capital Group is The nation's largest owner of Walmart Shadow Centers in small-town America. Their current portfolio is comprised of nearly 2.6 million square feet across 100 properties in 26 states.On this episode, Jake and Jordan discuss:
What makes a gre...
2024-01-241h 28Masters of MomentsDeploying $50MM into Affordable Housing with Mario Brown - Co-Founder of Affordable UpstateAffordable Upstate is a real estate investment firm focused on redeveloping and redefining naturally occurring affordable housing in the Upstate of South Carolina. In 2017 Mario co-founded Affordable Upsate, a small real estate investment firm, at the time with 63 units, that redevelops energy-efficient, multifamily apartment units. Since 2017 we have placed over $50MM of investor equity into socially responsible, environmentally-enhanced workforce housing investments.On this episode, Mario and Jake discuss:
The housing shortage in the southeast
Mario's work in affordable housing
Building a vertically integrated company
Raising capital & deal structures
...
2024-01-171h 20Masters of Moments2023's Most Popular Episode: Homi Vazifdar - Founder & Exec. Director at The Canyon Group - Building the Future of Luxury HospitalityHomi Vazifdar is Founder and Exec. Director of the Canyon Group, a boutique private equity company, based in Larkspur, California just of north San Francisco. The Canyon Group, which was co-founded by Vazifdar in 2005, owns and/or develops ultra-luxury resorts in exotic destinations around the world. The Company currently owns assets in North America, Latin America, Mexico and the South Pacific. The Canyon Group’s resorts are managed by marquis brands such as Amanresorts, Six Senses, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts and Hyatt Hotels and Resorts. Under Vazifdar’s leadership, many of the Canyon Group’s ultra...
2024-01-031h 23Masters of MomentsCreating Moments in Unique Stay Hotels - Ben Wolff - Co-Founder of OneraBen Wolff is building, operating and managing $65M in experiential hospitality real estate. He is the co-founder and developer of Onera, a luxury treehouse resort in Texas Hill Country. Onera is the first public REIT hotel exit of a glamping resort. Ben is also the founder & CEO of experiential hospitality marketing and management firm StayOasi.Prior to Onera, Ben grew Blink Hospitality a short-term rental (STR) management company from 8 to 200 units under management in 18 months. He is a McKinsey alum and his first business was an events & promotions company in college. Ben is also...
2023-12-271h 26Masters of MomentsFarmland & Agricultural Investing 101 w/ Trevor Hightower - Partner at Macfarlan Capital PartnersWith the help of its carefully-selected operating partners, Macfarlan intends to aggregate a strategic portfolio of small to mid-sized high-yielding agricultural assets reaching a target size of ~50,000 acres, operate for targeted cash on cash return over 6-8%, and exit to an institutional investor achieving a projected 13-15% project-level IRR over the anticipated hold period of 8-10 years.On this episode, Jake and Trevor discuss:- The importance of a company mission- Investing in Farmland- Deal structures- Raising Capital- The importance...
2023-12-201h 21Masters of MomentsThe Art of Raising a Fund with Matt Adler, Founder & Managing Principal of Adler Real Estate PartnersAdler Real Estate Partners is an entrepreneurial real estate company pursuing a vertically integrated niche strategy which invests in multi-tenant light industrial and related business parks. The Company is highly focused on a specific market sector, enabling it to generate favorable risk-adjusted returns.Formed in 2012 as an independent company, the firm carries in its DNA the successful 50-year track record of acquiring and operating multi-tenant commercial real estate assets of Matthew Adler’s legacy family business, the Adler Group.On this episode, Jake and Matt discuss: - Ho...
2023-12-131h 15Masters of MomentsThe Power of Niche in Experiential Hospitality - Sky McLean, CEO of Basecamp ResortsSky is the Founder and CEO of Basecamp Resorts, a hospitality brand headquartered in Canmore, Alberta, Canada. It currently operates 11 hotel and resort properties across Western Canada’s most spectacular mountain ranges.Jake and Sky discuss:- The state of experiential travel- Finding great locations- A walkthrough of a deal- Nordic spas- Advice for folks in hospitalityLinks:Basecamp ResortsSky on LinkedIn Connect & Invest with Ja...
2023-12-061h 11Masters of MomentsBuilding an Experiential Hospitality Investment and Management Company w/ Jonathan Wang - Founder & CEO of EOS InvestorsAn active investor for 20 years, Jonathan has been involved in over $10 billion of real estate transactions worldwide in the hospitality, office, and residential sectors, focusing on hotels. Prior to founding EOS in 2017, he was with Northwood Investors from 2007 to 2016, where he served as a Managing Director from 2009 to 2016, overseeing the acquisition and asset management of its hotel portfolio. Jonathan oversaw the hotel investment process for Northwood Investors, which included over $940.0 million of equity.On this episode, Jake and Jonathan discuss:
Finding and structuring deals
Gauging risk
Debt strategies
Rate ceilings
Strategy sessions
Building...
2023-11-291h 19Masters of MomentsSurviving Real Estate Downturns with Noah Breakstone - CEO of BTI PartnersAs the CEO of BTI Partners, Noah brings over 30 years of real estate finance, construction and development experience to the table with over $3.5 billion in transactions across a wide variety of asset classes.On this episode, Jake and Noah discuss:- Spotting patterns in cycles to take advantage of- Debt positioning- Identifying great locations- Biggest makes for folks getting into the land businessLinks:BTI Partners: https://btipartners.com/Noah on LinkedIn: https://www...
2023-11-221h 24Masters of MomentsInside the World of Boutique Hotels with John Flannigan - Founder & CEO of Wylder HotelsJohn Flannigan is a hotel industry veteran with over 30 years of hospitality experience. In June of 2016, John founded Wylder Hotels to seek out drive market leisure properties that had a nostalgic history. He thought there was white space within the adventure travel sector in tertiary areas of the country that could compete with urban assets, yet at a much lower basis and cost to develop. Wylder sought to take advantage of this dislocation while leveraging adventure travel. The all-season brand, Wylder Hotels acquired the first property in October of 2017, the infamous Harrisons Chesapeake House on Tilghman Island Maryland. He...
2023-11-151h 12Masters of MomentsTranslating Military Leadership to the Self-Storage World with Scott Lewis - CEO of Spartan Investment GroupScott Lewis is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Spartan Investment Group, LLC (SIG). As the CEO, Scott is responsible for the strategic direction of the company and ensuring it aligns with SIG’s mission to Improve Lives Through Real Estate. Prior to Spartan, Scott held positions as a regional sales manager for a biotech firm, various positions in strategic and project management for the federal government culminating at the GS 15 level, and was on active duty in the US Army as an Infantry Officer. On this episode, Jake and Scott discuss: Leadership in the mi...
2023-11-081h 22Masters of MomentsReinventing Luxury Rentals with James Curnin - CEO of Clara HomesJames Curnin is the CEO and founder of Clara Homes, a Miami-based, vertically integrated real estate firm offering residential and commercial development, operations oversight, and custom homes. He has pursued ground-up new construction opportunities in high-end markets across Los Angeles and Miami and specializes in the development of luxury spec homes, multifamily assets, and workforce rental communities. In Miami, James seeks to fill the city’s much-needed niche for reliable, quality, and innovative work. To date, he has acquired seven waterfront properties, totaling $200 million in assets. Four of these spec homes have been completed and sold for abo...
2023-11-011h 17Masters of MomentsHow to Grow a construction business from builder to developer with Bryson Reaume - Founder & CEO of Reaume Richardson ConstructionBryson is responsible for the overall strategic direction and executive management of Reaume Richardson. His knowledge was built from the ground up, as he worked in the trades for half a decade before moving into executive management. He's passionate about aligning the firm's vision, values, and targets so that Reaume Richardson can maintain the highest standards for their employees, partners, and clients. His long history in the industry and his service in the military have taught him the value of an honest day’s work and the importance of maintaining relationships, something he instills at all levels of...
2023-10-251h 25Masters of MomentsBuying SFR's in Elite School Districts - Sean O'Dowd, General Partner at Scholastic CapitalSean O'Dowd built Scholastic Capital in order to buy SFR homes in elite school districts. On this episode, Jake and Sean discuss: Building Scholastic Capital Raising a fund for the business How Scholastic picks the right markets and their asset criteria Fundraising, leasing, financing, technology and more! Links: Sean on Twitter - https://twitter.com/SeanODowd15 Sean's content and Scholastic Capital - https://linktr.ee/seanodowd Get in touch: Sean@ScholasticCapital.com Connect & Invest with Jake: Follow Jake on Twitter: https://twi...
2023-10-181h 17Masters of MomentsHospitality Investing 101 with Daniel Lesser, CEO of LW Hospitality AdvisorsDaniel has more than forty years of specialized experience worldwide in hospitality-related: real estate appraisals, economic feasibility evaluations, investment counseling, asset management, receivership, and transactional services of hotels, resorts, conference centers, casinos, mixed-use facilities, spa & wellness properties, and timeshare/fractional ownership properties. On this episode, Jake and Daniel discuss: The Hospitality Investing environment in 2023 Approaches to underwriting deals What deals make sense as we enter a new cycle Links: LW Hospitality Advisors Daniel on LinkedIn Four Seasons Anguilla Connect & Invest with Jake: Follow J...
2023-10-111h 08Masters of MomentsTurning Wall Street Expertise into a Multi-Million Dollar Value-Add Multifamily Business with Gabe Bodhi, CEO of Tekton GroupGabe has led more than $50mm of multi-family investments in metro Denver, across more than 500 apartment units in Denver, Lakewood and Aurora. Gabe is also the co-manager on over $25mm of multi-family investments (164 units) in Los Angeles. On this episode, Jake & Gabe discuss: Going from Wall St. into Real Estate Building Generational Wealth Raising Capital Executing Value-Add Strategies Links: Gabe on Twitter Tekton Group Connect & Invest with Jake: Follow Jake on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jwurzak Take the Hospitality Investing Masterclass: https://lea...
2023-10-041h 19Masters of MomentsFrom NBA All-Star to Entrepreneur - Jamal Mashburn on his Business EmpireJamal "Monster Mash" Mashburn played 12 years in the NBA and was an All-Star who averaged 19 points over his career. In his post-NBA life, Jamal has built an impressive portfolio of investments that include restaurants, car dealerships, hospitality, waste management and transportation. In this episode, Jake and Jamal discuss: Jamal's operating portfolio Finding jockey's for businesses Jamal invests in Developing a growth mindset Underwriting, acquiring, and exiting businesses Connect & Invest with Jake: Follow Jake on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jwurzak Take the Hospitality Investing Masterclass: https://learn.jakewurzak.com/ Learn How...
2023-09-271h 39Masters of MomentsBuilding a Vertically Integrated Housing Company with $2bn AUM - Casey Lynch, CEO of RoundhouseRoundhouse is a fully integrated developer and operator of multifamily housing. Starting with a single condominium purchased amidst the financial crisis in 2009, we have since developed and acquired a portfolio of over 5,000 multifamily homes. Today, Roundhouse focuses exclusively on providing high-quality housing options in emerging cities across the Western United States. In order to deliver superior experiences to our employees and residents we have built a fully integrated service offering that spans the construction, property management, and design disciplines. On this episode, Jake & Casey discuss: Learning to structure long-term horizon deals Avoiding competing with i...
2023-09-201h 25Masters of MomentsA Deep Dive into Value-Add Urban Real Estate with Scott Sherman - Founder & Principal of Torose EquitiesScott is responsible for strategic direction, sourcing investment opportunities, capital markets and operations for the firm. Prior to launching Torose, Scott co-founded Tricera Capital where he led the charge on strategic direction, capital markets and sourcing investment opportunities. In this role, Scott built a portfolio in excess of $700M over five years and consistently delivered returns in excess of 20% IRR and a 2x multiple across realized investments. Scott maintains ownership and major decisions across the Tricera portfolio and continues to be a minority owner of Tricera Capital. Torose Equities is a Miami-based real estate investment...
2023-09-061h 13Masters of MomentsThe Family that Transformed Fort Lauderdale - Dev Motwani - Managing Partner of Merrimac VenturesDev Motwani serves as Managing Partner of Merrimac Ventures, a Fort Lauderdale based real estate firm that focuses on value-add investment and development opportunities. Property types owned and operated include hotels, condos, retail, office and rental apartments primarily in South Florida but also throughout the United States. On this episode, Jake and Dev discuss: Growing up in the family hotel business How to build successful partnerships Creating long-term investment structures Links: Dev on LinkedIn Merrimac Ventures Six Senses Douro Valley Connect & Invest with Ja...
2023-08-301h 15Masters of MomentsHomi Vazifdar - Founder & Exec. Director at The Canyon Group - Building the Future of Luxury HospitalityHomi Vazifdar is Founder and Exec. Director of the Canyon Group, a boutique private equity company, based in Larkspur, California just of north San Francisco. The Canyon Group, which was co-founded by Vazifdar in 2005, owns and/or develops ultra-luxury resorts in exotic destinations around the world. The Company currently owns assets in North America, Latin America, Mexico and the South Pacific. The Canyon Group’s resorts are managed by marquis brands such as Amanresorts, Six Senses, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts and Hyatt Hotels and Resorts. Under Vazifdar’s leadership, many of the Canyon Group’s ultra...
2023-08-231h 24Masters of MomentsMauro Governato - General Manager of Château de la Messardière - Operating One of the World's Greatest Ultra-Luxury HotelsMauro began his career in the food and beverage industry, working in Michelin-starred restaurants across Europe for a 15-year period. Having worked in Hong Kong, London, Paris, Lisbon, Rome, Milan, the Maldives, Mauritius, and the Bahamas, he has a wealth of international experience with luxury institutions and brands. Born and raised in Turin, Italy and fluent in English, Italian, French and German, Governato is particularly focused on guest experience, believing that "luxury service should happen without guests knowing where it comes from." On this episode, Jake and Mauro discuss: How Mauro approaches managing an...
2023-08-161h 00Masters of Moments#25: Sean Hehir - CEO of Trinity InvestmentsSean is a Principal and Managing Partner of Trinity Investments as well as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Trinity Investments and Trinity Fund Advisors LLC. He oversees the firms’ investment activities, including sourcing and executing investment opportunities, formulating investment strategies, and structuring acquisitions and dispositions. Prior to joining Trinity, Mr. Hehir worked for HVS International. Mr. Hehir received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Hotel Administration from Cornell University and a Diploma in Hotel Administration from the Hotel Institute Montreux, Switzerland. On this episode, Sean and Jake discuss: Executing $500m of renovation pro...
2023-08-091h 33Masters of Moments#24: Mehul Patel - CEO of NewcrestImageNewcrestImage is a privately held family office investment firm based in Dallas, Texas, with an extensive portfolio of diversified real estate assets and alternative investments. They've conducted 277 hotel transactions and $2.7 billion in real estate transactions across 148 cities. Mehul's start in the hotel business came when he and his family moved to Garland, Texas, from India when he was 13. From 1990 to 1993 he and his family worked and lived in a hotel-his parents as room attendants and Patel and his brother as everything from front-desk clerks to landscapers. On this episode, Mehul and Jake discuss: NewcrestImages's...
2023-08-021h 24Masters of Moments#23: Brady Cobb - Founder of Sunburn CannabisSelling weed is in Brady Cobb's blood. Using shrimp boats and a suntan lotion company as a cover, his father, Bill Cobb, ran one of the country's largest pot smuggling enterprises in the 1980s, until the federal government arrested him and shut down the $300 million ring during "Operation Sunburn." The younger Cobb became a lawyer and cannabis lobbyist before founding his own marijuana company, Bluma Wellness, which he sold in April 2021 to Cresco for $213 million in an all-stock deal. In November 2022, Cobb took his father's rich history of smuggling and launched Sunburn in Florida, a vertically integrated...
2023-07-261h 17Masters of Moments#22: Matt Pestronk - Co-Founder of Post BrothersMatthew Pestronk is co-founder of Post Brothers, a real estate investment, development, and management company with singular and unique expertise in urban real estate development. Matthew serves as President of the company, engaged in the sponsorship of 40 Class-A multifamily, mixed-use, and retail development projects comprised of over 8,000 units that are operating, under development or disposed plus, over 700K sf of office and retail space, with a total capitalized cost in excess of $4 billion. On this episode, Jake and Matt discuss: Building a real estate database to generate deal flow Learnings from the GFC How t...
2023-07-191h 25Masters of Moments#21: Chris Frampton - CEO of East West PartnersAs Managing Partner, Chris oversees all of the company’s development and sales activities. With East West pioneering new communities in Charleston, Denver, Snowmass, Deer Valley and Kauai, Chris works with folks from coast to coast and helps guide these destinations toward the future. From his perspective, the agenda is actually quite simple, “We build places that put people first, where the experience drives design and sustainability governs construction techniques.” Chris is a founding member and the board President for the Civic Center Conservancy, the City of Denver’s private partner at Civic Center Park. He is also Boa...
2023-07-121h 22Masters of Moments#20: Glenn Alba - Founder & CEO of Opterra CapitalOpterra Capital is real estate investment sponsor and operating partner, capital markets advisor, and asset manager with significant experience in all sectors of commercial real estate. Founded by Glenn Alba, a former Managing Director at Blackstone with over 23 years experience in real estate, Opterra Capital seeks to leverage this expertise towards value-add acquisition and proactive investment management to deliver attractive, risk-adjusted returns. Opterra’s core investment strategies focus on both value-add (opportunistic) and stabilized, income-oriented assets in the hospitality, office and multi-family sectors. Our approach seeks to capitalize on mid-market opportunities in the $25 -150 million range in th...
2023-07-051h 17Masters of Moments#19: Jeff Burns - CEO of Affiliated Development | The Future of Workforce HousingJeff Burns is the Founder and CEO of Affiliated Development, a real estate development company headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Mr. Burns has more than 15 years of experience in the acquisition, development, and finance of a wide array of property types in markets across the United States. With an extensive background and longstanding relationships, Mr. Burns has a proven track record to see real estate opportunities from conception through to reality. On this episode, Jeff & Jake discuss: How Affiliated works with city governments to develop workforce housing Raising capital Walkthrough of a typical deal Construction, design, an...
2023-06-281h 19Masters of Moments#18: Warren de Haan - Managing Partner & Co-CEO at ACORE CapitalWarren de Haan is a founder, Managing Partner and Co-Chief Executive Officer at ACORE Capital, LP, one of the largest credit managers focused on commercial real estate lending, with approximately $20 billion of assets under management. For the past 3 years, ACORE Capital has ranked in the top 20 of The Real Estate Debt 50, PERE's ranking of the world's largest real estate debt fund managers. Through their offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, and Dallas, ACORE originates, acquires and manages first mortgages, B-notes, mezzanine debt and preferred equity throughout the United States. Since inception in 2015, ACORE has...
2023-06-211h 25Masters of Moments#17: A Deep Dive on GP FeesOn this solo episode, Jake dives into GP fees. He explains why GPs should charge fees, the differences between deal shops and Real estate private equity firms, how to build great returns, the types of fees you will see from GPs, what to charge as a GP and more. Connect & Invest with Jake: Follow Jake on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jwurzak Take the Hospitality Investing Masterclass: https://learn.jakewurzak.com/ Learn How to Invest with DoveHill: https://bit.ly/3yg8Pwo Timestamps (00:01:02) Why are we talking about Fe...
2023-06-1431 minMasters of Moments#16: Arash Azarbarzin - CEO of Highgate|Creating, Acquiring, and Scaling BrandsHighgate is internationally recognized as a dominant operator across diverse markets and asset types. They have arms in asset management, development, investor management, and technology that have helped grow them into one of the most successful hospitality companies in the world. On this episode, Jake & Arash discuss: Key components to creating an amazing branded hotel, F&B strategies and why it’s such an important aspect of hospitality, Learnings from working with Barry Sternlicht Acquiring and scaling brands. Connect & Invest with Jake: Follow Jake on Twitter Take the Hospitality Investing Masterclass...
2023-06-071h 14Masters of Moments#15: Jay Shah - Executive Chairman of Hersha Hotels & Resorts | Building a REIT in HospitalityHersha Hospitality Trust (NYSE: HT) is a self-advised real estate investment trust in the hospitality sector, which owns and operates luxury and lifestyle hotels in urban gateway and regional resort markets. The Company’s 25 hotels totaling 3,811 rooms are located in New York, Washington, DC, Boston, Philadelphia, South Florida, and California. Jay is involved in all areas of the business with a particular emphasis on strategic relationships, capital transactions, asset management, and acquisitions. On this episode, Jake and Jay discuss: The story of building Hersha into a publicly-traded powerhouse Pros & cons of a REIT and st...
2023-05-311h 27Masters of Moments#14: Evan Schlecker - President of Morgan Group|Leadership in a Multifamily BehemothAs President of Morgan Group, Evan Schlecker manages risk for Morgan with oversight over development and construction activities nationwide. Evan maintains involvement in all aspects of apartment development, construction, management, and finance. Evan serves as a member of Morgan’s Executive Committee and Investment Committee. Since joining Morgan in 2012, Evan has been involved in developing and acquiring over 7,000 units at a cost exceeding $1.8B. Prior to joining Morgan, Evan co-founded BlueRoot Partners to take advantage of opportunities to acquire distressed real estate. Evan began his career at Torchlight Investors (f/k/a ING Clarion) restructuring non-performing commercial re...
2023-05-241h 26Masters of Moments#13: Jake Wurzak on The Fort Podcast - Hospitality Industry 101This episode is an appearance Jake made on The Fort Podcast with Chris Powers. Jake and Chris discuss: How to create an exceptional hospitality experience How to underwrite hotel investment opportunities Partnering and learning from Barry Sternlicht How to add value to different types of hotels Links Check out Chris Powers and The Fort Podcast Hotel Bel-Air Brush Creek Ranch Blackberry Farm Connect & Invest with Jake: Follow Jake on Twitter Take the Hospitality Investing Masterclass Learn How to I...
2023-05-171h 18Masters of Moments#12: John Meadow - Founder and President of LDV Hospitality|A Masterclass in Restaurant BuildingJohn Meadow is the founder and president of LDV Hospitality, a boutique hospitality group that was founded on his realization of the ambition to bring the dream of “La Dolce Vita,” to everyday life. Focused on concept and business development, John drives the creative process for the company, envisioning restaurants and bringing them to life, as well as forging new partnerships with hotel developers to create bespoke food and beverage experiences for their guests. John began LDV in 2008, with critically acclaimed flagship Scarpetta restaurant, followed by signature brands American Cut and Dolce Italian. On t...
2023-05-101h 15Masters of Moments#11: Alex Cabañas - Executive Chairman of Pyramid Global Hospitality | Scaling Hospitality through Mergers & AcquisitionsAlex Cabañas is passionate about leading and growing a company that makes a profound difference in the lives of employees, guests, owners, industry partners, and the community. His life mission since college has been to create opportunities for others to be successful. As President, Alex is focused on strategic planning, people development, pursuing growth and new opportunities, promoting the delivery of memorable customer service and ultimately being the best third-party management company in the industry, acting in the best interest of owners every day. On this episode, Jake and Alex discuss: How Alex grew...
2023-05-031h 21Masters of Moments#10: Jake Wurzak - How We Underwrite DealsOn today's episode, Jake breaks down how DoveHill Capital Management underwrites Hospitality Deals. He details how they evaluate both the qualitative & quantitative factors of a potential asset, including price, historical performance, revenue trends, and expenses. He also explains how they model deals, identify Capex issues, how they structure deals, and their investment committee process. Finally, he wraps up with mistakes they've made in the past and how you can avoid them. Enjoy! Links: Smith Travel Research FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) CoStar Connect & Invest with Jake: Follow...
2023-04-2648 minMasters of Moments#9: Scott Moss - CEO of Moss Construction | Building a Generational BusinessIn 2004, Scott and his father, Bob, started Moss. Together they created the company’s first winning presentation and managed the company’s first project. Today, Moss employs over 1,600 people across the US with revenue exceeding $3 billion. As CEO of Moss, Scott inspires and empowers his team to create the exceptional. His innate curiosity drives a culture of continuous learning where insight, engagement, and determination define an individual’s success. On this episode, Jake and Scott Discuss: The process of building a generational family business Implementing a Vision Leadership Council A deep dive on the Constru...
2023-04-191h 22Masters of Moments#8: Zach Kupperman - Founder and CEO of Kupperman Companies - Historic Tax Credits & Revitalizing New Orleans HospitalityZach has over a decade of experience developing real estate throughout the Southeast. Current and past projects include hotels, multi-family, mixed-use, and retail. As CEO, he sets the overall strategy for the firm and oversees all acquisition, development, and financing efforts. Kupperman Companies designs, develops, and acquires hotels, retail, multi-family, and mixed-use projects in Louisiana, Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Colorado, and across the Gulf Coast. They invest in award-winning historic redevelopments that preserve the history, architecture, and culture of the surrounding community. Kupperman currently owns and manages over 520,000 square feet of hospitality, retail, and mixed-use assets a...
2023-04-121h 21Masters of Moments#7: Matt Marquis - CEO of Pacifica Hotels - Cultivating the California Hospitality ExperienceMatt Marquis was named CEO of Pacifica Hotels after 7 years as the company's President and succeeded his father who founded the organization in 1970. Pacifica is the largest owner and operator of Boutique hotels on the Pacific Coast. On this episode, Jake and Matt discuss: A walkthrough of converting an independent hotel in Hawaii Developing Investor Relations Growing and evolving a Management Company Key to differentiating the hotel experience Links: PacificaHotels.com Matt on Instagram King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel Hotel Bel Air Connect & Inv...
2023-04-051h 16Masters of Moments#6: Vamsi Bonthala - CEO of Arbor Lodging Partners - Best practices for Uniting Hotel Operators & Institutional InvestorsVamsi Bonthala is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Arbor Lodging Partners, an award-winning national hotel investment firm. Vamsi has overseen approximately $1 billion of transaction volume since the inception of Arbor Lodging Partners, where he leads all company activities including general corporate strategy, investor relations, strategic relationships, acquisitions, dispositions, and asset management. On this episode, Jake and Vamsi discuss: Breaking down Vamsi's first deal Growing Arbor Lodging and building a vertically integrated management team Maintaining efficient deal pipelines Converting Hotels to Multifamily Links: Vamsi on LinkedIn Arbor Lodging P...
2023-03-291h 20Masters of Moments#5: Dave Pollin - Co-Founder of The Buccini/Pollin Group - How to Vertically Integrate and Build Platforms Across Real EstateDave Pollin is the Co-Founder and Co-President of The Buccini/Pollin Group (“BPG”), co-headquartered in Washington, DC, and Wilmington, DE. He also serves as Chairman of PM Hotel Group, the hotel management affiliate of BPG. Mr. Pollin leads the firm’s hotel acquisition, development, and capital markets efforts. The Buccini/Pollin Group has acquired and developed over $5 billion of properties in every real estate asset class throughout the United States since its founding in 1993. BPG is the developer, owner and operator of over 40 hotels, seven million square feet of office space, 15 major residential communities, numerous retail properties, and mu...
2023-03-221h 13Masters of Moments#4: Rob Lowe - Co-CEO of Lowe Enterprises - Developing Culture in an $8.5 Billion OrganizationAs Co-CEO, Rob Lowe focuses on operations both at the corporate level and across its real estate activities. Additionally, Rob and Mike co-chair the firm’s wholly-owned hospitality affiliate, CoralTree Hospitality Group. He is a past Trustee and President of the Palisades Presbyterian Church, is currently on the Board of Managers at the Palisades-Malibu YMCA and is an active member of Urban Land Institute. On this episode, Jake and Rob discuss: How Lowe was able to build such a massive organization Converting Office to Residential Developing Hotel Properties Incentivizing teams and developing culture Links: Lo...
2023-03-151h 13Masters of Moments#1: Dupree Scovell - Managing Partner and CIO of Woodbine - How to Create MomentsDupree is the Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Woodbine. A fully integrated real estate investment and development firm and one of the leading hospitality owners in the country, having completed over $3.6 billion in hotel investments and developed over 11,000 keys across branded and independent projects. On this episode, Jake and Dupree discuss: The history of Woodbine's massive success How to create moments and places where guests want to be The decision to diversify assets beyond hospitality Links: Woodbine Development Dupree on LinkedIn Hotel Emma - San Antonio
2023-03-011h 19