The Hoftel team
Chairman and CEO is Simon Allison:
- 1987-98: J.P. Morgan investment banking, hotel specialist. Involved in deals like Accor’s acquisition of Motel 6, Prince Alwaleed’s acquisition of a stake in Moevenpick, the sale of the UN Plaza hotel and the first ever privatisation of a hotel group in Hungary
- 1998 – 2002: CFO of hotel ownership company, Hospitality Europe BV holding US$ 500 mm of assets, where he saw the issues that face owners who rely on third party brands/operators and realised the need for a network that brought them together
- 2005 – 2013: CFO of luxury resort operator and then head of development of large Thai hotel management company, so seeing the world from the brand perspective
- 2005: Founded HOFTEL and gradually built it up, until making it a main focus of activity in early 2013
HOFTEL is guided by a Global Advisory Council made up from among its leading members including:
- Monty Bennett, CEO of Ashford Inc (large US listed REIT Manager)
- Jay Shah, CEO of Hersha Hospitality Trust (listed US REIT)
- Pirjo Ojanperä, Partner, CapMan Real Estate (largest real estate fund in Finland)
- Ricco de Blank, CEO of Sun Hung Kai Hotels (the largest owner of hotels in Hong Kong); and
- Ian Lien, Partner, Managing Director, SC Capital Partners/RECAP (active Asian property fund and controlling shareholder of the manager of the Japan Hotel REIT)
- Dr Aron Harilela, CEO & Chairman, Harilela Hotels Ltd (major global family office owner of hotels)
- Jean-Philippe Chomette, Administrateur Délégué, Algonquin SA (major pan-European hotel owning fund)
