Michael achieved his CPA license in 1981, which consequently opened the door to the hospitality industry for him as the opening controller at the Sheraton Park Place Hotel in Minneapolis, now the DoubleTree Hotel. Over the next 30-plus years, he worked at 3 different full-service hotels and resorts in the capacity of the property/financial controller, as well as the division controller and then director of development for 13 years with Marcus Hotels and Resorts.
Michael left Marcus to form Strategic Hospitality Resources, LLC, providing to hotel owners and developers the benefit of his vast experience and knowledge in the hospitality industry. Through SHR, he provides to hotel developers, owners and/or managers the hospitality industry expertise from his experience in the areas of operations, management, and development.
SHR has worked with over 150 different developers over the past 15 years on over 250 different projects, as well as with many of the major hotel franchise companies, including:
SHR works very closely with Hospitality Marketers International Inc. (HMI) as an HMI Representative. Michael is also a member of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC), and provides the professional level of service expected of members of that organization, as well as the professional expertise expected of a CPA.
Current Position:
Michael is the founder and President of Strategic Hospitality Resources, LLC (SHR), which he started in 2001.
Experience:
Michael has over 30 years’ experience in the hospitality industry. He has led SHR for the past 15 years completing more than 250 projects (primarily hotel feasibility studies and impact studies) in 36 states and 4 provinces in Canada.
These have included projects in major metropolitan market areas such as Milwaukee, Chicago and Minneapolis to smaller rural communities such as Cambridge, Nebraska (population 1,300) and Hettinger, North Dakota (population 1,600).
Prior to starting SHR in 2002, Michael was employed from 1989 to 2001 by Marcus Hotels and Resorts, a division of a New York Stock Exchange Company.
At Marcus, he was first hired in 1989 as the controller/director of administration for the Marcus Hotels and Resorts and then moved into director of development in 1995 where he completed 8 projects growing the company from 3 properties with 950 rooms to 11 properties with 3,100 rooms.
Former Positions:
Director of Development- Marcus Hotels and Resorts
July 1995 – July 2001 (6 years 1 month)
Responsible for seeking new opportunities for growth through acquisitions, new development and/or management contracts. Reviewed markets, prepared pro formas and negotiated all agreements. Also coordinated all potential projects with due diligence and oversaw the company’s national advertising and public relations needs.
Controller/Director of Administration- Marcus Hotels and Resorts
March 1989 – June 1995 (6 years 4 months)
Responsible for overseeing of the central accounting office, production of the monthly financial statements, annual audit needs and strategic planning for the full-service hotel division. Member of Board of Directors and treasurer of Westtown Association and the Downtown Management District.
Financial Controller- Dana Point Resort
September 1987 – November 1988 (1 year 3 months)
Opening controller responsible for financial reporting, establishing/monitoring internal/cash controls for the safeguarding of the assets of the resort.
Financial Controller – Wyndham Southpark, Wyndham Hotel
July 1985 – September 1987 (2 years 3 months)
Financial controller for 313 room, upscale full-service hotel in Austin, Texas.
Special Projects Controller- Wyndham Hotel
February 1985 – July 1985 (6 months)
Assisted property controllers in developing/implementing internal controls and procedures in areas such as night audit, accounts receivable and cash handling.
Consulting Experience:
Over 30 years of experience consulting with hotel owners and developers and providing them with the benefit of his vast experience and knowledge in the hospitality industry.
Industry Experience:
- Completing hotel feasibility studies for projects ranging from mid-priced, limited-service style hotels to upscale full-service hotels and resorts all over the US and Canada
- Completing Impact Studies for Best Western Hotels International, Choice Hotels and Marriott Hotels
- Financial/return analysis of projects
- Reviewing/evaluating operating hotels to determine their potential and providing direction to achieve that potential
- Completed/negotiated both private and public partnership hotel development deals
Specialties:
- Resort and hotel feasibility studies
- Impact analysis
- Management consulting
- Financial analysis