Hotel Brokers International (HBI), the nation’s leading hotel brokerage network, recently celebrated the successes of the past year during the organization’s 63rd Annual Meeting held in Las Vegas. Michelle Kennedy, past president, HBI, presented the following hotel real estate sales achievement awards:
Edward P. Walsh, president, Alpine Realty Capital LLC of Ann Arbor, MI, received HBI’s highest honor, Broker of the Year. Walsh (pictured above) received this recognition of excellence in hotel real estate brokerage based on outstanding sales volume and participation in the industry, according to the organization. He was also recognized for structuring the Single Asset Sale of the Year and for structuring the most Unique Deal of the Year. His brokerage firm, Alpine Realty Capital, was recognized for producing its collective best in both dollar volume and number of transactions completed. Walsh is a lodging industry professional whose career spans more than 30 years in the industry.
Awards were given to the top brokers by U.S. region in 2021.
Ford C. Barton, principal, Lodging Partners—a specialized hotel brokerage firm located in Charlotte—was named Top Broker of the U.S. Eastern Region.
H. Brandt Niehaus, president, Huff, Niehaus & Associates Inc., located in Louisville, was recognized as the Top Broker of the U.S. Central Region.
Joseph P. Kennedy, president, Crystal Investment Property LLC of Vancouver, WA, was awarded Top Broker in the U.S. Mountain/Pacific Region.
Founded in 1959, HBI members have successfully negotiated more than 10,000 hotel real estate transactions and consistently account for the largest share of all select-service and economy hotel sales in the U.S. The organization’s database currently comprises more than 100 property listings. HBI is the founder and administrator of the Certified Hotel Broker program, the industry’s only professional designation for hotel brokers. In addition to hospitality real estate advisory services, HBI offers affiliate membership to professionals in allied fields, including franchising, lending, appraisals and investment services. For more information about the organization’s hotel listings or to become a broker or affiliate member, visit hbihotels.com.
For more on hotel brokers, look for the Broker’s Report and Listing in the March issue of Hotel Business.
