OTH Hotels Resorts (OTH), a Virginia-based hospitality ownership and management company with an asset portfolio valued at more than $775 million, has appointed James Hansen as the company’s new chief development officer.
He brings nearly 25 years of executive level industry leadership experience to his newly minted position at OTH, where he will work directly with CEO Todd Felsen to power the company’s aggressive growth strategy and long-term domestic and international expansion plans.
“With a comprehensive skill set encompassing all facets of business development and hospitality leadership, James will provide an indelible asset to OTH’s aggressively planned growth strategy moving forward,” said Felsen. “We are confident that by placing him in this newly established role that we will continue to capitalize on the ever-burgeoning tourism and business travel sectors, ensuring long-term growth and a competitive edge in the upscale, luxury and independent segments of the hotel industry.”
Hansen’s industry experience encompasses all facets of revenue-focused hospitality and asset management strategy, including roles in sales, operations, finance and marketing. Most recently, he served as EVP. business development for Hotel Equities, where he oversaw the company’s business development team stationed within the domestic and Canadian markets and was responsible for growing its third-party management platform.
Prior to Hotel Equities, he served as VP, sales & marketing and asset manager for Kolter Hospitality. An integral member of Kolter’s founding leadership team, he was responsible for developing the company’s revenue, sales and marketing operational standards including branding, revenue management, sales processes and automation, RFP processes and all strategic planning guidelines for the company’s $200 million portfolio.
Additionally, his resume includes sales and marketing oversight roles with Interstate Hotels & Resorts, as well as at several East Coast hotels and resorts including Hilton Palm Beach Airport, Hilton Singer Island Oceanfront Resort and Crowne Plaza Oceanfront.
Hansen’s appointment as chief development officer arrives during a growth period for OTH. According to the company, it is strategically positioning itself for robust expansion in 2024 and beyond by escalating its operations in key high-barrier-to-entry markets across the U.S. and the Caribbean, centered on adding significant third-party management agreements. In addition to third-party management, OTH is actively pursuing new development deals for both branded and independent hotels in several U.S. and Caribbean destinations.