LWHA adds two executives

LW Hospitality Advisors (LWHA) has appointed Edward Shapard as managing director, platform head and Robert Higley as VP of LWHA Asset Management Group.

Shapard, who is based in Aspen, CO, has more than 25 years of international hospitality industry experience having held a number of leadership roles in lodging management, food and beverage operations, sales and marketing, product development and revenue management with organizations including CIM Group, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group International Limited, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts and Timbers Resorts and at hotel properties including Mandarin Oriental Elbow Beach Bermuda, Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, Mandarin Oriental New York, The Dominick New York, The Langham Chicago and The St. Regis Deer Valley.

Higley, who is based in New York, has 20 years of lodging sector and commercial real estate experience with numerous firms including CBRE, Cushman & Wakefield, Marriott International, Procaccianti Companies, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. and Woolbright Development Inc.

“Edward Shapard’s experience and capabilities in lodging real estate are wide and deep, which further enhance the firm’s senior ranks,” said Daniel H. Lesser, cofounder/president/CEO, LWHA. “Along with VP Robert Higley, who recently joined LWHA Asset Management Group from Procaccianti Companies, we look forward to continue to expand our practice of problem-solving assignments that have resulted in significant value creation for our clients.”

LWHA Cofounder/COO/Principal Evan Weiss added, “We are fortunate to have been retained in connection with a myriad of litigation, receivership, value enhancement and workout strategy mandates. Edward Shapard and Robert Higley join LWHA at a time when our clients have indicated that they anticipate a rapid volume of additional complex assignments that will require our expertise and assistance.”