OTH Hotels Resorts, a Virginia-based ownership and management company, appoints James Hansen as the company’s new chief development officer. Hansen brings nearly 25 years of executive level industry leadership experience to his new 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.
Most recently, Hansen served as executive vice president of business development for Hotel Equities, an owner, operator and development firm managing a portfolio of more than 250 hotels and resorts throughout the United States and Canada. While with Hotel Equities, 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, Hansen served as VP, sales and marketing and asset manager for Florida-based Kolter Hospitality. Hansen 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, a subsidiary of global third-party management leader Aimbridge Hospitality, as well as at several top East Coast hotels and resorts including Hilton Palm Beach Airport, Hilton Singer Island Oceanfront Resort, Crowne Plaza Oceanfront, and Holiday Inn West Conference Center/Ramada Inn & Suites.
OTH is strategically positioning itself for expansion in 2024 by escalating its operations in key, high-barrier-to-entry markets across the United States and the Caribbean, centered on adding significant third-party management agreements. OTH also is actively pursuing new development deals, identifying opportunities to partner with owners and sponsors that require expertise in development services to help launch both branded and independent hotels in several of the U.S. and Caribbean’s top destinations.
“With a comprehensive skillset encompassing all facets of business development and hospitality leadership, James will provide an indelible asset to OTH’s aggressively planned growth strategy moving forward,” Felsen said in a statement. “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.”