ALAN J. MICHAELS
Chief Executive Officer
Alan Michaels has a background includes investment, finance, asset management and disposition, marketing, management, and market research in various areas of real estate. He applies his experience to the field of hospitality to assist in analysis, acquisition, and management of hotel properties. Mr. Michaels is is a Joint Principal in GLA, and is the current principal and Chief Executive Officer of Merit Hotel Group. Mr. Michaels has experience in successfully arranging debt and equity financing for several major commercial real estate transactions with Merit Hotel Group and other organizations. Mr. Michaels uses his wide array of skills and experience to enhance the success of Merit Hotel Group and its clients.
Mr. Michaels' involvement has spanned from project conception through entitlements to completion, and he plays a major role in the success of each operational phase of projects. He regularly handles a diverse range of issues including land use and zoning, joint venture structuring, financing, leasing, and other management and operational responsibilities. Mr. Michaels also manages companies with over 75 full-time employees.
Mr. Michaels currently owns and operates the Merit Hotel Group, a company he founded in 1988. The Merit Hotel Group has owned and operated several mainstream brand and independent hotels. Merit currently owns and operates the SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Aberdeen, Maryland.
Our asset management engagements assist in maximizing the performance of the management company, as well as the value of the hotel asset. Joint engagements with Global Lodging Advisors included a 900-room convention hotel in Washington, D.C. and a full-service chain with eight hotels in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Other engagements have included development of a land valuation model for an affiliate of Morgan Stanley Real Estate Services. Further engagements have included reviews of several Washington area full service hotels such as Sheraton and Hyatt.
Mr. Michaels majored in Electronic Technology and Business Administration at the City University of New York, Queensborough College (1969-1972). He has also attended numerous managerial technical and behavioral seminars.