NORTH AMERICA WINNER:

Jim Abrahamson Interstate Hotels & Resorts

Interstate Hotels & Resorts Inspires Owners’ Success

With a platinum portfolio focused on owners’ success, Interstate Hotels & Resorts is the world’s leading U.S.-based global hotel management company. Interstate’s executives, corporate regional teams and hotel managers drive success for the existing portfolio and growth domestically and internationally, including the dynamic regions of China, Russia, India, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, Hungary and Canada.

Hotel owners, developers and guests experience superior service in Interstate’s nearly 400 hotels, representing 69,000 rooms on behalf of institutional and individual investors, private equity funds, financial institutions and publicly traded REITs. Headquartered in metropolitan Washington, D.C., the Company also has offices in Moscow, Russia; Birmingham, United Kingdom; Gurgaon, India; Amsterdam, The Netherlands; and Shanghai, China.

Interstate’s comprehensive services are built on large company resources with small company attention, including dedicated task force teams, insightful training, experienced support, individualized performance dashboards and industry knowledge. The Company’s expansive expertise, culminated over 50 years, inspires each owner’s success, leveraging talented bench strength, technology leadership and market intelligence in every segment, from premium branded and select service hotels, to independent hotels, luxury resorts and conference centers. Unrivaled programs harness and activate smart resources all collaborating toward owner profitability through nimble, customizable and measureable dimensions.

As a preferred operator and the largest independent operator of franchised full- and select-service hotels under leading international brand families such as Marriott, Starwood, IHG,

About Jim Abrahamson...

Jim Abrahamson is Interstate Hotels & Resorts' chief executive officer responsible for the Company's overall performance and global growth of its management portfolio and he serves as an executive director on the Company's Board of Directors.

Boasting more than 25 years of industry experience, Abrahamson lived the industry from the ground up, working as a front-desk clerk in Minnesota while finishing college to holding positions in accounting, financing, housekeeping, catering and as a general manager. From there, he moved to regional operations and on to senior management positions. With a great balance between operations and management from the very beginnings of his career, the path was paved for his future at Interstate. The skills Abrahamson acquired are still used on a daily basis to help improve the inner workings of each hotel and processes Interstate has in place.

Throughout his tenure, he notes his biggest success as, “developing an international expansion strategy and growing the portfolio to more than 350 hotels plus over 50 pipeline deals across 10 countries.”

“Most recently, Interstate acquired the management platform of Sanguine Hospitality, becoming the first U.S.-based third party hotel management company with significant operating presence and a fully staffed team based in the U.K. This greatly complements our other European operations based out of Moscow, Russia and Amsterdam, The Netherlands and positions Interstate for rapid growth in the region,” said Abrahamson.

Foremost crediting an outstanding team and strong operating performance for the Company’s ability to strategically expand in global emerging markets, Abrahamson also emphasizes the importance of building resilient relationships throughout the industry, saying, “I value connecting personally with industry influencers and Interstate as a whole has a reputation for building strong rapport with owners and industry associates, contributing to much of my personal success, and that of the Company.”

Not only do relationships contribute to success, Abrahamson makes it a point to listen and learn whenever possible, describing his leadership

50 Finance Monthly CeO AwArdS 2013

style as “Insightful, inclusive and decisive decision-making. Open to learning from others.”

An inspiring mix of intuition and innovation, Abrahamson leaves one piece of advice to up-and-coming CEOs: “Try not to step in too much; allow the team to learn and grow. While doing so, ensure that decisions are made to guide and lead the team forward. “

Contact: Jim Abrahamson

CEO - Interstate Hotels & Resorts 4501 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 500, Arlington, VA 22203

Tel: 703.387.3100 Fax: 703.387.3101

Website: www.interstatehotels.com

Hyatt and Hilton, owners benefit from Interstate’s long-standing relationships and experience operating all major brands. Additionally, dedicated corporate, regional and hotel talent apply a focused, results-driven approach to exceed profit, guest service and market share metrics. Interstate creates an optimized structure tailored by owner, analyzing needs into customized programs with geographic and tier-specialized teams. Interstate also touts the most skilled, inventive minds in the industry, revered as thought leaders in every relevant discipline.

Clients immediately discover the benefits of Interstate, based upon brilliant executive vision, technology advancements, depth of resources, extensive experience, proprietary systems and global diversity. All resources collaborate to achieve owner profitability, cost savings and individual investment objectives.

USA