ABDUL M. SULEMAN – President & CEO

Mr. Suleman has over thirty years of experience in the hospitality industry with a leading global hotel corporation, and has earned a reputation for successful hotel turnarounds where he has taken underperforming hotel properties into profitability. Mr. Suleman’s professional accomplishments include openings of new hotels and takeovers of financially challenged properties. In 1994, Mr. Suleman founded Equinox Hospitality which serves in the various roles of hotel acquisition, development, asset management, project consulting and manage full-service hotels in major markets throughout the United States and around the world. Equinox's focus is on continuous profitable growth and generating maximum return on investment.

Prior to forming Equinox Hospitality, Mr. Suleman served in senior management positions with Hyatt Hotels Corporation for over twenty-two years. He was directly responsible for many major Hyatt Hotels. He has served on the board of directors for multiple organizations and is an active participant in numerous community activities. Suleman graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University. He has been an invited speaker at many prestigious hotel schools throughout the United States. Read More

JAMES T. DIETHRICH – Development

Mr. Diethrich is responsible for development of new properties. He brings over 20 years of experience in hotel development and renovation. As the founder and first president of Hyatt Development Corporation, Mr. Diethrich was responsible for managing the development of Hyatt Hotels throughout the United States. During his seven years with Hyatt, he oversaw the development of over $750,000,000 worth of new hotel and mixed-use projects. Mr. Diethrich departed Hyatt to form JTD & Associates, which has resulted in the development of over $300,000,000 of new properties in the Western United States.

ANWAR ELGONEMY – Acquisitions

Mr. Elgonemy draws on over seventeen years of experience in international hospitality acquisitions, developments, financings and valuations. Mr. Elgonemy speaks five languages, and has directed projects for global clients in the Middle East, Europe, Latin America and Southeast Asia, and throughout the US and the Caribbean. His client base has included The World Bank, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), Trump Organization, Goldman Sachs, Carlyle Group, Host Marriott and the InterContinental Hotels Group. Previously, Mr. Elgonemy was a Senior Vice President with Jones Lang LaSalle’s (NYSE: JLL) hotel group, where he headed up the West Coast Strategic Advisory Group. He was also an Associate Director with JLL in the Middle East where he was in charge of spearheading the firm’s business development in Egypt. In addition, he was employed by PKF Consulting (valuations), Marriott International (feasibility and development), Laventhol & Horwath (advisory) and Hilton and Holiday Inn (accounting and operations). Mr. Elgonemy is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Member of the Appraisal Institute (MAI), Counselor of Real Estate (CRE) and a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM). He has also completed Executive Programs in Real Estate at Harvard Business School.

BILL FLEISHMAN – Project Director

Mr. Fleishman has over 30 years of experience in real estate investment, acquisition and corporate finance. He has represented international investors in sourcing and completing acquisitions throughout North America. Mr. Fleishman's knowledge and experience in real estate investment represent a valuable resource in providing research and analysis to help property owners improve competitiveness, by "knowing the next move."

ARNIE FLEISCHMAN – Operations

Mr. Fleischman has over 25 years of hospitality experience developing and operating major hotels, restaurants, and gaming facilities for Hyatt Corporation, Primadonna Resorts, Mirage Resorts, and the Trump Organization. He has been extensively involved in gaming and hotel development for operations in the United States and Canada. As a testament to his achievements in the gaming industry, he was awarded the Atlantic City gaming industry award. Mr. Fleischman also has extensive experience in the management and operations of luxury hotels and restaurants, and has pioneered new concepts in major travel markets such as the "all-suite" concept in New York City.

JOHN HAMATI – Middle East Operations

Mr. Hamati’s quarter-century career encompasses the development, management and marketing of full service hotels, resort hotels, boutique hotels, and upscale mixed-use resort and residential communities in both the domestic and international arenas. Mr. Hamati has held senior positions at The Woodlands Resort and Country Club, Marriott Golf Resort and Spa, International Resort Management, as well as career affiliations with Hyatt Hotels, Kimpton Hotels and Aston Hotels and Resorts. His international experience includes property management in the Bahamas, Mexico, Caribbean, Panama, and Spain. Mr. Hamati has served on multiple boards including area Tourist Development Councils, Economic Development Partnerships, and several Chambers of Commerce. He is fluent in Arabic, English, French, and Spanish.

FIROZ MOTI – General Manager, Jeddah Office

Mr. Moti a hotel finance executive based in the Middle East. He has been associated with the hospitality industry for over three decades overseeing project feasibility, contract administration, development and financial planning. His strong operational background and long presence in the Middle East results in a good understanding of the region’s cultural and traditional business practices. Having a good competency in spoken Arabic and fluent in English, Mr. Moti has the ability to effectively manage a multi-national work force. With a Bachelor degree in commerce along with Major in accounting and economics from Bombay India University and, specialization courses in Hospitality Industry Financial Management from American Hotel & Motel Association, Mr. Moti has held senior positions with Starwood Hotels & Resorts as an Area Director of Finance Sheraton Al Hada & Madinah Hotels in Saudi Arabia, with Hilton Hotels as Director of Finance (Based at Madinah KSA) and with Elaf Hotels as Corporate Finance & Development Manager in Jeddah KSA.

RICHARD S. PRITZKER – Global Investment

Mr. Pritzker was actively involved in the formation of the Hyatt International Corporation and served as Associate General Counsel of Hyatt Corporation. He has also acquired and served as co-general partner of the Pasadena Hilton and other hotel properties and managed numerous joint ventures in the real estate business with the Pritzker family.

RAVI SIKAND – Accounting

Mr. Sikand’s extensive hospitality accounting experience encompasses sixteen years with industry leaders such as Marriott International, Pacific Hotel Associates, Southwest Hospitality Group and The Kor Group. The focus of his most recent experience has been with luxury segment hotels and restaurants. One of Mr. Sikand's strengths is analyzing financial statements, keeping expenses in line with revenues and maximizing the potential earnings flow through to the bottom-line. He is also proficient in applying GAAP/GAAS principals to auditing engagements and management reporting. Mr. Sikand has consulted in the computerizing of numerous business accounting systems. He is a strategic financial planner for existing and start-up properties, specializing in turn-around and take-over situations. Mr. Sikand's holds Controller Certifications from the University of California Berkeley and both a Bachelor and Master of Arts Degree in Economics from Delhi University and Varanasi University in India.

EVROS STAKIS – European Development

The son of the late Sir Reo Stakis, Mr. Stakis is returning to the industry he first trained in and with which his name is most closely associated. Mr. Stakis is Chairman of Equinox Stakis Hotels Ltd., a United Kingdom company focused on developing, building, owning and managing hotels in the UK and the rest of Europe working in partnership with Equinox Hospitality. 
  
ADAM SULEMAN – Operations

Mr. Suleman brings to Equinox extensive hotel operational experience from Starwood Hotels and Resorts, W Brand.  While with Starwood, he earned numerous accolades and widespread recognition in regards to hotel guest satisfaction scores and departmental leadership.  His resume encompasses union and non-union luxury properties in New York City, New Orleans, and San Francisco.  Mr. Suleman earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Economics from Santa Clara University, while also studying International Business at Imperial College in London, England.  Combining his hotel operations and financial background, Mr. Suleman has the ability to maximize on creating value at the bottom line while maintaining a quality product.  Additionally, Mr. Suleman has been a repeat guest speaker at Hospitality Programs in the Bay Area such as San Francisco State University and the University of San Francisco.

SAM SULEMAN – Project Director

Mr. Suleman has extensive experience in a number of areas of hospitality including new hotel development, new brand development, repositioning and renovation of existing hotel properties, food & beverage concept development, and hospitality technology. In the area of hospitality technology, his experience includes various property management systems, point of sales systems, back office systems, guest internet networks, guest in-room entertainment systems, PBX phone systems, security & room locking systems, and almost all other key components of technology used in the hospitality industry. He has previously consulted with various properties and hotel management companies, advising on technology solutions in hotel, resort, and timeshare environments. Mr. Suleman has also worked on panels with a number of global brands on specific new brand developments as well as at various conferences with other professionals involved in the industry.