PHILADELPHIA—HHM’s Independent Collection has doubled in size, adding properties in gateway markets, including South Beach Miami, Santa Barbara, Georgetown and Boston’s West End.
To lead the portfolio, HHM promoted Foiz Ahmed to VP/Independent Collection, to oversee all marketing and branding as well as P&L for the majority of the properties
Ahmed brings more than 23 years of hospitality experience to his role, most recently as HHM’s regional director of operations, leading the New York City portfolio and contributing significantly to its growth, including the opening of five new-build hotels. Ahmed previously worked with Marriott International in various positions.
HHM President/CEO Naveen P. Kakarla stated, “In his new role, [Ahmed] will ensure we have focused leadership around not just property level results, but also the branding, loyalty and customer experience elements that are critical to building out a cohesive collection of lifestyle, neighborhood-focused hotels.”
Two Autograph Collection hotels in Miami, now managed by HHM, will join the Independent Collection in early 2014: the 75-room Blue Moon Hotel on Collins Ave. and the 70-room Winter Haven Hotel on the beach.
Additionally, the 122-room Hotel Oceana in Santa Barbara, CA, which Hersha Hospitality Trust is under agreement to acquire, will join the Collection as its first West Coast hotel in the portfolio.