CHICAGO—JLL has entered into an agreement to acquire the Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) as part of its commitment to being a leading advisor to the hospitality industry. SAG primarily provides public entities with a full slate of development advisory services including asset management, tourism strategy and marketing, contract negotiations and public-private partnership structuring. According to JLL, this move reflects its broader strategy of securing high-quality business acquisitions that complement and expand its existing service offerings. The acquisition is scheduled to close within the coming weeks, subject to customary closing conditions.
“Our leading team of experts collaborates with owners, operators and investors of hotels around the world to support their investment strategies,” said Arthur Adler, Americas CEO of JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group. “By acquiring SAG, we will expand our platform to serve public entities, as well as clients, more broadly across the travel and tourism industry, further differentiating our firm from other advisors.”
The public sector plays a key role in the hospitality industry by providing strategic investments that help the private sector thrive. SAG is currently advising on the $615 million convention center renovation and expansion in Miami Beach and helping develop convention hotels in Houston, New Orleans, Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. Additionally, the company recently developed 20-year destination plans for Denver and Charlotte, NC.
“JLL offers us an opportunity to leverage a robust team, leading hospitality industry research and an established brand that is thoroughly entrenched in hospitality real estate,” said Jeff Sachs, founder of SAG. “JLL’s existing relationships, coupled with our expertise, will provide the platform and connections to reach an even greater audience while maintaining our strong level of commitment to our clients’ unique needs.”