Hunter Expands NationallyMarch 24, 2009
“I have worked closely with Hunter Realty over the past eight years, and have been on the advisory board of their conference for the last five years,” which led to his decision to join the firm, he tells GlobeSt.com. “They have had a lot of success on a regional basis and now their focus is the same as mine--to go national. These guys are here for the long term, and they’re looking to position themselves so when the market comes back they are a national brand with offices in strategic locations.” As the company expands its reach, it will look to open additional offices moving west, reveals Sturgess. For now, he will work to recruit brokers and make sure the firm has the “right talent on board,” then will continue building its client base of hotel buyers and sellers interested in major, upscale and focused-service hotel segments under branded companies such as Hilton and Marriott. “We believe the timing is right to initiate this expansion,” said
CEO Bob Hunter in a release. “Transaction activity was off some
80% in 2008 as a result of the instability in the credit markets. Our
research indicates a significant pent-up demand to both sell and buy
hotels, which we expect will accelerate as the year progresses and
into 2010 as the credit markets begin to recover.” |
Sturgess has been in the hotel industry for more than 20 years, and
previously served as corporate senior vice president of development
for Carlson Hotels Worldwide, where he helped increase new contracts
by more than 220%. Prior to Carlson, Sturgess was vice president of
development for Prime Hospitality Corp. and has also worked at Doubletree
Hotels Corp. and Richfield Hospitality Services Inc.