LEADERSHIP TEAM
FRANK ORENSTEIN
Chairman & Founder
Frank founded Hospitality Investors Group after a storied and accomplished career tenure in luxury hospitality development. Frank was previously Executive VP of Development for Four Seasons Hotels where he assisted in creating the original Four Seasons concept and developed the first Four Seasons properties in the United States, Canada, and Europe. During his career, he has developed many hotels worldwide and provided strategic advice and guidance to major international corporations.
Frank was also the co-founder of Park Plaza/Park Inns Hotels and Resorts, and along with his partner, Hicks Muse and Olympus Real Estate, expanded the portfolio and eventually sold the company to Radisson Hotels Worldwide.
Over the years, Hospitality Investors Group has grown its capabilities and expanded due to demand. Frank has led its evolution and been at the forefront of HIG’s mission to offer quality service, global expertise and ensure optimum success of its’ key partnerships. Frank is a graduate of Queens University Law School and currently resides in Palm Beach, Florida.
ANTHONY TROPEA
Managing Partner & Director
Anthony Tropea stands as a pillar of expertise and leadership at Hospitality Investors Group (HiG). As the Managing Partner and Director, he is pivotal in steering HiG's acquisitions and investments, marking a commitment that is both wholehearted and influential in the realm of hospitality development.
Anthony's role at HiG is characterized by a blend of dynamic leadership and innovative thinking. With extensive experience in property negotiation, investment, sales, and development, he brings to the table a wealth of expertise vital for the firm's growth and global expansion. His specialization as a Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) is particularly instrumental, equipping him with unique insights and skills to navigate the complexities of international markets, thereby driving HiG's global business growth and investment strategies.
His dedication to HiG is a testament to his belief in the company's vision and potential. Anthony's ability to identify and capitalize on investment opportunities, coupled with his forward-thinking approach, makes him a central figure in shaping the future of HiG and the broader hospitality investment landscape.
JAVIER BATTLE
Managing Director
Javier manages the acquisition and asset management functions for Hospitality Investors Group and represents BlackRock’s European hostel acquisition program. Previously he was part of the Christie & Co team, leading hotel property specialist in Europe, where he worked as Director in charge of the hospitality advisory team for Spain and Portugal. Prior to this, Javier was jointly responsible for real estate investment/asset management activities for a Russian family office.
Javier holds a BSc in International Hospitality Management from Ramon Llull University and an MBA from EADA BS and the Pepperdine University of Los Angeles. He also holds a PDP in Real Estate and Hotel Investments by Cornell University. He speaks English and Spanish.
MAXINE LOWE
Director of Design & Development
Maxine spearheads design and development planning, bringing a range of experience in real estate and construction.
Her diverse roles have spanned quantitative surveying, architecture, project management, and real estate investment sales. With a keen eye for seamlessly blending creativity and strategy, Maxine consistently prioritizes the end result of projects, ensuring a positive experience for guests, employees and investors alike.
Maxine holds a BSc in Hotel Administration from Cornell University, accompanied by minors in Real Estate and Design
& Environmental Analysis. Fluent in English and Spanish, she currently resides in New York
TIMOTHY WHITEHEAD
Managing Director, Asset Management
For over 30 years, Timothy Whitehead has managed hotels in different parts of the world including the Cavendish Hotel and Brown’s in London, England before joining Westin Hotels where he spent the next 15 years managing hotels in Copenhagen, Montreal, Winnipeg and Ottawa.
Subsequent to establishing a successful and stable operating environment at the Westin Ottawa, Timothy moved on to
the Canadian Pacific Hotel and Resorts (now Fairmont Hotels) and became Vice President & General Manager of Toronto's landmark hotel the Royal York.
More recently, Timothy spent several years with AFM Hospitality Corporation as Vice President of Ramada Canada and as Senior Vice President of their management division, NorthWest Lodging, where hewas responsible for 15 hotels in Canada and the United States.
JEROME SNYDER
Managing Director, Gaming
Jerome has been a Las Vegas resident for over 40 years and practiced law in the region for 12 years. He phased out of active practice and conceived and created the Bingo Palace Casino which became the predecessor to Station Casinos (NYSE). His current business interests as an active principal include: Apex Industrial Park, Baseline Nevada, Border Billboard and Mobility, Inc.
Jerome is actively involved in many community organizations, with emphasis on his involvement as Honorary Consul
to Great Britain, the World Affairs Organization, and the Consular Corps of Nevada.
PETER NORTHING
Director of Brand Strategy & Digital Marketing
Peter is a business leader and board-level advisor responsible for creating and executing ambitious international growth strategies in branded and innovative businesses, such as Red Bull, Disney, Three UK & Coca-Cola. Peter's experience in hospitality branding stems from international projects with BlackRock investment and HiG whilst delivering global branding initiatives and local premium concepts in the USA. He sits on the board of the award-winning Greyhairworks! organization and has won industry awards for Digital Product innovation while leading Mobile industry growth at Three UK. Peter excels in brand and digital strategy to steer customer proposition and communication execution. Peter has a
BSc in Managerial and Administrative Studies from Aston University.
SAMUEL KATZ
Director of Development, Europe
Samuel was previously Director of Innovation & Strategy for the Barrière Group, one of the leading hospitality and entertainment operators in France. Sam holds a Master in Management from ESCP EUROPE and currently resides in
Paris, France.