Our Team

Naveen Kakarla is HHM Hotels' President and CEO and serves on its Board of Directors. Naveen has worked across all disciplines since 2005 and currently spends focused time on our investment and development platform, our Independent Collection of managed hotels, finance and accounting, human resources, and capital projects. He previously led our New York City operational region, our construction division, and each of our centralized shared service departments. Prior to joining HHM Hotels, Naveen worked with a private equity firm and its portfolio companies on early-stage investments and "roll-ups" in various industries. He was previously a partner specializing in corporate and securities law at Jenkens & Gilchrist, and prior to that was associated with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld in Washington, DC. Naveen holds a Bachelor of Arts from Austin College and a law degree from Cornell Law School. Naveen is a board trustee at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital System, which includes the Sidney Kimmel Medical College. He also serves on the corporate board of the Barnes Foundation Museum and is an active member of the Young Presidents' Organization. Naveen spent equal time growing up in India, New York City, and Dallas… though he recalls the move to Texas as requiring the most agility.

As Chief Operating Officer (COO), Dani Elhachem is responsible for HHM Hotels' Operating Company across North America and the Bahamas which ranges across all segments and asset tiers. Dani oversees all operational functions which includes revenue management, distribution, sales, marketing, brand management, digital marketing, restaurants and bars, engineering and property level accounting, as well as owners’ relations. In addition, Dani oversees the company’s Luxury and Lifestyle Division, Echelon by HHM Hotels, whereby he provides strategic leadership and overarching vision for the division. Echelon provides its assets and owners with operational excellence supported by the Commercial Services Team, and its Marketing Studio/Creative Studio for HHM Hotels' Independent Collection Hotels & Resorts.

Dani assumed the role COO at the start of 2024 after serving in senior and executive leadership roles within HHM for over ten years. Prior to joining the firm in 2013, Dani held positions such as Corporate Vice President of Operations at Denihan Hospitality. He also held positions in private equity firms and publicly traded companies in both USA and Canada, as well as leadership roles with Starwood Hotels & Resorts/Westin Hotels & Resorts where he started his journey in hospitality.

Dani knew hospitality was a fit for him early on and earned his Bachelors’ degree in Hospitality & Tourism Business Administration while working as a mini bar attendant. That journey of balancing people and high performance continues in his leadership today across the organization and his teams.

As HHM Hotels' Chief Investment Officer, Shawn Tuli is responsible for the company's strategy around investment, third party growth, M&A, and overall capital allocation. He previously served HHM Hotels in a variety of impactful roles, ranging from leadership of corporate finance and accounting teams to building an investment growth platform. Shawn rejoined HHM Hotels in 2014, after receiving an MBA from the Harvard Business School. He started his career at Goldman Sachs, most recently in the Real Estate, Gaming & Lodging Investment Banking Division. He serves as Chairman of the Board of the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia, and Shawn remains an avid traveler and family man combining their passions of adventure with his wife and four children.

Michael Murray, a company founder and partner, is the organization’s Chief Business Officer, focusing on enhancing collaboration with current owners and clients, understanding partner needs, and driving growth opportunities for HHM Hotels through acquisitions and asset management. Mike is a 40+ year hospitality veteran with in-depth operations expertise throughout North America. During Mike’s tenure at HHM serving as COO for fifteen years, the company has expanded from a small portfolio of urban core select service properties in the Northeast USA to a multi-dimensional collection of hospitality offerings ranging from select service to full-service to lifestyle/luxury hotels, and resorts, across a platform now in 30 states and Canada. During a break from his college pre-law studies, Mike spent six months as the Chief Steward at the renowned Caneel Bay Resort on St. John in the USVI. That one "vacation" would cause him to pull out of that pre-law program upon his return to college and switch to a hospitality business major, leading him to where he is today.

Raul Moronta, Chief Revenue Officer for HHM Hotels, creatively and strategically leads Revenue Management, E-Commerce and Distribution functions across the organization while partnering closely with Sales and Operations leadership. Raul brings over 25 years of extensive experience, recently serving as the Chief Commercial Officer for Remington Hotels, SVP of Revenue Management for Crescent Hotels & Resorts, and also a period with HHM Hotels prior as well. He holds an M.B.A. from the University of New Haven and a Bachelor of Hotel & Restaurant Management from Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra. Additionally, Raul has a Certificate of Hotel Real Estate Investment & Asset Management from Cornell University.

As Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Dan Liang oversees a team of professionals on all legal matters for HHM Hotels, including those related to hotel operations, acquisitions, and corporate governance. Dan also oversees risk-related matters for HHM Hotels and plays a critical role in the execution of our investment and development strategies. Dan started his legal career as a member of Simpson Thacher’s real estate group where he represented private equity clients in complex real estate transactions, including the sale of the Waldorf Astoria New York and the acquisition of Great Wolf Resorts. More recently, Dan was a member of Ballard Spahr’s real estate group representing clients on various real estate matters ranging from commercial leasing to zoning and land use. Dan earned his J.D. from the New York University School of Law and his B.A. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

As HHM Hotels' Senior Vice President of Finance, Shari is a vital member of our executive team and leads a group of expert corporate finance, operational accounting, and shared services professionals. Shari is responsible for working closely with operations and ownership partners on financial reporting, analysis, and budgeting which includes critical business functions such as payroll, cash management and forecasting, and financial systems. Prior to joining the firm in 2017, Shari held numerous leadership positions where she gained extensive experience in financial and SEC reporting, project leadership, and accounting management.

As our Senior Vice President of Information Technology, Mike Gartner guides all aspects of IT, including hotel systems, business systems, security, and infrastructure. HHM Hotels prides itself on our capabilities in each of these areas and ensures technology is among our key competitive advantages. Prior to joining HHM Hotels in 2022, Mike worked across many roles in the hospitality industry including as Chief Technology Officer at a national hotel management company and also in a hybrid role that involved leading technology and operations at a highly successful casino outside of Philadelphia. Mike has a solid background in tech and operations, and in leading complex and diverse teams.

Ray Perez serves as HHM's Executive Vice President of Operations, currently overseeing over 80 properties for HHM on the East and West Coast, as well as in Texas. With over 30 years of hotel operations experience, Ray brings a unique perspective to the hotels within his portfolio having started his hospitality career in food & beverage and sales. Before joining HHM, Ray worked extensively in hospitality operations and revenue, most recently holding the position of Vice President of Revenue for DePalma Hotel Corporation. After leading HHM's Texas and Midwest portfolios for six years, Ray was elevated in 2019 to his new senior operations role.

As Senior Vice President of Operations, Cathy O'Brien currently oversees 35 hotels in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. Beyond productive operations and GM mentorship, Cathy leads guest service satisfaction programming across our diverse portfolio of branded and independent assets. Cathy lives in Boston and has been a leader at HHM Hotels since the company's early growth in New England.

Hiram Negron, HHM Hotels' Senior Vice President of Operations, strategically directs a multi-brand and independent portfolio of hotels maximizing profits and achieving brand service standards while providing leadership, direction, and mentorship to hotel General Managers for 45 properties. He directly oversees operations, sales, and revenue management functions in New York City and New England. After working with Highgate hotels, Hiram joined HHM Hotels in 2007 and has continuously grown his career in on-property and above-property operations.

Promoted to HHM Hotels' Senior Vice President of Operations in 2023, Richard Riccio joined Urgo Hotels & Resorts in October 2003 to head its U.S. operations. He continues to focus the company’s portfolio of Marriott and Hilton products on three major themes: revenue generation, exceptional service, and return on owner investment. Richard’s tenure with Urgo was preceded by a 15-year career with Marriott International and Marriott hotels, rising from a bellman position at the Marriott Trumbull (Conn.) to a general manager for Residence Inn by Marriott, specializing in opening and ramping up hotels throughout the United States. He was honored as Marriott’s 1997 Opening General Manager of the Year and has been a member of the Residence Inn by Marriott System Standards Board since 1998. Richard holds a marketing and finance degree from the University of Connecticut.

Joining the HHM Hotels senior leadership team in 2023, Doug Wilkins brings a wealth of knowledge in hotel operations to the team. He oversees key properties for HHM Hotels in Boston, Philadelphia, D.C., South Florida, and California. Doug previously led operations at prominent hospitality companies, most recently with groups such as Equity Lifestyle Properties and B.F. Saul. He was the SVP of Operations at each of those organizations. Prior to that, he has two decades of experience with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. He also held senior leadership roles in both Sales and Operations at Caesars Pocono Resorts. His extensive background provides a new lens to HHM Hotels.

As Senior Vice President of Food and Beverage, Matt brings a wealth of hospitality experience to the HHM Hotels restaurants and bars program. He leads executions around the country, as well as oversees the Culinary Collective team to deliver best-in-class dining at outlets and free standing restaurants. Previously, he served as Vice President of Hospitality at Restoration Hardware, where he managed a $150M+ luxury restaurant portfolio and global expansion. He has a proven track record in concept development, innovation, and leadership.

As Senior Vice President of Revenue Management, Bill Winzer is responsible for leading all the revenue management efforts for all branded and independent properties. Prior to joining HHM Hotels, he had worked for Marriott International for 26 years. He previously held senior regional revenue management positions in the United States, Canada, and China. Bill got his start in the hospitality business as a valet car parker at the Omni Hotel in Detroit.

Theresa Rayos del Sol, HHM Hotels' Senior Vice President of Strategic Sales Performance, directs the strategy support investments of HHM Hotels in salesforce effectiveness, which includes leadership around all enterprise-level ecosystem solutions, commercial strategy planning, budgeting, reporting, processes and procedures, major contract negotiations, and integrations and transitions. Before working with HHM Hotels' elite branded and unbranded portfolio, Theresa grew her hotel luxury/upscale experience with Hyatt Hotels.

Lindsey Johnson, Senior Vice President, Head of Sales, is responsible for driving our overall sales organization in the areas of sales execution and major account development and optimization. Lindsey partners with all functional leaders in the Commercial department and Senior Operational leaders to ensure our above-property regional sales leaders and on-property sales professionals are executing at the highest level and that they are continually inspired and motivated from coast to coast. Lindsey joined HHM in 2013 as a Regional Sales leader and was promoted to VP in 2019. Prior to joining HHM Hotels, Lindsey worked as the Area Director of Sales for Premier Hospitality Management.

As Vice President of eCommerce, James leads a team of eCommerce, CRM, and hospitality digital marketing specialists to support HHM Hotels' variety of branded and independent lifestyle, luxury, and resort hotels in the digital space. A 25-year HHM Hotels veteran, James has held several Regional Director roles in Sales, Marketing, and Revenue. He earned his degree from the Hersha School of Hospitality Management at HACC, where he has served on the Advisory Committee for the Hospitality and Lodging program for 17 years. In the early ‘90s, James got his start in the industry as a lifeguard at a resort hotel.

Melissa Sibal was promoted to Vice President of Revenue Management at HHM Hotels in 2023. She joined Urgo Hotels & Resorts in 2002 and grew through a series of revenue management roles, from the property to the regional level, leading up to her latest promotion. She works closely with the operational leadership and plays an integral role in guiding revenue management efforts and best practices to increase hotels’ market share and deliver optimized revenue. Before joining, Melissa held a variety of revenue management, operations, and reservations positions at Interstate Hotels & Resorts and Hilton Hotels Corporation. She also has an extensive background in property development, sales and marketing, and corporate leasing.

As HHM Hotels' Vice President of People Support (HR), Joe Heck is responsible for leading a best-in-class company culture that emphasizes associates as the key to business success. Through the execution of total reward and talent strategies, as well as innovative associate engagement and professional development programs, Joe ensures HHM Hotels remains a leading employer in the hospitality industry. Prior to joining HHM Hotels in 2014, Joe began his career in hospitality working in various HR leadership roles in multiple full-service hotels. Today, he sits on the Management Advisory Board and guest lectures for the Trulaske College of Business at the University of Missouri.

In the role of Vice President of Risk Management, Mark Ludwick oversees the procurement of HHM Hotels' property, casualty, and executive lines insurance coverage to minimize the company's exposure and protect its assets. Mark oversees the reporting and handling of all claims and is involved in litigation management while leading the Risk Management team. He also oversees OSHA compliance and company safety programs and training. Mark has held senior leadership positions at three hotel-casino companies including Resorts International Holdings, Tropicana Entertainment Inc, and Ocean Casino Resort in a career spanning thirty years. When Mark is not in HHM Hotels' corporate offices, you can find him on the golf course or involved in the Atlantic County, NJ schools where he serves as President of the Board of Education.

In the role of Vice President of Accounting, Erika Rodkey oversees timely and accurate accounting processing and financial statements for managed and owned HHM Hotels properties from coast to coast. She directs the functionality of a team of centralized accounting professionals in our corporate office as well as throughout hotels across all regions. Together with regional operations, sales, and revenue, she helps execute the financial performance of our entire portfolio. Erika began her career with HHM Hotels in 2011 and has continued to produce outsized results for owners since.

As HHM Hotels' Chief Investment Officer, Shawn Tuli is responsible for the company's strategy around investment, third party growth, M&A, and overall capital allocation. He previously served HHM Hotels in a variety of impactful roles, ranging from leadership of corporate finance and accounting teams to building an investment growth platform. Shawn rejoined HHM Hotels in 2014, after receiving an MBA from the Harvard Business School. He started his career at Goldman Sachs, most recently in the Real Estate, Gaming & Lodging Investment Banking Division. He serves as Chairman of the Board of the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia, and Shawn remains an avid traveler and family man combining their passions of adventure with his wife and four children.

Mathew Jalazo serves as our Executive Vice President, Head of Development, where his responsibilities include sourcing management, acquisition and development opportunities, as well as underwriting, due diligence, market feasibility, entitlement, design, development, construction, and equity & debt financing. During his tenure with Urgo Hotels & Resorts, Mathew deployed more than $250 million of capital on new construction and acquisition projects helping to grow the portfolio from 18 to 45-plus hotels. Mathew served as executive vice president of development at Winston Hotels where he focused on sourcing acquisition and development opportunities. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he received his BSBA from the Kenan-Flagler Business School. He remains actively involved in the school, serving on the Kenan-Flagler Business School Alumni Council. He has spoken at several industry events and institutions, including the New York New Hotel Development & Construction Conference and the Cornell University Baker Program in Real Estate, as well as published articles in the Cornell Real Estate Review.

Romy is HHM Hotels' senior leader on all investment hotel asset management. He leads a team of asset management professionals in the Philadelphia Corporate Office dedicated to maximizing owner value. As Senior Vice President and Head of Asset Management, Romy is focused on owner relations and capital planning for a coast-to-coast portfolio of over thirty joint ventures within the organization. Romy joined HHM Hotels with considerable experience working with REITs, major hotel brands, and AM firms. He held roles that include SVP of Real Estate and Asset Management for Delta Hotels & Resorts, Executive Vice President at hotelAVE, and SVP of Portfolio Management at Brookfield Asset Management. He also holds a Masters degree from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration. 

As Director of Asset Management, Eshan is responsible for operational performance, capex tracking, capital markets, and investor management across HHM's owned hotels. Prior to joining HHM, he started his career in hospitality working across roles in strategy, design & development, acquisitions, and asset management for MGM Resorts, Hospitality House, and most recently, Starwood Capital Group. Eshan holds a M.S. in Real Estate Development from Columbia University and a B.A. in Economics from Indiana University.

As Director, Acquisitions & Development, Steven is responsible for HHM’s underwriting and due diligence efforts since he joined in 2016. Steven started his career working on various hotel operation and financial service positions in China. Prior to joining HHM, Steven was with Buccini Pollin Group/PM Hotel Group as a Financial Analyst on Asset Management.  During his 2 years with BPG/PMHG, Steven asset managed a portfolio of 25+ hotels across the US.  Steven holds a Master of Management in Hospitality with a Graduate Minor in Real Estate Investments from Cornell University.

As Vice President of eCommerce, James leads a team of eCommerce, CRM, and hospitality digital marketing specialists to support HHM Hotels' variety of branded and independent lifestyle, luxury, and resort hotels in the digital space. A 25-year HHM Hotels veteran, James has held several Regional Director roles in Sales, Marketing, and Revenue. He earned his degree from the Hersha School of Hospitality Management at HACC, where he has served on the Advisory Committee for the Hospitality and Lodging program for 17 years. In the early ‘90s, James got his start in the industry as a lifeguard at a resort hotel.

As Vice President of Distribution, ICH&R & Regional Director of Revenue, Jeff Levy has a uniquely designed role with two parts. On the RM side, he develops room sales and distribution strategies, while coordinating revenue management processes and procedures to maximize revenue for HHM Hotels in New York City and New England. Further, Jeff guides distribution strategies and management across all independent properties from coast to coast. Before joining HHM Hotels in 2017, Jeff held several leadership roles with major brands and management companies in our industry.

Theresa Rayos del Sol, HHM Hotels' Senior Vice President of Strategic Sales Performance, directs the strategy support investments of HHM Hotels in salesforce effectiveness, which includes leadership around all enterprise-level ecosystem solutions, commercial strategy planning, budgeting, reporting, processes and procedures, major contract negotiations, and integrations and transitions. Before working with HHM Hotels' elite branded and unbranded portfolio, Theresa grew her hotel luxury/upscale experience with Hyatt Hotels.

With 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Kate Joseph has worked in various roles within operations at respected hotel chains such as Hyatt Hotels & Resorts and Four Seasons Hotels. She also played a crucial role in increasing distribution revenue through her work with Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) and leading account management at NextGuest Digital, focusing on independent lifestyle hotels and resorts. Presently, as HHM Hotels' Director of Digital Marketing & E-Commerce, Kate is channeling her efforts toward expanding the direct channel for the ICH&R portfolio. In her current role, she leads digital marketing and eCommerce strategy with the primary goal of enhancing the hotel's online presence.

With over 16 years of experience in hospitality, Tana Fils has a proven history of driving results as HHM Hotels' Director of CRM & Email Marketing. She started her career as a front desk agent during an internship and quickly worked her way through various departments ranging from Operations, Revenue to Sales and Marketing, where she learned of her passion for eCommerce and Digital Optimization. Her areas of expertise are digital marketing, website optimization, email marketing, and distribution. Tana has represented major brands including Marriott, Hilton, and IHG, ranging from mid-scale to luxury as well as independent lifestyle brands such as Faena Hotels & Residences.

Noelle Saltzgueber is a highly skilled and creative Graphic Design Director with over 13 years of experience in the industry. She has worked with some of the top names in the hospitality and retail sectors, including Starr Restaurants and Macy's. Noelle is responsible for ensuring that HHM Hotels' visual identity is compelling, engaging, and aligned with its overall mission and values.

Andrea Rasimas is the Director of Distribution at HHM, where she leads the development and execution of distribution strategies for independent properties. Andrea is highly focused on driving direct business through various programs and staying ahead of key technology trends. She also enhances the booking engines, drives new strategies and partnerships, and conducts audits to enhance system health and improve property visibility. Prior to joining HHM in 2021 Andrea's career focused on revenue management for independent properties. Her background in revenue management brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the intricacies of maximizing revenue through strategic distribution. 

As Vice President of Strategic Operations, Daniel spearheads the development and implementation of enterprise-level solutions to optimize efficiency across HHM Hotels. Additionally, Daniel oversees all property transitions and integrations into the HHM portfolio. Daniel holds several industry certifications, including being a Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) and Certified Revenue Management Executive (CRME). He joined HHM Hotels in 2023 after multiple on-property and above property hospitality leadership roles. Daniel began his journey in the hospitality industry as a Night Auditor at a Days Inn during the summer while in college.

Shaffer Patrick is the Manager of Strategic Operations and oversees multiple core functions for HHM Hotels, primarily relating to identifying and implementing optimization initiatives at an enterprise level. These range from building out department functions to enhancing technological capabilities. Shaffer also manages the production/automation of client reporting for select owners, as well as oversees portfolio analytics. Having graduated from Wharton, he brings prior U.S. and international experience in debt and equity placement, operator selection, and hotel appraisal.