ATLANTA, GA, January 18, 2011—Hospitality Ventures, LLC, a privately owned hotel ownership and management firm headquartered in Atlanta, today announced that it has named Mary Beth Cutshall as Vice President, Acquisitions & Business Development.  In her new role with Hospitality Ventures (HV), Ms. Cutshall will lead the continued expansion of the firm’s portfolio through acquisitions as well as third-party management agreements.  She also will play a key role in fostering new joint venture opportunities and working with lenders, brokers and franchise development leaders in the hospitality industry.  She reports directly to Robert Cole, President & CEO of Hospitality Ventures.

“Mary Beth Cutshall’s impressive record of expanding hotel portfolios along with her vast hospitality industry experience makes her a key strategic addition to our executive leadership team,” says Cole.  “With Mary Beth’s experience, expertise and industry relationships, Hospitality Ventures is poised to continue its robust growth into 2011 and beyond.”  Hospitality Ventures added seven hotels to its portfolio in 2010 (a 33% growth rate) despite one of the toughest operating and growth environments in the history of the hotel industry. 

Ms. Cutshall brings over 24 years of hospitality industry experience to her new executive leadership role.  Most recently, she served as Director of Business Development for Atlanta-based Hotel Equities, where she oversaw a 300% expansion of the company’s portfolio  Previously, she was an independent marketing and sales consultant for several years as well as serving as Corporate Director of Sales and Marketing for Hotel Investors Trust where she helped manage its transition to Starwood Lodging Corp.  Earlier in her career, Ms. Cutshall held various sales and operations positions with Marriott International.

As one of the leading women in hotel development and the hospitality industry, Ms. Cutshall lectures at the University of South Carolina’s School of Hospitality and serves as an Officer on the Atlanta Hospitality Alliance’s board of directors.  A member of WIL (Women in Lodging), Cutshall earned a B.S. in Hotel Administration from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.  She also studied hospitality administration at the Ecole Hoteliere in Lausanne, Switzerland. 
 
About Hospitality Ventures, LLC
Hospitality Ventures, LLC is a privately owned, fully-integrated Atlanta-based hotel ownership and management firm.  The principals of Hospitality Ventures are the previous principals of Impac Hotel Group.  During their time at Impac, they successfully owned and operated more than 150 hotels in every size and service category.  Hospitality Ventures currently owns and/or operates 28 hotels in 16 states (coast to coast) that collectively have 4,488 guest rooms and employ more than 1,800 people.  Total portfolio revenue exceeds $130 million.  Eighteen of the hotels operate under Hilton or Marriott franchise agreements.  Visit www.hospitalityventures.com for more information.