Rawson brings almost 30 years of experience in luxury hospitality management and operations to GFI Development Company and is responsible for all GFI Development Company hotels. Currently, he is spearheading the conception of The NoMad Hotel, a luxury property which will be the first renovated LEED-certified in New York City, located on 28th Street and Broadway.  The hotel, designed by internationally-acclaimed interior designer Jacques Garcia, will feature a fine dining restaurant and bar, high end retail and lush outdoor areas including a roof top garden and terrace.  Rawson will asset manage the other GFI Development projects which include the winter 2009 opening of Ace Hotel New York located at 29th and Broadway and Ace Hotel and Swim Club in Palm Springs, CA. 

In 2000, Rawson joined Andre Balazs Properties as a Senior Vice President and spent six years overseeing the operations of eight hotels in four major U.S. destinations, including Andre Balazs� New York hotel, The Mercer, Sunset Beach in the Hamptons, and the Chateau Marmont in Hollywood, CA. During his tenure, Rawson was actively involved in growing the company which included the acquisition of the Raleigh Hotel in Miami Beach, FL, and the openings of the Downtown Los Angeles Standard, Hotel QT in New York City and the Miami Beach Standard.

Rawson began his career in Washington, D.C. working at such renowned properties as The Watergate, Jefferson and Ritz Carlton hotels, where he dealt with an array of top US and international clientele and handled social and arts related events in the Nation�s Capital. 

He later moved to the Classic Collection of Fine Hotels & Restaurants where he began as General Manager of The Henley Park Hotel and the Morrison-Clark Inn, and was ultimately named Vice President, Director of Operations.  As Vice President, Rawson was responsible for seven boutique properties which he helped to successfully re-position in the luxury market. 

Born in New York City, Rawson holds a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University�s prestigious School of Hotel Administration and currently resides in New York City.  He is a Board Member of the Madison Square Park Conservancy and sits on the Streetscape and Capital Improvements Committee of the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership.

About The NoMad
Located on Broadway at 28th Street in the newly-established NoMad district of Manhattan, the NoMad Hotel is slated to open in the fall of 2009, and will be the first LEED-certified renovated hotel in New York City.  The NoMad Hotel will be steps away from Manhattan�s premier destinations, shopping and business districts, including the Empire State Building, Madison Square, Gramercy Park and Midtown South. 

About GFI Development Company, LLC
GFI Development Company are owners and developers of a portfolio of independent properties located throughout the US specializing in edgy, creative and innovative concepts in luxury hospitality.  Bringing together talented and visionary experts in the areas of culinary, design and management, the hotels offer a unique and customized experience for visitors and guests alike. In addition to The NoMad Hotel, GFI is developing two new properties in Palm Springs and New York, both to be managed by ACE Hotels who are based in Seattle and currently operate hotels in Seattle and Portland. For more information on GFI Development Company, please visit www.GFICap.com or call 212-668-1444.

Ariane Romano
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