Meet the Team

Ben Seidel brings over 30 years of experience in both the full and focused service hotel and convention center industries to Real Hospitality Group’s executive team. Mr. Seidel served the last 5 years at a mid-size Hospitality Management Company where he was instrumental in the company’s growth from 21 to over 60 hotels in under 5 years before leaving as its Chief Operating Officer. He has served the industry in various capacities throughout his tenure as Director of Sales, Director of Food and Beverage and General Manager in the Sheraton, Hilton, Radisson and Marriott systems throughout the northeast and midwest . Mr. Seidel joined Real Hospitality Group with over fifteen years of multi-unit responsibilities overseeing a portfolio of over $163 million in revenue and nearly $300 million in new property and destination development. A graduate of the West Chester University in Pennsylvania, Mr. Seidel served two terms as chairman of Sheraton’s International Franchise Council and was a charter member of the Starwood Hotels and Resorts Marketing Board of Directors. He has taught hospitality marketing and accounting management at the Central Connecticut State University’s school of hospitality, and is a current participant in the development of the School of Hospitality Management at the West Virginia University in Morgantown. He served as chapter treasurer for the Professional Convention Management Association and is a member of various hospitality boards and associations. He received his CHA, CHSP certifications from the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s Educational Institute.

Rick Day is responsible for both sales and strategic marketing of the company and its hotel portfolio. He plays an integral role in working with the hotel personnel to develop new opportunities and attract new business potential. Mr. Day also works with new project development, performing market analysis and feasibility, implementing and managing market segment strategies, executing ecommerce plans, and creating targeted sales actions through our Marketing and Business plans. Utilizing his 28 years in the industry, Mr. Day provides a unique mix of operational expertise and sales and marketing strategy that correlate to achieving profit objectives.  In his last position he contributed to the growth of the portfolio from 16 to over 60 hotels and was responsible for over 160 million dollars in top line revenues as the Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the company. He also interfaced with the Hilton, Starwood, Wyndham and Marriott brands in pre-opening channels and related training to launch new hotels .Mr. Day has been a successful general manager at a mix of full service and resort hotels, and was responsible for sales and marketing for a diverse portfolio of full service resort destinations.  He attended the University of Maryland, earned the CRDE from the American Hotel and Lodging Association’s Educational Institute and has completed a series of continued training through Hilton, Ramada, Days Inns, and Sales Training Certifications through Achieve Global.

Mr. Berger brings over 30 years of experience in the Hospitality industry to RHG.  He previously served as Regional, Financial Controller of one of the largest Hospitality Operating Companies in the US today.  In his role as Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Ken oversees all financial management of Real Hospitality’s properties and corporate office. Mr. Berger brings an extensive background in hospitality finance and operations serving as the Financial and Regional Controller for multiple Hotels, Convention Centers, Dinner Theatres, Nightclubs and Golf Resorts throughout his career.  Ken is an experienced gaming management professional having served as Financial Controller during the pre-opening and opening of the first property awarded a category 3 gaming license in his home State of Pennsylvania.  Ken has a vast amount of multi property experience serving as a Regional Controller for over 30 hotel properties during his tenure with one of the largest brands in hospitality. 

Ken attended Temple University and was awarded his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from LaSalle University.  He brings extensive internal and external audit experience to the group and has worked closely with numerous accounting firms including, but not limited to Price Waterhouse Coopers, KPMG and Ernst & Young. In addition to his financial responsibilities and oversight, Ken is responsible for the group’s insurance program, contract negotiations and compliance, owner’s lender reporting, business development and balance sheet/profit and loss analysis. 

Assuming a more pragmatic approach to day to day issues and challenges, Melwyn offers the leadership, integrity, team building, and strong interpersonal and communication skills required to excel in raising the bar in his property’s performance indices. His focus at RHG is to ensure operational efficiency improvements, revenue optimization, and hotel team mentoring.. He has earned the reputation as a leader with success in new hotel openings and turnarounds, managing diverse departments, leveraging all resources to deliver results and thinking outside the box to achieve corporate and ownership objectives.

 

Karl has tenure of more than 30 years in the hospitality industry. A hospitality veteran, Karl began his career with Holiday Inn, working in food and beverage and entry level management.  Karl become a General Manager after joining Promise Hotels and upon completion of the management training programs was assigned to several hotels which lead into a regional manager position for the Texas area.  Karl’s attention to detail and organizational skill set were assets in leadership roles with Winston Hotels and ultimately Interstate Hotels.  He handled the start up of the Bridge Street Corporate Housing divisional offices in Manhattan, targeting short term rental contracts for the facility.  His multi unit capacity continued in Manhattan with a Regional Area Manager position with Hersha Hospitality.  Karl joined Real Hospitality Group, successfully launching the new Hampton Inn Soho and the high profile opening of the aloft Brooklyn.  Karl’s diverse ability to motivate the field associates, line level team and multi property capability is an asset for the organization.  Karl is a personable leader generating the respect of owners and franchise representatives through his ability to communicate sound strategies and best practices. He brings to RHG a well diversified sales and operations background capable of handling an array of property needs. He is well respected for building excellent property level management teams, high guest satisfaction ratings and corporate profitability.  Karl earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management from Penn State University,  with a minor in Business Finance. 

Angela is responsible for sales, marketing and revenue efforts for the company’s New York City portfolio.  Angela brings 25 years experience in both sales and operations in Food & Beverage, Sales, General Manager and Regional roles.  Offering the experience of driving incremental revenues, Angela puts forth strong expert knowledge in the day to day hotel operations and growing revenues through a combined philosophy of strategic sales and revenue management, along with fostering relationships with guests and hotels associates.  Her expertise ranges from restructure and distressed situations to established properties with a need to refine their position in the market.  Angela’s hands- on mentorship and guidance have proven to show immediate and positive results in a wide range of facilities and markets.  Angela’s experience has involved multiple brands and independent properties including Starwood, Hilton, Intercontinental and Carlson brands.

 Jonathan oversees RHG’s revenue management, a pivotal role in driving above market performance for its portfolio. An innovative problem solver with a bottom line perspective, Brooks has demonstrated ability to make an immediate, positive impact to an asset’s performance while planning as well for its annual and future success.  He combines detailed knowledge of market and product; with the assertion of conventional and unconventional strategies to create a culture of intuitive forecasting for controlling inventory and maximizing revenues. With over a decade of proven excellence that spans all facets of the industry, Jonathan’s experience includes new property openings, acquisitions, and multi-unit management in several major metropolitan sub- markets for a multitude of brands.  He has served both in General Management and Revenue Management capacities. He enjoys a city-wide reputation not only for a record of top line achievement and over performing share; but also for fostering excellence among hospitality professionals, coinciding with the growth of select and limited service sectors for management companies and brands. 

Rich is responsible for the revenue management aspects of RHG’s New York City portfolio.  He has a proven track record for his ability to drive superior market share for multiple brands and independent properties alike through the optimization of market segmentation across all channels.  Rich specializes in systems knowledge, functional hands on analysis and data management.  Having spent much of his hospitality career in the New York City area, his knowledge of market trends and ability to adapt to ever-changing economic conditions are key strengths.  By working closely with sales and marketing teams during his tenure in the industry, he has cultivated numerous relationships that allow him to bridge the gap between the revenue and sales disciplines to foster a multi-dimensional learning environment that creates a collaboration of success in the field.  These actions provide results for ownerships through consistent top-line excellence.

Alma brings over 25 years experience in Guest Service Training, Human Resource Performance, and IT Systems and Support.  She most recently served as the America’s Customer Service Manager for MEI (a division of Mars, Incorporated), a global technology company with associates in over 17 countries.  She is accomplished in multi-national customer support operations, systems integration, customer relations, recruitment, employment administration/training, and office management.  Other business contributions include responsibility for sales and delivery systems integration, development and rollout of IT communication plans, website implementation and complete office re-layout design.  Alma earned a dual B.A. in Human Resource Performance and Organization Dynamics and an M.A. in Organization Leadership and Effectiveness.  She holds an MEI President’s award for continuous career development and significant organizational contributions over time.

 

Overseeing the Milestones Program, Jami brings over 15 years of hospitality and customer service experience to the organization. The current Milestones Program is critical to the development of the company's service culture.  Jami started her career as a Director of Sales for a midwest hotel firm, working with both select service and independent full service properties.  She served as a Regional Director of Sales and later the Director of Business Development for a Mid-Atlantic hotel management firm.  Building client relationships, establishing sales systems, directing sales team production, and managing transient and group revenues were critical in her roles.  She also served as the Northeast Territory Director of Travel Agency Sales for Hilton Hotels Corporation, overseeing a field based team of representatives responsible for personal sales relationships with the company's top producing agencies in the major markets in the eastern United States. 

Julie is responsible for sales, marketing and revenue efforts for the company’s New York City Times Square portfolio.  Julie brings 19 years experience in sales, marketing and revenue management. Overseeing revenues of $30 million annually, Julie puts forth strong expert knowledge in the day to day hotel operations and growing revenues through a combined philosophy of strategic sales and revenue management.  Julie maintains client relationships with key corporate, international and project accounts as well as with the guests and hotels associates.  Her expertise ranges from Group, FIT, Corporate BTS and working with OTA’s. Julie has had hands on involvement  in opening several New York City properties and successfully positioned hotels for growth in Occupancies, ADR and Rev Par year over year.  Her experience has included multiple brands and independent properties including Hilton, Intercontinental, Marriott and Carlson brands.  Julie earned her Bachelor of Science from Johnson & Wales University with her major being Hospitality Sales & Meeting Management.

Nicole is responsible for the sales and revenue efforts for hotels in our Chelsea and Soho markets of New York City.  She manages the direct client relationships in the group, wholesale, FIT and corporate markets.  She contributes to development of top line revenues of 25 million annually.  Nicole began her career as an Area Sales Manager in New York City with 6 hotels in her portfolio in 2004.  Later, she became an Area Director of Sales and Marketing with a portfolio consisting of 7 hotels in New York City and Boston.   Her experience includes pre-opening sales, turnaround sales programs and working in a highly competitive marketplace during peak performance and economic downturns.   Nicole’s brand experience includes Hilton, IHG, Wyndham and Choice Hotels.  She has also worked with boutique hotels in New York City.  

Dana English is a seasoned accounting executive for Watkins Meegan, LLC specializing in providing various accounting, finance and tax services to clients in the hospitality and real estate industries. Ms. English has served as V.P./Corporate Controller for a large Hospitality Management Company. Ms. English applies her extensive expertise and insight in helping Real Hospitality Group stay one step ahead of the competition by providing accounting, internal control systems design and analysis, strategic planning, corporate finance, and management advisory services. Watkins Meegan, LLC has more than 35 years of business accounting experience, and consistently ranks in the top 9 regional accounting firms and the top 100 firms in the country. They service many well known business entities varying in size and location.

Our entire team is available to service your asset.  Each hotel has a support team assigned for on site training, development and ongoing relationship with the field associates.