The Hotel Buy

In this episode, we sit down with Jeff Hyslop of InnVest Hotels to discuss the realities of hotel investment and operations across Canada. Jeff shares insights into what makes the Canadian hotel investment market structurally different from the U.S., and why those differences matter for investors, operators, and lenders navigating today’s hospitality landscape. The conversation explores the operat...

How do banks actually view hotel deals in today’s lending environment? In this episode of The Hotel Buy, host Sylvia Occhiuzzi sits down with Cam Woof, Associate Vice President of Hotel & Syndication at National Bank of Canada, to break down how lenders evaluate hotel investments across Canada. Hotels have long carried the reputation of being a “specialty asset class,” but as performance stabilize...

Brian shares practical guidance for both first-time and experienced hotel buyers navigating today’s market. He emphasizes the importance of aligning with the right brand partner, understanding total cost structures beyond the purchase price, and entering the business with a long-term mindset. Key takeaways include: Choose a brand that offers true operational and strategic support—not just a flag B...

Hotels can be some of the most rewarding and riskiest assets in real estate. So how do you know which property to buy, how to structure the deal, and how to actually create value once you own it? In this episode of The Hotel Buy, host Sylvia Occhiuzzi sits down with Mathieu Mault of Activar Hotels to break down exactly that. Mathieu has built a career blending investment expertise with hands-on op...

Why you’ll want to listen: • Discover how Opal blends design, functionality, and local culture to elevate hospitality. • Hear about expansion strategies in both eastern Canada and growing markets. • Get inspired by Perry’s leadership, community-first approach, and commitment to operational excellence.

Key Topics Discussed 1. Historical Roots and Evolution Tom shares the rich history of his family's foray into the hotel business, highlighting the milestones that have defined their growth.​ 2. Independent vs. Branded Hotels An exploration of the pros and cons of operating independent hotels versus joining established brands, including insights into brand recognition, operational autonomy, and gue...

In the latest episode of The Hotel Buy, Alnoor and Sameer Gulamani of Bayview Hospitality Group share insights into their journey in the hospitality industry, starting from Bayview Hospitality’s humble beginnings to its evolution into a leading hotel investment and development firm. They discussed the current state of tourism and hotel investment in Canada, highlighting key trends, challenges, and...

In this episode of The Hotel Buy Podcast, host Sylvia Occhiuzzi welcomes PJ Mercanti, CEO of Carmens Group. PJ shares insights on boutique hotel ownership, developing properties in a rising cost environment and how he and his family have successfully navigated the growth and evolution of a long-held family business. Listeners will explore the appeal of boutique hotels in a competitive market, alon...

Welcome to the Hotel Buy Podcast ! We’re thrilled to kick off the second season with a fantastic episode, featuring none other than Marc Staniloff, founder, president, and CEO of Superior Lodging Corp. With decades of experience in the hospitality industry, Marc has been a driving force behind one of Canada’s most successful hotel development and franchising companies. In this episode, we dive dee...

On this episode of The Hotel Buy, we are joined by Reetu Gupta , Speaker, Advocate, Philanthropist, Co-Founder & Ambassadress for The Gupta Group .  Reetu shares stories and insights about her extensive career working in hotel investment & operations, as well as the dynamics of working in a family business.

On this episode of The Hotel Buy, Sylvia Occhiuzzi is joined by Hasheel Lodhia and Hanisha Sharma, Directors and Owners of JM Hospitality Inc., where they discuss a variety of topics including the unique aspects of second generation hotel ownership.  

Join us for this episode of The Hotel Buy with Tony Cohen, Partner and Executive Vice President of Crescent Hotels and Resort as well as President and CEO of Global Edge Investments.   Tune in to hear how third-party management companies fold into the business of hotel operations as well as Tony's perspective on where the opportunities are in hotel investment today.

Meet Bob Jackson, the CEO and a Board Director of Vintage Hotels (LHPL). Bob has been in this role since 2009, he brings a successful track record of more than 25 years of experience in corporate and executive leadership. He is responsible for the overall financial and operational performance of the business. Bob has been highly successful in expanding the size, scope and value of the company.   O...

Join Sylvia Occhiuzzi for the next episode of The Hotel Buy. We'll be chatting with Sarah Sklash and April Brown from the June Motel. We're chatting about a variety of topics from acquisition to branding strategy and we'll hear all about the current renovation that they're doing at their Beaver Valley property.

Tune in below to the latest Hotel Buy episode featuring Don Cleary, President, Marriott Hotels of Canada. We caught up with Don before the holidays and he shared great insight into upcoming trends he foresees in the Canadian hotel industry. We also talked about his 34 year career at Marriott and what he's most proud of.

We are excited to announce our new podcast series, The Hotel Buy, presented by Beechwood. Each month, we'll bring you insightful discussions with industry leaders, deep dives into market trends and real-life case studies that highlight the landscape of hotel investment. Thank you to Minaz Rahemtulla for being our very first guest!   Minaz is the Executive Chair & Managing Director of LHM Canada wi...