HEI Hires Clark to Help in $750M Acquisition Effort

NORWALK, CT-Roger Clark didn’t have to travel far for his new job at hotelier HEI Hospitality here. The 20-year hotel executive left New Castle Hotels in Shelton, where he served as senior vice president of development, to join HEI Hospitality as senior vice president, acquisitions.Clark’s appointment coincides with HEI’s announcement that it plans to acquire up to $750 million in new hotel properties over the next three years. Clark will report to Stephen Mendell, HEI’s executive vice president of acquisitions and development. He will be involved in all aspects of the company’s acquisition activities, including sourcing properties, due diligence and coordinating debt and equity requirements.

“We’ve grown rapidly in the past 12 months, acquiring more than $350 million in hotel assets,” says Gary Mendell, managing partner of HEI Hospitality. “In July, we completed the purchase of a portfolio of hotels from Starwood in a partnership, and we have continued to seek first-class, full-service hotels, both individual properties and portfolios.”He adds, “Now, as evidence of a recovery in the economy and the lodging industry continues to mount, we plan to continue our acquisition efforts. The addition of Roger Clark to our management team will allow us to do that.”