Shahriar joined HHM in 2002, and, according to K.D. Patel, president, "played a key role in our properties outperforming their competitive set during arguably the most difficult period in hotel history." Patel credits Shahriar with leading the HHM portfolio to an 8.4% improvement in revpar (revenue per available room) for the past 12 months and also notes that he oversaw the takeover of six hotels and the opening of two others. Among the latter is the first Hampton Inn in Manhattan.

Before joining HHM, Shahriar served a director of field services for Atlanta-based Six Continents, now InterContinental Hotel Group, where he oversaw 589 hotels and 17 field service managers. Prior to his post at Six Continents, he was general manager of Winegardner & Hammons, a Cincinnati-based hotel management company, and earlier, as assistant VP of the hotel division of Bethesda, MD-based BF Saul Co.

Patel says HHM's portfolio has grown 33% in the past 12 months, "and we have an active pipeline." Last September, HHM's parent, Hersha Hospitality Trust, also based here, raised approximately $78 million through the sale of 8.6 million shares of stock, which trades as HT on the Amex.