Todd Jones of GE Capital

(This article originally appeared in Debt and Equity Journal. Erika Morphy is co-editor.

Is the hotel cycle peaking or, like the stock market, will it continue its long run? No one knows, including industry experts. “The hotel industry is a cyclical one, but whether or not it is peaking is anyone’s guess,” says Todd S. Jones, managing director, structured finance, for Scottsdale, AZ-based GE Capital Solutions’ franchise finance division. “That’s why our strategy is to be a consistently long-term player and look for the best financing opportunity with the best operators. That strategy is cycle proof.” GE CS’s recent fundings include a $42-million refi for three Florida properties–a Hilton Hotel and a Holiday Inn (both in St. Augustine) and a Jacksonville Wingate, all owned by Jalaram Hotels Inc. The deal also provides capital for the acquisition and re-branding of the Hampton Inn Casa del Mar in Vilano Beach, FL. We spoke with Jones about his division and his outlook for the hotel market.

DEJ: Your recent Florida deals. To what extent are they illustrative of current market conditions?