NEW YORK CITY-The hospitality sector is arguably one of the most intriguing in commercial real estate. Ellen Brown, Denihan's executive vice president of acquisition and development takes her enthusiasm for her work and, essentially, passes it on to others in the field. She is active in mentoring because she sees how it can be a thoroughly unselfish way to share knowledge and encourage the next generation of professionals.

Globest.com: What do you most enjoy about the hospitality branch of the commercial real estate industry?

At Denihan, we're both a hotel investment company and a hotel operator. Our overarching goal is to maximize the value of the real estate for the owner – whether that's us or for a partner with whom we have a management agreement. It's a fun and fascinating process, as no two deals or hotels are alike. On the development side, we determine how we can best leverage a new property to yield the greatest return. For our existing hotels, we are always looking at how we can add value. Right now, for example, we are renovating and repositioning two Manhattan hotels to attract a higher-rated segment of the market. As part of this renovation, we are adding 132 keys. That's maximizing the value of the real estate.