Walker & Dunlop has announced it is expanding into hospitality investment sales. To lead the new practice, The company has hired Jonathan (Jay) Morrow as senior managing director to lead the initiative. The real estate veteran will focus on striking sales in the asset class along with origination and capital placement nationwide.

Before joining W&D, Morrow spent more than 15 years leading Hodges Ward Elliott's hotel team in New York City. There, he helped the firm execute over $20 billion in lodging transactions. Morrow, who will be based in the metro area in his new role, brings a range of services to the table including advisory, capital placement, and investment skills.

While this will mark a new chapter for W&D, it isn't completely a neophyte to hospitality in general. It has served on a variety of representative deals including the purchase of Aman New York Hotel & Residences for $754 million. Some others are for The Moxy and AC hotel Los Angeles ($325 million), The Lexington Hotel New York ($155 million), and SOHO Beach House Miami ($140 million).