Arps Named CDO at Spire; more people on the move

Spire Hospitality has named a new chief development officer, while Aimbridge and JLL have improved their teams. Here’s a look:

Spire Hospitality names Arps EVP/CDO
Spire Hospitality, a third-party hotel management company owned by AWH Partners, a privately held real estate investment firm headquartered in New York, has appointed Ted Arps, a 35-year veteran of the hospitality industry, as EVP/CDO.

In his new role, Arps is responsible for sourcing new business opportunities in markets across the U.S. and supporting the growth of the company’s firmly established third-party management business.

He previously held various senior leadership positions at Davidson Hospitality Group, including SVP, strategic operations and SVP, business development. During his time with the company, he oversaw investment management, where he was responsible for value enhancement through innovative ideas and actions, real estate operations improvements, value-adds and ROI projects; and accelerated deal growth through acquisitions and management transitions. Recently, he oversaw the transition and operation of a Midwest resort valued at $150 million.

Prior to Davidson, he served as the director of hotel investments for Crow Holdings, where he managed the private equity group’s hotel real estate investment holdings. He led the acquisition of 18 properties and oversaw asset management for 28 of Crow’s hotels, including the then-Wyndham Anatole, during his tenure.

He began his career in hospitality with Bristol Hotels and Resorts, eventually working his way up to VP, operations, where he worked with a portfolio that grew from three to 120 hotels, and to $1 billion in sales. He also held a variety of other hotel management roles with the company, including food and beverage manager, GM and regional manager.

Aimbridge promotes Lehn
Aimbridge Hospitality has promoted Jamelia Lehn to SVP, belonging, inclusion & people strategies, where she will lead and manage all of the company’s diversity and inclusion efforts.

Lehn will build momentum around Aimbridge’s commitment to a culture of diversity, inclusion belonging and social responsibility at all levels within the company. She will manage the implementation of strategy, best practices, programs, initiatives and training to achieve a more diverse and inclusive workplace. Lehn will also act as a strong voice on behalf of diversity and inclusion for Aimbridge and the industry overall, in addition to working in tandem with Aimbridge’s Talent Acquisition and Learning and Development teams to integrate all diversity and inclusion efforts throughout the employment experience.

Lehn joined Aimbridge Hospitality in central accounting and was later promoted to corporate controller in 2018. She is also a cofounder/chair of Aimbridge’s WLEAD (Women’s Leadership Empowerment and Development) program. Prior to Aimbridge, Lehn held roles with Goldman Sachs, Ashford Hospitality Trust and Prime Income Asset Management.

JLL Hotels & Hospitality Adds Green
JLL Hotels & Hospitality has hired 15-year hotel industry veteran Erin Green as SVP for the company’s global hotel asset management team.

Green is based in Chicago and spearheads operator selection execution, asset management mandates and business development. In collaboration with other senior members of the team, he will drive strategy across the global asset management platform, which includes asset-managing portfolios or single assets, fostering client relationships, negotiating legal agreements and performing asset valuations.

Most recently, he served as a VP, development for the Americas at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group in Chicago, where he led property growth throughout North, Central and South America. Green also held leadership positions at Rosewood Hotels & Resorts in Dallas; Hilton Worldwide in London; and Starwood Hotels & Resorts in New York and Brussels.