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OUR TEAM
Founder
Truly one of the greats of the hospitality industry, Bill Swoboda was revered and respected by all who met him. Over the course of 52 years Bill Swoboda built a tradition of serving clients through honest dealing, high integrity and helping others by bringing them together in transactions that addressed mutual needs.
Founded in 1954, Bill Swoboda’s hospitality brokerage company remains one of the most active in the industry. As part of his industry leadership Bill served as one of the seven founding members of the Hotel & Motel Brokers of America, the original hotel real estate trade association which today has become Hotel Brokers International.
Following his death, his widow and partner, Mori Swoboda, identified William Meinhold, president of Hospitality Specialist, to carry on the company in the tradition Bill established.
“Bill and William cooperated on several transactions and found great satisfaction working together because each held the same high standards and desire to help others achieve their goals,” says Mori Swoboda.
Certified Hotel Broker
President of Swoboda Hospitality Specialists, Mr. Meinhold has a total of 35 years of real estate industry experience and 15 years specializing in hospitality sales. His track record is impressive. Mr. Meinhold has structured more than 50 hotel and lodging transactions valued at more than $250 million.
“I find the task of bringing buyer and seller to a mutually beneficial conclusion very satisfying,” says Mr. Meinhold. “The challenge of this business is ensuring all the complex details are covered and that everyone stays informed so there are no unwelcome surprises. I feel pride that we continue to work with owners again and again – as they purchase and dispose of properties.”
Prior to forming Hospitality Specialist, Mr. Meinhold served as the National Marketing Director for the Woodmoor Corporation, one of the largest recreational land development companies on the American Exchange. Under his direction the company more than doubled sales within a year of him joining the company.
Mr. Meinhold co-founded and served as Hospitality Specialists Inc. in 1993, a real estate brokerage firm formed to specialize solely in the sale of hospitality properties in the Western states.
Mr. Meinhold earned the Certified Hotel Broker (CHB) designation, which is held by less than 50 commercial brokers nationwide. He has completed computerized hotel market studies and valuation courses at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration, attributing to his wealth of knowledge and experience in hospitality sales.
Certified Commercial Investment Member Certified Hotel Broker Candidate
Greg Meinhold, CCIM, CHB, serves as Designated Broker and a Hospitality Specialist in Arizona, California and Washington. With more than 16 years of industry experience, 10 of which have been spent specializing in hospitality sales, Greg Meinhold has an extensive background as a developer, licensed contractor, real estate broker and operator of hotels and restaurants.
Greg Meinhold co-founded Pacific Hotel Motel Specialists Inc. a real estate brokerage firm specializing solely in the sale of hospitality properties in the Western states. Along with the responsibilities of founding a company, Greg Meinhold served as Swoboda Hospitality Specialists' Designated Broker.
Staying active in the commercial brokerage community, Meinhold holds his Certified Commercial Investment Manager (CCIM) designation, a designation held by less than 5% of commercial brokers and a candidate to earn the Certified Hotel Broker ( CHB ) designation, held by fewer than 50 commercial brokers nation wide. To optimally serve client interests, Greg Meinhold has completed advanced hotel valuation courses at the Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration.
Hospitality Specialist Agent
Del Ward has a 15-year-track record serving the Arizona clients of Swoboda Hospitality Specialists. A true son of hospitality and real estate, Mr. Ward was raised in the business, growing up working at his parent’s hotel property in Wisconsin. A resident of Arizona since the early ‘70s, Mr. Ward has used his early expertise to benefit of clients and associates. He has advised clients on more than 100 hotel developments, acquisitions and disposition projects. Mr. Ward understands the complexities of hotel real estate transactions and he understands actual operations. In the past two decades, he has owned three Arizona properties and developed another.
“I can put myself into the owner and operator’s shoes,” says Mr. Ward, “because I have owned and ran several properties. I understand the real challenge of this business and the many concerns that go along with purchasing and selling a lodging property. This understanding allows me to work in the best interests of my clients. As a result, my clients benefit through peace of mind and through enhanced profits.”
Hospitality Specialist Agent
A true specialist in the hotel industry, Al Almada has more than 25 years of successful experience in marketing, sales and management. Bi-lingual in English and Spanish, Mr. Almada has concentrated his entire professional career in the American West. His thorough market knowledge throughout the states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico benefit the clients of Swoboda Hospitality Specialist by providing them insight and opportunity.
“I understand that building long-lasting business relationships depends upon mutual trust and my unwavering commitment to work for my clients’ best interests,” says Mr. Almada. “Ethical, sincere and assertive business efforts are the keys to growing profits and strong relationships. When my clients benefit from the result of my efforts to provide them opportunity I truly feel satisfied.”
Hospitality Specialist
Subhash Naik describes himself as a management-driven, profit-oriented, business analyst with superior problem solving ability. He brings these skills to serve the needs of his clients and finds they profit from his life-long background in hospitality management. Mr. Naik’s education and practical expertise have given him insight into the asset management of both single properties and large portfolios. He is equally at home working with an individual owner on a single asset acquisition as he is working with an institutional executive intent on the strategic re-direction of a company. “I enjoy variety and find it is truly the spice of business life,” says Mr. Naik. “My background is varied, from growing up in a family that owned and managed restaurants and hotels, to an education in England, and work in Australia and the United States. My professional life has brought me into contact with some of the industry’s leading investors. I find that my wide experience enables me to read people well and deliver good outcomes to my clients.” Mr. Naik’s skills allow him to analyze, identify and maximize the potential of a company or property. Because his business expertise encompasses nearly 20 years of work in hospitality acquisitions, development, franchising, financing and marketing, he is ideally poised to assist SHS clients in making the best possible hospitality transactions. Highly active in the commercial brokerage community, Mr. Naik is a candidate to earn the Certified Hotel Broker (CHB) designation, held by fewer than 50 commercial brokers nationwide. In addition to directing $80 million in hotel development and acquisitions, Mr. Naik’s successes include the turnaround of the Oxford Koala Hotel, the purchase of the Beverly Garland Hotel and the turnaround of the Anaheim Ramada Hotel. As Senior Vice President of Marketing for the Heritage Hotels Group, Mr. Naik oversaw the profitability of 18 hotels.
HOSPITALITY SPECIALIST
Swoboda Hospitality Specialists, a leading real estate brokerage dedicated exclusively to the hotel industry, has opened an office in Boise, Idaho. Rick Weiss has been named the designated broker to manage the new location.
Weiss brings over 30 years of commercial real estate experience to the hospitality market. He holds an M.B.A. from Boise State, a master’s degree from the University of Nebraska and a bachelor’s from St. Olaf College.
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