Avison Young Hospitality Group is pleased to highlight two hospitality brokers, Rick George and Mike George, who are located in the Avison Young Chicago office.
Rick George, a 25-year veteran of the hospitality business, has been involved in all facets of the transaction and development process including asset valuation, acquisition, disposition, land development, financing and branding. In 2014, Rick joined Atlanta-based Hotel Assets Group, LLC (Hotel AG), which was recently acquired by Atlanta-based Avison Young Hospitality Group. In his current position as senior hospitality broker, Rick is focused on single asset and portfolio transactions located in North America, with an emphasis in the Midwest.
A graduate of Cornell University, Rick joined a national hotel brokerage firm in 2003 as a principal owner and partner in charge of its Chicago and Los Angeles offices. During his tenure, Rick helped build and train the human capital infrastructure of the firm while focusing on transactions from the lower to the upper mid-market segments, as well as capital markets production and debt placement. In addition to revenue production, Rick was also responsible for the macro management of the firm’s brand, national client marketing efforts, technology and personnel management in the field.
Prior to that, Rick held senior positions at Intercontinental Hotels (IHG) as the director of franchise sales and development for the West North Central region of the U.S. and Wyndham Hotels, as the regional vice president of franchise sales and development and as managing director for hotel partners.
Mike George, senior hospitality broker, joined the hospitality group in 2016 and is focused on sourcing client hotel disposition opportunities, financing, market analysis and acquisitions. He provides hotel valuations, disposition, financing and acquisition assistance to his clients. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from The University at Buffalo.
“Rick and Mike bring a deep hospitality understanding, impeccable integrity, and skilled approach to the hospitality practice group and have been very instrumental to the growth and success of the firm,” said Keith Thompson, Principal at Avison Young.
