WELCOME

Joe Champ brings over 40 years of experience in all aspects of hotel development and operations to his clients at Champ Hospitality LP. Having served as an expert witness and arbitrator, Joe also brings a wealth of experience to dispute resolution.

About

Joe Champ is President of Champ Hospitality LP., a company he founded in 2006. Prior to that date, Joe held senior level positions with a number of well-known hospitality companies and operators including AIRCOA, Interstate Hotels, Westin Hotels and Resorts, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, and Wyndham International. Joe has extensive experience in hotel franchising, management contracts, acquisitions, dispositions, and construction. He has overseen all aspects of the hotel development process, from site acquisition and feasibility to opening. Joe has also worked as a franchisor and franchisee, owner and operator, branded hotel developer and brand standard enforcer. His unique “360 degree” understanding of the industry ensures that Joe can visualize hospitality projects from the perspective of each stake holder. Joe utilizes that real world experience to assist clients and investors in maximizing potential returns through selection of the most qualified brand, operator and development team. He then provides the necessary support throughout the development and opening process to assure a successful opening.

The primary focus of Champ Hospitality has been the development of branded Aloft, Sheraton, and Westin Element hotels. His notable completed projects include the Aloft Hotel in Miami Beach, a renovation of an historically significant Miami Beach hotel adapted to Marriott’s Aloft hotel brand standards. The Sheraton McKinney Hotel included a innovative PPP partnership for a new hotel in McKinney Texas, including a city-owned events and conference center. Joe also completed the historic tax credit renovation of the Bassett Tower in El Paso into an Aloft Hotel which opened in May 2018. This project involved working closely with the City of El Paso, State of Texas Historic Preservation Office, and the National Park Service. Joe is currently working on the design of a new Aloft by Marriott to be constructed in Dallas, Texas. Joe serves on the Marriott Franchise Advisory Council for Aloft Hotels, is a member of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC), and the Urban Land Institute where he serves as a member of the Hotel and Entertainment Development Council of North Texas.

Aloft Miami South Beach

Joe acted as a hospitality consultant to New York-based Lightstone and JMH Development in the development and opening of the historic Aloft Miami Beach. He worked closely with operator Sage Hospitality Group to ensure a successful opening. This complex project involved preservation of the façade of the historic Ankara Motel interfaced with construction of a new high rise building on a site surrounded by water on three sides. Champ Hospitality worked closely with the project management team in all phases of the development and opening process. The primary developer of the hotel successfully sold the hotel shortly after completion.

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Consulting Services

While we offer “turn-key” services to take control of a project from concept to sale, our services are offered on an “a la carte” basis to fill in any gaps in hospitality expertise or experience within the existing development team. The goal in all our engagements is to assist the owner with a smooth and timely development and opening process.

◆ Site Identification and entitlements
◆ Feasibility Analysis
◆ Identify and contract with key consultants (civil engineering, architect, MEP design team, environmental, traffic, vertical transportation, landscaping, interior design, contractor, legal representation, etc.)
◆ Identify and contract with the best suited operator given the specific project type, location and needs to be successful.
◆ Identify and contract with the most appropriate brand which is available. Analyze the benefits of branded versus independent.
◆ Assist with introduction and negotiation with potential financing sources
◆ Owner’s representation during construction
◆ Manage the procurement and installation process for FFE, OSE, technology, kitchen equipment. We turn a building into an operating hotel.
◆ Manage the pre-opening process
◆ Project close out and turnover to owner
◆ Asset management on an ongoing basis

Sheraton McKinney Hotel and Convention Center

Joe served as a partner and hospitality consultant with the Beck Group in the development of a full-service Sheraton hotel and conference center in partnership with the City of McKinney, Texas. To make this hotel happen, Joe successfully negotiated a complex public/private partnership with the city, and oversaw the rehabilitation and redesign of a partially completed Westin hotel. Joe worked with a local designer to create one of the most modern, unique and attractive hotels in the Sheraton system.

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Dispute Resolution Services

Champ provides a practical, thoughtful and credible experience based approach to expert matters in dispute resolution.

Joe has served as an expert or arbitrator in cases heard by:

◆ American Arbitration Association
◆ London Court of International Arbitration
◆ International Chamber of Commerce
◆ United States Bankruptcy Court
◆ Joe has served as arbitrator panel Chairman of an American Arbitration Association Case

Representative Cases

Currently Joe is an expert retained by a large Turkish owner/developer of global luxury real estate in a dispute with an international hotel brand over mismanagement of a premier hotel asset located near a major international airport. This dispute is being arbitrated under ICC rules in London. Working with Switzerland-based Senogles & Company, Joe helped to win a liability award in favor of the hotel owner. The quantum determination of damages phase of the arbitration is ongoing.

In 2020, Joe was retained by a UK based multi-unit hotel developer/owner/operator in a dispute with an international hotel company based in the UK. The British company’s claims of wrongful termination of its franchise agreements covering hotels in Germany were dismissed.

In 2020, Joe served as Chairman of an arbitration panel in an American Arbitration Association case involving a mismanagement dispute between an international hotel company and its financial partner over a large hotel asset in the metropolitan New York City area. Despite the proceedings being held entirely virtually during the start of COVID, Joe was able to complete the hearings and render an award in a timely manner. The award resulted in a dismissal of the claims. The arbitration award was upheld when challenged by one of the parties in the New Jersey District Court.

Working with Realty Capital Solutions, Joe served as an expert in United States Bankruptcy court regarding the viability of a Chapter 11 reorganization plan submitted by River Canyon Real Estate Investments LLC as Debtor in Possession. River Canyon’s reorganization plan was approved by the Court.

Joe served as an expert in the matter of Capital House Hotel Operating Company LLC and Ashby Hospitality LLC in Louisiana regarding wrongful termination of a hotel management agreement.

Joe assisted Realty Capital Solutions as a consultant in a variety of matters following the 2008 global meltdown. This included forensic transaction analysis of two large, troubled US resort developments: the Vail Four Seasons Resort in Vail Colorado and the Fountainebleau Hotel and Resort in Miami Beach.

Aloft Hotels Launch Developer

Champ Hospitality was a launch developer for Starwood Hotels and Resorts on their new Aloft brand in 2006. Partnering with Hillwood, Aimbridge Hospitality, and JF Capital Advisors, Joe worked closely with Starwood Hotels to finalize the first generation prototype Aloft and assembled a team to develop four of the original Aloft Hotels in Texas.

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Strategic Relationships

Champ has a strategic relationship with Realty Capital Solutions and works closely with them on matters involving hotels, resorts or golf.

We are also an affiliate of Switzerland based Senogles & Company and have worked with Senogles on European arbitration matters.

Aloft Hotel El Paso

Consultant to ownership overseeing all aspects of the design and construction of this historic restoration of the OP Bassett Tower in El Paso, Texas.

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Contact

For more information, please contact Joe Champ at:
jchamp@champhospitality.com
or call
(214) 207-4998

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