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This is Jim Butler, author of www.HotelLawBlog.com and hotel lawyer. Please contact me at Jim Butler at jbutler@jmbm.com or 310.201.3526.

Outlook and Trends

Posted On: February 4, 2009 by the JMBM Global Hospitality Group®

Hotel lawyers' on "State Of The Hotel Industry" -- Sound Bites from hotel industry leaders at the ALIS conference

By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group®
Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com
5 February 2009

Hotel Lawyers at "The conference of doom and gloom"

The ALIS conference this year was as glum as I can recall. You would have to go back to 1991 and 1992 at the old UCLA and NYU conferences to find a similar mood. Compared to the record attendance of more than 3,200 at last year's ALIS conference, the attendance of 1,700 was a good showing, but obviously reflected a lot of cutbacks.

Continue reading " Hotel lawyers' on "State Of The Hotel Industry" -- Sound Bites from hotel industry leaders at the ALIS conference " »

Posted In: Outlook and Trends

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Posted On: February 2, 2009 by the JMBM Global Hospitality Group®

Latest insights from JMBM's Hotel Attorneys and PKF Consulting on what lies ahead for the hotel industry . . .

By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group®
Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com
2 February 2009

Hotel Lawyers with the pulse of the hotel industry from ALIS. Mark Woodworth of PKF Consulting shared his latest analysis of the hotel industry with us, as well as his slides from the ALIS conference. The picture is not pretty. Mark says, that if you're waiting for the recovery, the key word is "PROTRACTED." Here are the details.

Continue reading " Latest insights from JMBM's Hotel Attorneys and PKF Consulting on what lies ahead for the hotel industry . . . " »

Posted In: Outlook and Trends

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Posted On: January 15, 2009 by the JMBM Global Hospitality Group®

Hotel Lawyers in JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® Add Industry Leader

By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group®
Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com
15 January 2009

Jim Abrams brings decades of hotel experience and relationships to the team

Jim Abrams, a hotel industry leader and former CH&LA President, has joined JMBM's Global Hospitality Group®. In addition to bringing decades of hotel experience and relationships to the team, he looks forward to contributing to the Group's work on hotel management agreements, labor union and employment issues, and ADA issues, as well as expanding the Group's capabilities in legislative and regulatory affairs.

Continue reading " Hotel Lawyers in JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® Add Industry Leader " »

Posted In: Outlook and Trends

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Posted On: December 31, 2008 by the JMBM Global Hospitality Group®

Hotel Lawyers: What have we learned from "The Crash of 2008"? There are no shortcuts for due diligence!

By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group®
Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com
31 December 2008

Hotel Lawyers on lessons from The Crash of 2008.

2008 will go down as a terrible year in many regards. Global economies have come to the precipice of disaster. The Dow had its worst year since 1931 -- down 34% for the year, representing the loss of more than $7 trillion in wealth. Many trillions more evaporated from the value of both residential and commercial real estate. Consumer confidence is at its lowest point since they began keeping records. The unthinkable has happened with the fallen pillars of Bear Stearns, Lehman, Merrill Lynch, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and AIG. Even GE couldn't sell its commercial paper until the Fed stepped in to buy it. And then there is Bernard Madoff who bilked some of the most sophisticated investors in the world out an estimated $50 billion.

What was wrong with the mortgage mess, CMBS meltdown and Madoff?

Continue reading " Hotel Lawyers: What have we learned from "The Crash of 2008"? There are no shortcuts for due diligence! " »

Posted In: Global Financial Crisis & Recovery , Outlook and Trends

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Posted On: December 17, 2008 by the JMBM Global Hospitality Group®

"Out of the Panic and into Opportunities of a Lifetime"

By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group®
Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com
17 December 2008

"Out of the Panic and into Opportunities of a Lifetime" Is Theme for the
19th Annual Meet the Money® Conference

Hotel Financing Summit Set for May 5-7, 2009

LOS ANGELES, Calif., December 16, 2008--With the recent announcement of a full-blown recession, officials of Meet the Money®, the annual hotel financing summit, today announced the theme for its 2009 conference: "Out of the Panic and into Opportunities of a Lifetime." The 19th annual event will be held May 5-7, 2009, at the Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel near LAX in California.

Continue reading " "Out of the Panic and into Opportunities of a Lifetime" " »

Posted In: Hotel Finance − Hotel Debt & Hotel Equity , Outlook and Trends

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Posted On: November 19, 2008 by the JMBM Global Hospitality Group®

Hotel Lawyer: The "Great De-leveraging," a "financial panic" and unprecedented opportunities coming our way. Do you see them? Are you ready?

By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group®
Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com
19 November 2008

Hospitality Lawyer with updated thoughts from the latest commercial real estate finance program in San Francisco.

Many of my friends in the hotel industry are in denial. Others are consumed with the daily drama of the unfolding financial panic. I am excited that we are about to see some of the greatest financial opportunities of our lifetime.

Here are some thoughts that I presented yesterday as keynote speaker at the 6th Annual Bay Area Income Property Lending Conference.

Continue reading " Hotel Lawyer: The "Great De-leveraging," a "financial panic" and unprecedented opportunities coming our way. Do you see them? Are you ready? " »

Posted In: Global Financial Crisis & Recovery , Outlook and Trends

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Posted On: October 21, 2008 by the JMBM Global Hospitality Group®

Hospitality Lawyer: The 5 biggest misconceptions about Condo Hotels

By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group®
Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com
21 October 2008

Hospitality Lawyer on Condo Hotels. Do they work? Are they viable? What are the 5 biggest misconceptions about Condo Hotels?

"Condo Hotels" -- they are a subject the media "loves to hate." Everyone has an opinion about them -- whether they know anything about them or not. JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® has worked on more than 100 hotel mixed-use projects in the last 5 years alone, most of them involving condo hotels or hotel condos. Funny. Almost all the ones JMBM's hotel lawyers work on really "work" and don't make the headlines.

So with all the critical (and often uninformed) press lately, it was really great to see Brent Howie of Provident Hotels & Resorts -- one of the 30-year veterans of the condo hotel industry -- write a "no nonsense" article de-bunking the 5 biggest myths about condo hotels. I thought I would share it with you and lend our endorsement to its theme (and to the kind of support Brent gives these projects). Brent Howie can be reached at 727-726-4770 or bhowie@prov.com.

Continue reading " Hospitality Lawyer: The 5 biggest misconceptions about Condo Hotels " »

Posted In: Condo Hotels , Outlook and Trends

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Posted On: October 13, 2008 by the JMBM Global Hospitality Group®

Hospitality Attorney on the current financial "Turbulence" and forced partial nationalization of 9 U.S. banks.

By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group®
Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com
13 October 2008

Hospitality Lawyer with the latest update on the Financial Crisis or "Turbulence."

A few days ago, some were calling the Dow's 2,400 point collapse in 8 days a "crash" but others insisted that a "crash" requires a drop of 20% or more in a single day or two days. Therefore, they call the recent collapse in stock indexes a "cascading crash" or a "slow motion crash." It was pretty fast for most of us, with a 1,000 point swing between high and low on Friday (October 10) -- the first time that has happened in its 12-year history.

Continue reading " Hospitality Attorney on the current financial "Turbulence" and forced partial nationalization of 9 U.S. banks. " »

Posted In: Global Financial Crisis & Recovery , Outlook and Trends

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Posted On: October 8, 2008 by the JMBM Global Hospitality Group®

Hospitality Lawyer in Miami at the HHOA Inaugural Convention. What energy! What focus! ¡Que Fabuloso!

By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group®
Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com
8 October 2008

Hospitality Lawyer at the Hispanic Hotel Owners Association Inaugural Conference in Miami, Florida. WOW! Tonight was the opening of the Inaugrual Annual Conference for the HHOA founded by Angela Gonzalez-Rowe. (See Hispanic Hotel Owners Association (HHOA) and Angela Gonzalez-Rowe talk with Hospitality Lawyer about HHOA's exciting developments) This is a serious group of hotel investors, a focused gateway for the Hispanic community's involvement in hotels, and a demographic segment that absolutely commands respect.

Continue reading " Hospitality Lawyer in Miami at the HHOA Inaugural Convention. What energy! What focus! ¡Que Fabuloso! " »

Posted In: Outlook and Trends

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Posted On: October 3, 2008 by the JMBM Global Hospitality Group®

Hospitality Lawyer: $700 billion bailout bill is now law! Warren Buffett insights on (1) Why the Bailout Bill had to pass, (2) The key to making the bailout work, and (3) How the Treasury can make a profit.

By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group®
Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com
3 October 2008

Hospitality Lawyer with insights from Warren Buffett on the Financial Crisis that has created an "economic Pearl Harbor." After the Senate passed the Bailout Bill, he talked about what it takes to win the war of Financial Recovery. Buffett's common-sense insights on the $700 billion financial system rescue package are great. Let's hope our Government listens to the compelling logic of how to make this bailout work . . . and how we will all make out better.

I hope the U.S. Treasury and Congress are listening . . .


Continue reading " Hospitality Lawyer: $700 billion bailout bill is now law! Warren Buffett insights on (1) Why the Bailout Bill had to pass, (2) The key to making the bailout work, and (3) How the Treasury can make a profit. " »

Posted In: Global Financial Crisis & Recovery , Outlook and Trends

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About the Authors

Jim Butler

Jim Butler is recognized as one of the top hotel lawyers in the world. He devotes 100% of his practice to hospitality, representing hotel owners, developers and lenders. Jim leads the Global Hospitality Group®—a team of 50 seasoned professionals with more than $60 billion of hotel transactional experience, involving more than 1,000 properties located around the globe.
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Robert Braun

Robert Braun is a partner in JMBM's Corporate Department and a senior member of JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® -- a team of 50 seasoned professionals with more than $60 billion of hotel transactional experience, involving more than 1,000 properties located around the globe. Bob represents owners in both transactional and operational issues. He advises clients with respect to business formation, financing, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital financing, joint ventures and strategic partnerships. He has represented hotel owners in the negotiation of several hundred management agreements, as well as spa management and franchise agreements. Bob also advises hotel owners regarding telecommunications, software, internet, e-commerce, data processing and outsourcing agreements. To read Bob's articles, go to www.HotelLawBlog.com and select "Management Agreements." For more information, please contact Bob Braun at 310.785.5331 or rbraun@jmbm.com.

Marta Fernandez

Marta Fernandez is a partner in JMBM's Employment and Labor Department and a senior member of JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group® -- a team of 50 seasoned professionals with more than $60 billion of hotel transactional experience, involving more than 1,000 properties located around the globe. As a management labor lawyer with more than 20 years of experience, Marta specializes in representing hospitality industry clients in all aspects of labor and employment including labor-management relations such as union prevention, collective bargaining for single as well as multi-employer bargaining units, neutrality agreements and defense of unfair labor practice charges before the NLRB. She defends employers in administrative and litigation claims, such as employee claims of sexual harassment and discrimination and counsels clients in preventative strategies such as executive training, arbitration enforcement, and policies and procedures. To read Marta's articles, go to www.HotelLawBlog.com and select "Labor & Employment." For more information, please contact Marta Fernandez at 310.201.3534 or at mfernandez@jmbm.com.

Catherine DeBono Holmes

Catherine DeBono Holmes is a partner in JMBM's Corporate Department and a senior member of JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group® -- a team of 50 seasoned professionals with more than $60 billion of hotel transactional experience, involving more than 1,000 properties located around the globe. Cathy assists hotel clients with hotel management and franchise agreements, purchase and sale transactions, and condo hotel regime structuring. She has taken hotel owners through complex RFP processes involving all the major hotel brands. She has significant expertise in condo hotels and advises clients in the specific business and legal aspects of condo hotel regime structuring and documentation, including CC&Rs, HOA docs, unit management agreements, shared facilities agreements, rental management agreement programs and securities compliance matters (structuring, documentation and training). To access Cathy's articles on www.HotelLawBlog.com, click on the topics "Condo Hotels" or "Green Hotels" For more information, please contact Cathy Holmes at 310.201.3553 or cholmes@jmbm.com.

Guy Maisnik

Guy Maisnik is a partner in JMBM's Real Estate Department and a senior member of JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® -- a team of 50 seasoned professionals with more than $60 billion of hotel transactional experience, involving more than 1,000 properties located around the globe. Guy's deep and broad transactional practice includes complex real estate finance and venture capital transactions, including project finance, commercial finance, leveraged leasing and real estate acquisitions. He assists clients with development, leasing and disposition, loan portfolio acquisitions, loan and debt restructure, workouts and real estate exchanges. Go to www.HotelLawBlog.com for current information in these areas. For more information, please contact Guy Maisnik at 310.201.3588 or mgm@jmbm.com.

David Sudeck

David Sudeck is of Counsel in JMBM's Real Estate Department and a senior member of JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group® -- a team of 50 seasoned professionals with more than $60 billion of hotel transactional experience, involving more than 1,000 properties located around the globe. David has significant experience in the vacation ownership arena, focusing on the formation and registration of condominiums, timeshares and fractional interest regimes. He negotiates hotel, spa and restaurant management agreements, and assists client in the development, acquisition, sale and leasing of hotels, golf courses and restaurants. For David's take on current issues in the timeshare arena, go to www.HotelLawBlog.com and click on the topic, "Timeshare." For more information, please contact David Sudeck at 310.201.3518 or dsudeck @jmbm.com.

Robert Kaplan

Robert Kaplan is a partner in JMBM's Bankruptcy, Insolvency and Restructurings Group and a senior member of the Global Hospitality Group(r) -- a team of 50 seasoned professionals with more than $60 billion of hotel transactional experience, involving more than 1,000 properties located around the globe. Bob represents lenders, special servicers, hard money lenders, community banks, national banking associations, distressed debt investors, and equity investors, positioning them for the best possible outcome by acting expeditiously to preserve value and increase cash flow. His industry experience and his knowledge of the current capital markets -- where distressed assets often include complex deal structures and securitized loans -- allows him to bring creative and effective strategies to the table. When aggressive litigation is the best strategy, he is a vigorous and effective advocate for his clients. Bob represented the securitized lender in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy case filed by the Clift Hotel in San Francisco, and in the subsequent negotiations and successful sale of the loan to a third party. The lender -- acting by and through GMAC Commercial Mortgage Corporation as special servicer -- was the holder of a $60 million loan secured by a Deed of Trust on the Clift Hotel. He has also served as counsel to CapMark, J.E. Robert Company, Inc., AMRESCO Management Inc. and Midland Loan Servicer in their capacity as special servicers on troubled hotel loans in CMBS pools. For more information, contact Robert Kaplan at 415.984.9673 or rkaplan@jmbm.com.

Martin Orlick

Martin Orlick is a partner in JMBM's Real Estate Department and a senior member of JMBM's Global Hospitality Group(r) -- a team of 50 seasoned professionals with more than $60 billion of hotel transactional experience, involving more than 1,000 properties located around the globe. Marty specializes in representing hospitality industry clients in Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance and defense. He has represented more than 300 businesses in ADA issues, many of them hotels and restaurants, as well as hotel mixed-use properties. Marty is a member of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL) and a frequent speaker on the ADA and other topics. To read Marty's articles, go to www.HotelLawBlog.com and select "ADA." For more information, please contact Marty Orlick at 415.984.9667 or morlick@jmbm.com.

James Abrams

James Abrams is Of Counsel at JMBM and is a senior member of JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group -- a team of 50 seasoned professionals with more than $60 billion of hotel transactional experience, involving more than 1,000 properties located around the globe. Jim has served the hospitality industry for 40 years and specializes in lodging and hospitality law and in representing and advising trade associations and other non-profit entities. Jim has significant experience in government affairs at the national level, the state level – including the California Legislature and scores of state agencies – and with local governments and agencies. He has authored successful ballot measures and scores of bills for his clients. Jim served as the President and CEO of the California Hotel & Lodging Association from January 1, 1991 through December 31, 2008 and is currently an adjunct professor in the Hospitality Industry Management Program at the University of San Francisco. He is a frequent speaker and writer on all aspects of the law relating to the lodging and hospitality industries, and he is the author of the book Laws Pertaining to the California Innkeeper, which is published by the California Hotel & Lodging Association. To read Jim’s articles, go to www.HotelLawBlog.com. For more information, please contact Jim Abrams at (415) 398-8080 or jabrams@jmbm.com.

Global Hospitality Group®
1900 Avenue of the Stars
7th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Direct: (310) 201-3526
Direct Fax: (310) 712-8526
E-mail: jbutler@jmbm.com

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Ask The Hotel Lawyer ™

Ask the Hotel Lawyer™ is a quarterly column that I write for JMBM's Global Hospitality Advisor®. If you have a question you would like to submit to Ask the Hotel Lawyer™ please use the comments box below. While your question may not be of sufficient general interest for the column, I will try to respond to you individually if you leave your contact information below. Jim Butler.