Senior Analyst/Associate, Hospitality

Job Description

Job Description

COMPANY OVERVIEW:

Lightstone, founded by David Lichtenstein, is one of the most diversified privately held real estate companies in the United States. Headquartered in New York City, Lightstone is active in 26 states across the country, developing, managing and investing in all sectors of the real estate market, including residential, hospitality, commercial, and retail. With 212 existing properties, Lightstone’s over $7.5 billion portfolio currently includes over 12.5 million square feet of industrial, life sciences, and commercial properties, over 25,000 residential units, and over 5,300 hotel keys. Lightstone’s development portfolio includes over $3.5 billion currently under development in the residential and hospitality sectors spread across New York City, Los Angeles, and Miami.

Position Overview:

The Senior Analyst/Associate is responsible for strategic analysis of the Company’s Moxy/AC Portfolio, including operational performance, capital markets, and investment strategy, as well as acquisitions of new lifestyle and luxury hospitality assets. The current portfolio includes 2,700 hotel room keys and 38 food & beverage venues across 8 properties in New York City, Miami, and Los Angeles. The position also oversees underwriting and analysis of new hospitality investment opportunities outside of the portfolio, both domestically and internationally.

Responsibilities include underwriting, financial review and reporting, revenue management, budget preparation, and operational oversight. The role will support capital markets and investment decisions, as well as the operational performance of hotels in Lightstone’s portfolio, while evaluating new investment opportunities.

The ideal candidate must have experience in hospitality acquisitions and/or asset management, with advanced financial modeling and analytical skills specific to hospitality assets, and the ability to decipher financial data to effectively review and evaluate operational and investment opportunities. The candidate must be able to work independently with minimal supervision and thrive in a highly entrepreneurial environment that is both strategic and creative. The role requires the ability to learn quickly, multitask, and prioritize under tight deadlines.

Essential Functions

• Prepare underwriting and analyses to evaluate and support capital planning and capital markets decisions across the existing Moxy/AC portfolio
  • Prepare internal and external presentations, marketing materials, and diligence for capital markets initiatives including engaging directly with external capital partners.
  • Evaluate senior and mezzanine loan structures for existing and prospective hospitality assets, including detailed analysis of loan considerations such as leverage, debt yield, interest rate/spread, covenants, and prepayment terms, as well as equity recapitalization alternatives and valuation analyses to support capital markets and financing decisions.
• Review and analyze monthly financial and income statements, prepare benchmarking and/or other analyses related to maximizing revenues and minimizing expenses that lead to strategies to improve asset performance and value.
• Take full responsibility for underwriting, analysis, and diligence to support new hospitality investments.
  • Conduct market and competitive research to identify and evaluate potential new hospitality acquisition opportunities.
  • Work cross-functionally across acquisitions, development, and asset management teams.
  • Draft and review investment memorandums including conducting outside research.
• Analyze and monitor the financial performance of properties, which entails:
  • Maintaining financial models
  • Analyzing for all potential cost savings; tracking implementation of initiatives
  • Producing ad-hoc analyses to evaluate the performance of assets and drive decision-making
  • Collecting market data and conducting benchmarking analysis
  • Regularly tracking and analyzing factors affecting markets and submarkets associated with the portfolio, including demographics and changes in supply and demand.
• Review and collaborate with hotel operator revenue managers to maximize performance across the portfolio, including analyzing multiple sources of revenue performance data.
• Coordinate and support in annual budget and underwriting process
• Prepare regular presentations for Executive Team and outside counterparties
• Collect market data and develop tools to assist in the determination of threats and opportunities facing the portfolio
• Create financial models to evaluate investment returns on proposed capital projects.
• Assist with asset management of portfolio, including periodic property visits and interfacing with third-party management companies, project managers, brand representatives, and other third-party vendors/resources.
  • Participate in hotel site visits and market tours to obtain firsthand knowledge of our hotels, competition and demand generators.

Qualifications

• 3 -7 years of related analyst experience in acquisitions and/or asset management
• BA or BS degree
• Familiarity with hospitality operations and financial statements
• Demonstrated aptitude for problem solving and problem identification
• Ability to collect, analyze and interpret operations and revenue performance data
• Ability to manage and adhere to deadlines effectively
• Extensive proficiency in Excel required, including advanced financial modeling for hospitality assets, as well as proficiency in Word and PowerPoint and the ability to manipulate large data sets
• Attention to detail required
• Ability to operate in a team environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated professionalism
• Ability to manage multiple tasks

Salary - $125 - $175k, plus bonus, offered salary commensurate with experience

Lightstone offers our employees a comprehensive and competitive benefits program inclusive of:

– Paid time off for vacation and sick leave
– Health, dental, and vision insurance, and wellness programs
– 401(k) and Roth retirement plans
– Flexible spending accounts (medical & dependent care)
– Life and AD&D insurance with options for supplemental employee, spouse, and child
– Long-term and short-term disability insurance
– Commuter spending accounts (transit and parking)
– Tuition assistance and employee assistance program
– Corporate discount programs