Liberty Group Acquires Holiday Inn Express Bradenton, FL
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Administrator at: 8/22/2011 |
Tampa, Florida: August 22, 2011 - Liberty Group of Companies announced today it recently acquired the Holiday Inn Express in Bradenton, Florida, as part of its strategy to pursue real estate assets that are undervalued but present attractive growth opportunities.
Liberty Bradenton Investments, LLC acquired the non-performing senior mortgage secured by the hotel, which was previously purchased in 2007 for $7.2 million, and has negotiated a stipulated foreclosure agreement with the existing Borrower. The hotel will be managed by Liberty Hospitality Management, an affiliated award-winning hotel management company also based in Tampa, Florida.
The Holiday Inn Express is ideally situated directly off I-75 and Highway 64, close to the Sarasota-Bradenton Airport and Floridas Gulf Coast beaches. The hotel will immediately undergo cosmetic upgrades, including furniture upgrades, decorative enhancements, and potential brand repositioning.
We are very excited about this off-market acquisition in a market with diverse demand generators at an attractive cost basis. We believe in the long-term capital value of this investment and are optimistic that its success will co-align with the continued growth of Sarasota/Bradenton and the overall Florida economy. Libertys ability to physically enhance, reposition, and professionally manage this asset will enable us to maximize operating performance and add substantial value to this investment, says Punit R. Shah, President & Chief Operating Officer of the Liberty Group of Companies.
About the Liberty Group of Companies:
The Tampa-based Liberty Group of Companies, founded in 1980 by hotelier Raxit N. Shah and led by his son Punit R. Shah, has been actively pursuing hotel acquisitions throughout Florida and has invested in over $250 Million in various real estate investments. As an award-winning hotel management company, Liberty currently owns and manages hotels and assisted living facilities throughout the United States, most of which are affiliated with Hilton and Intercontinental Hotels. For more information, please visit www.LibertyG.com
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Patrick Shine joins Liberty Group as Vice President of Marketing and Business Development
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Administrator at: 7/21/2011 |
July 21, 2011 - Tampa, Florida. Liberty Group of Companies is proud to announce that Patrick Shine, President of Shine Hospitality Group and co-founder of Results in Hospitality, has joined Liberty as its Vice President of Marketing and Business Development.
Mr. Shines responsibilities include oversight of all sales and marketing for each of Libertys owned and managed hotels, direct local sales and marketing programs for third-party engagements, procurement of third-party hotel management agreements, and market analysis underwriting for new Liberty acquisitions.
Pats addition adds depth to our executive hospitality management team and reinforces our value-added platform for third-party management opportunities, and will enhance our overall market penetration for each of our existing hotel properties, said Punit R. Shah, Liberty Groups President and Chief Operating Officer.
As President of Shine Hospitality Group and Results in Hospitality, Mr. Shine brings over 25 years of focused hospitality sales and marketing experience to Liberty Group. Mr. Shine has developed a unique sales and marketing strategy that incorporates traditional marketing practices into a 21st century approach integrating social media, online marketing, direct sales, revenue/yield management, and most importantly personal relationships.
Liberty Group is now positioned to provide its third-party management or consulting clients with an unparalleled direct sales and marketing program that will jump-start top-line revenues of any hotel from pre-opening to stabilization stages, and during both shoulder seasons to peak periods. We can add extra sales and marketing staff on a temporary, as-needed basis, as well as provide in-depth training and support to sustain revenue growth year-round, Mr. Shine said.
Our typical sales and marketing program for third-party hotel engagements is an intense, three to five-day onsite sales and marketing package aimed at helping hotels reach their full sales potential, said Shine. We feel confident that we bring the highest level of expertise and our unique programs are the best way to generate sales for Liberty Groups hotels and consulting clients. Our program has a proven track record with leading hotel brands, including Hilton, Marriott, Starwood, La Quinta, Best Western, Choice, and InterContinental brand families, as well as 4 and 5- star boutique and independent properties.
About the Liberty Group of Companies: The Tampa-based Liberty Group of Companies, founded in 1980 by hotelier Raxit N. Shah and led by his son Punit R. Shah, has been actively pursuing hotel acquisitions throughout Florida and has invested in over $225 Million in various real estate investments throughout the United States over its 35-year history. More information on the Liberty Group of Companies can be found at http://www.LibertyG.com
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Liberty Group to Manage Sales & Marketing for Four Louisiana hotels
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Administrator at: 7/18/2011 |
July 11, 2011 - Tampa, Florida. Liberty Group of Companies is proud to announce that it has entered into a long-term Sales and Marketing consulting agreement with UNR Hospitality, LLC based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for four limited-service hotels.
Mr. Patrick Shine, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development for the Liberty Group, and his sales team will oversee all sales and marketing efforts of the La Quinta Inn & Suites and Best Western in Denham Springs, Magnuson & Suites in Port Allen, and Magnuson Hotel in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Liberty's proprietary Sales & Marketing Program utilizes the Company's thirty-years of hotel management experience to provide a customized program for hotel Owners, Management Companies, and Franchisors to increase revenue, ADR, and RevPar. Program options include full-scale sales and marketing services to 3 & 5-day intensive on-site programs designed to train, revitalize, and direct hotel sales initiatives.
For more information on Liberty's Sales & Marketing Program, please contact Patrick Shine at Patrick@LibertyG.com.
About the Liberty Group of Companies: The Tampa-based Liberty Group of Companies, founded in 1980 by hotelier Raxit N. Shah and led by his son Punit R. Shah, has been actively pursuing hotel acquisitions throughout Florida and has invested in over $225 Million in various real estate investments throughout the United States over its 35-year history. More information on the Liberty Group of Companies can be found at http://www.LibertyG.com
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Punit R. Shah selected for Leadership Tampa Class of 2012
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Administrator at: 7/11/2011 |
July 11, 2011 - Tampa, Florida. Liberty Group of Companies is proud to announce that Punit R. Shah, President and Chief Operating Officer of Tampa-based Liberty Group, has been selected for the Leadership Tampa Class of 2012.
Since 1971, Leadership Tampa has been introducing its class members to major facets of the greater Tampa community through an intensive nine-month course. Founded by the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Tampas members participate in educational sessions, tours and candid conversations with community leaders. Topics including law enforcement, education, social services, the environment, economic development and the arts to name a few challenge members to see their community as they never have before.
Members of Leadership Tampa are business/professional people who hold mid-to-upper level management positions within their companies or organizations. Additionally, they have demonstrated a concern for community issues and volunteered their time with service organizations, from Boy Scouts and Little League to church activities and professional organizations. The selection process is rigorous and competitive for each of the 50-60 seats available in each class.
The Leadership Tampa year begins in September and concludes in May. Members meet every other week for briefings, tours, seminars and hands-on learning. In addition, the class participates in an Opening Retreat and a Leadership Development Retreat in March. The Leadership Tampa program agendas bring in top-level business, civic, and government leaders for discussion and question and answer sessions.
About the Liberty Group of Companies: The Tampa-based Liberty Group of Companies, founded in 1980 by hotelier Raxit N. Shah and led by his son Punit R. Shah, has been actively pursuing hotel acquisitions throughout Florida and has invested in over $225 Million in various real estate investments throughout the United States over its 35-year history. More information on the Liberty Group of Companies can be found at http://www.LibertyG.com
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Punit R. Shah to speak at Ritz Carlton, Miami Beach, Florida Real Estate Conference
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Administrator at: 6/23/2011 |
June 22, 2011 Miami Beach, Florida Liberty Group of Companies is proud to announce that Punit R. Shah, President and Chief Operating Officer of Tampa-based Liberty Group, will be a featured panelist at the 2011 Crittenden Real Estate Finance Conference held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida on September 18-20, 2011.
The conference is comprised of educational sessions and networking opportunities to aid in the growth of businesses. Each educational session is facilitated by the industries leading executives, with years of experience and the forefront of up-to-date information.
Crittenden strives to create a bridge of information between the Real Estate industry and its professionals. Over the past 25 years, it has established a recognizable platform where business professionals are given the necessary tools to build their companies and succeed in todays ever changing market.
Registration for the event is $695 and tickets may be purchased online here.
About the Liberty Group of Companies: The Tampa-based Liberty Group of Companies, founded in 1980 by hotelier Raxit N. Shah and led by his son Punit R. Shah, has been actively pursuing hotel acquisitions throughout Florida and has invested in over $225 Million in various real estate investments throughout the United States over its 35-year history. More information on the Liberty Group of Companies can be found at http://www.LibertyG.com
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Bristol Court caters to Alzheimer's Patients
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Administrator at: 6/17/2011 |
Tampa, Florida: May 16, 2011 -(Excerpt from Tampa Beacon News) In the new Bristol Court Assisted Living Facility, Dr. Prem Shah has found a way to converge his medical expertise, his familys established business and a personal passion to provide the best quality of life to an often-overlooked population.
I made this my mission to make this into a facility where residents will be happy, Shah explained. We transformed this building into something specific, just for Alzheimers (patients).
Shah, 26, said he wanted a hands-on application of the research hes done on the disease. As the director of the new facility, hes taking that conviction seriously.
Just before 5 p.m. June 10, Shah knocked on the door of Dorothy Panko, one of the first 10 residents in the facility, which just opened April 4.
I came to get you, he told the frail woman standing within. Its dinnertime.
Panko looked confused. She, like the other residents of the specialty facility, suffers from memory loss.
I dont know, she said, pulling at the pair of Christmas pajama pants she was wearing. I got them on, but I dont know. Theyre not mine.
Shah believed her, but convinced her to wear the pants, at least for dinner, after which he could further investigate her concern. She insisted on running a comb through her hair before leaving.
I think your hair looks pretty, Shah said, helping her smooth her gray locks with a comb from her nightstand nonetheless. Youre ready for a first-class dinner.
Oh, I know I look beautiful, she said. Youre just saying that.
Would I do that? he asked her guilelessly, smiling as he helped her into a coat for the walk down the hallway.
Panko said she liked her new home all right. The food is good, and Shah is her first, second and third favorite staff person.
But when she came, she came from the hospital, and she was not well, Shah explained.
I was a mess, Panko confirmed quietly, progressing one slow, walker-assisted step at a time.
No, Shah said. You just needed to find a nice, little home. Right?
Right, she agreed.
Most living facilities that offer specialized Alzheimers care do so by confining the residents with the disease to a specific unit, Shah said.
I dont believe in that, so I made the whole facility just for Alzheimers, he said. Its a lot harder to do, a lot more work. But I get the ultimate joy that the residents here now have a home.
Shah, 26, said his entire family played a part in bringing his vision for Bristol Court alive. The family business, which started with one motel after Shahs parents moved to Canada from India, has since grown to 30 hotels. Five years ago, the family opened a similar Alzheimers-specialized facility, the Central Tampa Assisted Living.
Shah, who had bucked the family real estate tradition and instead attended medical school in Warsaw, Poland, ended up with internships in psychiatry and behavioral health. He found himself intrigued by the study of Alzheimers disease.
Because its one of the areas that we dont really understand, Ive always been interested in that kind of field, he said.
Further pushed to study the disease by the family business investment, Shah suggested that the family should open another facility in St. Petersburg. This one, he wanted to direct himself.
A year ago, he and his brother, Punit, were driving through the St. Petersburg area and came across the large building at 3479 54th Ave. The property had been abandoned by the notorious Rosedale Manor Nursing Home, which closed down because it hadnt passed state regulations, Shah said.
Punit Shah, who is a developer, said he only needed a year to conform the building to his brothers ideas for the facility. Everything, from the carpeting and the rooms and bathrooms to the color of the walls and landscaping had to change.
It had to go from a nursing home to a home, so it was a drastic change, Prem Shah said.
His father passed on to Prem the financial knowledge he needed to acquire the building. His mother has helped with billing.
Prem Shah doesnt practice medicine at the moment, but instead implemented his research on Alzheimers disease and memory loss to add vital nuances within the facility as well as seeing to its day-to-day operation.
The family feels good that I can use my knowledge and expertise to oversee the residents and make sure that theyre well, Prem Shah said.
Inside, the building is painted with subdued colors. The plates in the cafeteria are green, shown to stimulate appetite. Each resident sits in the same chair at the same table, designated with a personalized placemat. Meals are served on a set schedule.
Since Alzheimers patients tend to wander, the building is designed to keep them safe, with doors that sound an alarm without the correct code, which changes weekly, entered into a keypad. Residents have free access to the buildings courtyard, complete with a gazebo but securely enclosed. Doors that go to the open outdoors are glazed to let in light, but dont allow residents to see outside, eliminating some of the temptations to want to leave.
The facility provides daily activities, all designed to build memory. Bristol Court also keeps pets, which studies show help stimulate memory, for its residents, including birds, fish, a puppy one of the staff members brings in and a bunny named Molly, who lives in the courtyard.
The facility also includes a designated medical room for its residents to meet with a doctor onsite and get necessary lab work and X-rays, without ever leaving. Shah said he eventually would like to offer full hospice services on the second floor of the building
Overall, Shah said the facility has been busier than he anticipated. Its currently licensed for a capacity of 100 residents, but could grow to more than that in about a year, Shah said.
Its growing quicker than we envisioned, he said.
Already, Bristol Court has received several hundred referrals. Shah said he visits potential residents to assess if they meet certain criteria, including trouble with memory. Additionally, potential residents must be somewhat self-sufficient. Bristol Court offers assistance to residents, but not full 24-7 care.
Theyre able to get in and out of bed, we just help them. Theyre able to eat, we just assist, Shah said. Were in between a nursing home and a home.
Pinellas Park resident Mary Hightower acts as the primary healthcare surrogate for her mother-in-law, Bonnie Hightower, who now lives at Bristol Court. The elder woman already had Alzheimers and dementia before she fell and suffered a full brain bleed.
After her surgery, we knew she was going to have to come some place, Mary Hightower said. We looked at many places, and then we read about Dr. Shah.
The family visited Bristol Court two or three times before making their decision.
It had to be a special place and special people, and this truly is, she said. Its wonderful.
Shah said his job has already proved rewarding. He speaks glowingly about days he spends 20 hours at Bristol Court, a commitment he anticipated ahead of time by installing a shower in his office.
I made this my passion to build, he said. We converted this nasty old building into something the community needs for sure and changed the look in trying to revitalize the area a little bit. In a county where we have such an elderly demographic, its really needed.
Shared rooms at Bristol Court cost $2,500 a month, with private rooms running $3,500. Shah said he works with families who cant afford the cost, also helping them apply for healthcare assistance programs.
Call 520-8888 or visit www.bristolcourtafl.com.
About the Liberty Group of Companies: The Tampa-based Liberty Group of Companies, founded in 1980 by hotelier Raxit N. Shah and led by his son Punit R. Shah, has been actively pursuing hotel acquisitions throughout Florida and has invested in over $225 Million in various real estate investments throughout the United States over its 35-year history. More information on the Liberty Group of Companies can be found at www.LibertyG.com
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Punit R. Shah appointed to CEO Council of Tampa Bay
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Administrator at: 6/13/2011 |
Tampa, Florida: May 16, 2011 -Liberty Group of Companies is proud to announce that Punit R. Shah, the Company's President & Chief Operating Officer, was recently appointed to the exclusive CEO Council of Tampa Bay.
The CEO Council is the premier organization for entrepreneurial Chief Executive Officers in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. The Council's foundation is built upon its ability to build relationships, generate ideas, and formulate solutions. All three components are focused on the management and growth of the member's businesses. The CEO Council comprised of approximately 150 invite-only members within seven counties.
The CEO Council is comprised of entities, like the Liberty Group of Companies, that represent over 20,000 employees in aggregate with headquarters based in the Tampa Bay area.
With a focus on business leadership, the CEO Council hosts insightful, informative, and leading-edge seminars to reflect the culture of today's CEO. Highly beneficial roundtables present members with the opportunity to interact with like-minded equals and leverage their experienced intuition in a confidential environment.
About the Liberty Group of Companies: The Tampa-based Liberty Group of Companies, founded in 1980 by hotelier Raxit N. Shah and led by his son Punit R. Shah, has been actively pursuing hotel acquisitions throughout Florida and has invested in over $225 Million in various real estate investments throughout the United States over its 35-year history. More information on the Liberty Group of Companies can be found at www.LibertyG.com
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Best Western Sebastian launches new Website
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Administrator at: 5/16/2011 |
Tampa, Florida: May 16, 2011 - The Best Western Inn & Suites hotel, located in Sebastian, Florida has launched its new website www.BWSebastian.com
The website, designed by leading hotel website designer L.E.T. Group (www.letgroup.com) features detailed information on the newly remodeled Best Western Inn & Suites hotel and its local attractions.
The Sebastian hotel is perfectly situated near Vero Beach along US Highway 1
For more information, please visit www.BWSebastian.com
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Holiday Inn Express Tampa North launches new Website
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Administrator at: 5/16/2011 |
Tampa, Florida: May 16, 2011 - The Holiday Inn Express hotel Tampa, located at Telecom Park in Tampa, Florida has launched its new website www.HIXTampa.com
The website, designed by leading hotel website designer L.E.T. Group (www.letgroup.com) features detailed information on the new Tampa Holiday Inn Express hotel and its local attractions.
The Tampa hotel is perfectly situated near the University of South Florida, Busch Gardens, Adventure Island, MOSI, Lowry Park Zoo, the Port of Tampa, Channelside, and downtown Tampa.
For more information, please visit www.HIXTampa.com
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