how we generate publicity

A December 27, 2006 Wall Street Journal article, the lead story in that week’s Real Estate Report, took a look at what was happening in the hotel industry and included the insights of two Identity clients as part of the story.

First, from the owner/operator perspective, Robert Habeeb, President of Rosemont, Illinois-based First Hospitality Group concurred with the general theme of the story, that the industry is doing well, commenting that “it’s definitely happy hour in the hotel industry.”

Later in the story, speaking from the capital provider point-of-view, James T. Merkel, Managing Director of Columbus, Ohio-based RockBridge Capital, LLC, speaks about the move toward limited service property models and how the hotel companies view that trend.

Identity has worked with RockBridge since 2000 and with First Hospitality since 2006. As a result, we have developed strong relationships with all of the media that cover this segment of the real estate industry and continue to leverage those relations to the benefit of our clients.

With offices in Columbus, Ohio and San Diego, California, RockBridge provides capital to the hospitality industry through its RockBridge Hospitality Funds and First Mortgage Investment Program. The principals of RockBridge have formed and managed seven closed-end real estate funds with both institutional and private investors. Focused on creating value for their hotel operating partners, RockBridge makes investments throughout the capital structure including first mortgage, mezzanine, and equity. Since 1992, RockBridge’s team has invested more than $2 billion in over 300 underlying assets nationwide through these investment platforms with an aggregate transaction capitalization approaching $4 billion.

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