Frank Orenstein,
Founder and Chairman

Mr. Orenstein’s career encompasses many landmark events in the hotel industry. As Vice President of Development for Four Seasons Hotels Limited, Mr. Orenstein initially assisted in developing the original Four Seasons’ concept and developed the first Four Seasons’ properties in the United States, Canada and Europe. As a member of the Executive Committee, he was instrumental in Four Seasons’ early growth.

In 1979, Mr. Orenstein left Four Seasons to become a hotel developer enjoying considerable success throughout North America and Europe. His many successful transactions include: the development and sale of Toronto’s prestigious five-star King Edward Hotel; the development of six commercial hotels in partnership with Novotel Division of Accor, S.A.; the acquisition of over 5,000 hotel rooms for one of North America’s largest budget operators; the development and sale of a luxury budget chain; the sale of a five-star resort in Jamaica; the expansion of Days Inns in Canada and Europe; and the acquisition for Grand Heritage Hotels of the Four Seasons’ position in the Clift Hotel San Francisco.

Mr. Orenstein has been responsible for the development of over $1 billion in hotel real estate and has raised in excess of $400 million in equity for various hotel related projects. In addition, he has provided strategic planning advice to international companies such as Labatts, Cara Inc., Campeau, Sefri Construction International, the Blackstone Group, the Hopf Group of Companies, Super Clubs of Jamaica, Hyatt Hotels, Sheraton, Wyndham Hotels and Accor S.A.

In early 1996, Mr. Orenstein assumed the position of President of Samoth USA, an investment bank specializing in real estate participation equity loans. During his tenure, Mr. Orenstein acquired 21 hotels for the company, arranged all the debt and equity financing, and coordinated the management of the properties with several of North Americas finest hotel companies.

Mr. Orenstein has also recently completed the development of the $100 million Four Seasons Resort and Vacation Club in Scottsdale Arizona. The site selection, concept, development and financing was undertaken by Mr. Orenstein who was a partner with Four Seasons and other private investors.

Mr. Orenstein subsequently became Vice-Chairman of the Park Plaza Hotels and Resort in partnership with Olympus/Hicks Muse. The partnership was responsible for expansion of the Park Plaza and Park Inn brands world-wide and subsequently sold their interest in the 200 hotel chain portfolio to Carson Hotels and Resorts.

Mr. Orenstein in association with a prominent Tahitian developer organized and created the recently opened Radisson Suites Hotel in Papeete, Tahiti.

Mr. Orenstein, is the Chairman of Hospitality Investors Group (HIG), a consortium of private equity investors who own and operate strategic hotel assets in Europe, Africa and North America. HIG arranged for the termination of a management agreement with Hyatt Corporation on the Buenos Aires Park Hyatt and completed a new operating agreement with Four Seasons Hotels Ltd. for the Buenos Aires property as well as a five-star resort in Carmelo, Uruguay. Currently HIG has a partnership interest in luxury hotels underdevelopment in the Seychelles Islands and Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Mr. Orenstein is a graduate of Toronto and Queens University Law School and currently resides in Palm Beach, Florida