|
Michael Soll's range of skills and experience makes him especially valuable to The Innovation Group team. As an analyst and development specialist he can identify and evaluate the pertinent financial and site data on which clients can base sound business decisions. As an asset manager, he has experience in capital planning, refinancing, negotiating and evaluating the viability of ventures. As a brand specialist, he understands the power and value of customer relationships and third party associations. In combination, this set of talents and abilities enables Michael to provide a high level of advisory oversight.
Michael actually began his career with The Innovation Group and has come full circle, bringing back ten years' hands-on experience in the gaming, lodging and financial industries. In his first career position as The Innovation Group's vice president, gaming & hospitality research, Michael conducted gaming and lodging demand, financial feasibility, and economic impact studies, and prepared development proposals for hospitality operators, investment firms and public sector clients.
Before rejoining The Innovation Group, Michael was most recently vice president casinos for Hard Rock Café International, Inc. In this capacity, he led the worldwide development and asset management activities for Hard Rock Casinos and their related hotel, condo and resort amenities. He was responsible for the identification of potential US and international opportunities and their execution. He also oversaw the structuring and negotiating of joint venture, management and license agreements, econometric modeling, feasibility analysis and lobby efforts in emerging jurisdictions. In this capacity, Michael directed expansion projects for Hard Rock in the US, Asia, Europe, South America and the Caribbean.
Prior to his position at Hard Rock, Michael was vice president planning & development for Caesars Entertainment in Las Vegas. Here he managed Caesars' development efforts in existing and emerging US, international and Tribal gaming jurisdictions. His primary responsibilities included identifying partners, jurisdictions and sites suitable for deployment of the Caesars brand, and subsequent analysis, structuring and negotiations.
At Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Michael was director asset management, overseeing Starwood managed and joint venture hotel portfolios under the Sheraton, Westin, W and external Starwood brands. Here he was responsible for capital planning, forecasting, contract maintenance, owner dispute resolution and refinancing initiatives.
Prior to that position, Michael served as vice president, leisure equity research for Bear Stearns & Co., New York. There, Michael researched mid and large-cap gaming and lodging companies for institutional investors and the internal equity sales team, developed company models, valuations, earnings forecasts and market research.
A University of Wisconsin graduate, Michael received his M.S. in Urban and Regional Planning from The College of Urban and Public Affairs in New Orleans. | 