The Professionals
Rivery Investment and Management, Inc., a corporation, will plan, develop, and construct the facilities. Destiny Hotels International Corp., also a Panamanian corporation, will manage and operate this Hotel and others within the region.
The management team has a combined 75 years of operations experience working with 4- and 5-star hotels to oversee and implement the highest standards of performance and service. The mission is to develop a network of exceptional boutique hotels renowned for their aesthetics, efficiency, high-end guest amenities and profitability, staffed by dedicated, hard working, and service oriented people. The companies will grow through direct acquisitions and ground-up development, as well as by forging profitable hotel management relationships. The vision is to create a network of top-drawer boutique hotels throughout Latin America that range in size from 40 to 100 rooms, with immediate plans for five properties in Panama and the surrounding area.
The development and management teams are lead by Robert V. Gibbs, whose hotel development experience includes the Seagate Hotel and Beach Club in Del Rey Beach and the Ocean Pines Resort near Ocean City, Maryland. In addition to Mr. Gibbs, the principals include former Marriott International Regional Vice President, Lawrence B. Murphy, and former international hotel regional director of revenue management, Mark Lichenwalner, and Melba Guerra, with development, construction, systems, and financial experience with housing, commercial, and office projects.
As further detail, the management team experience includes:
Robert V. Gibbs, Managing Partner and Owner — Robert V. Gibbs became involved in the Latin American sector in 1971. As a Vice President in the Latin American area of Chase Manhattan Bank, he was responsible for governmental and infrastructure development lending in Northern Latin America and the entire Caribbean. Mr. Gibbs was also a major shareholder and Director of the Hilton Head and Sea Pines Companies, owners of the well-known Hilton Head resort island. He also successfully redeveloped several historic sites in the United States to include the Seagate Hotel and Beach Club in Del Rey Beach, Florida, and the architectural headquarters of Addison Mizner, who designed the original Boca Raton Hotel. Simultaneously, Mr. Gibbs was able to restore Mizner's adjacent Tea House, modeled after El Greco's home in Toledo, Spain, which he then reopened as Addison's Restaurant. Mr. Gibbs was also a partner in the Ocean Pines Resort located on the Assawoman Bay, adjacent to Ocean City, MD.
Jayme Ayers Klein — Jayme Ayers Klein served as President of Middle States Holding Co., Inc., a real estate development and land acquisitions firm. Ms. Klein has over 20 years experience in the industry and has been involved in both the technical and legal aspects of the business. She obtained her JD in 1983, and specializes in contract negotiation for real estate and construction and litigation of same. Projects include an 1800 unit PUD in the Annapolis, Maryland suburb and several resort and hotel locations on the eastern shore of Maryland.
Lawrence B. Murphy, Director & Owner — Lawrence B. Murphy is a graduate of the Cornell University School of Hotel Management, Mr. Murphy has spent 30 years in the hospitality and service industries. Mr. Murphy has performed in such diverse capacities as Resident Manager, General Manager and Regional Vice President responsible for the Northeastern operations of Marriott International Hotels. He was also Executive Vice President responsible for the worldwide operations and service development group. He has extensive experience in all aspects of hotel operations and management, and has distinguished himself within the industry through delivery of impeccable service and emphasis on customer satisfaction.
Mark Lichtenwalner, Director & Owner — Mark Lichtenwalner spent his youth with his American family in the Middle East, received his degree in Hotel Administration from the University of New Hampshire in 1980. He worked for Marriott International for 18 years in numerous operations positions including Food & Beverage Director, Area Manager, and General Manager. He also has extensive experience in Sales and Marketing and worked as a Regional Director of Revenue Management for 20 hotels with the team that pioneered yield management strategies for Marriott. Mr. Lichtenwalner also has experience opening new hotels as a Director of Sales and Marketing and was recognized for consistently exceeding revenue goals.
Melba Guerra — Melba Guerra graduated Magna Cum Laude from Barry University and FIU with an MBA with a concentration on Management and Finance. She continued with courses for a specialist degree at FIU on track for a Doctoral Program in Management.
Ms. Guerra became a pioneer in developing systems and controls for the construction industry. She was a Construction Management professor at FIU, for nine years, teaching in the Graduate program under the college of Engineering. She developed the curriculum for courses in Project Development and Economic analysis in Construction Projects. She has been President of a construction company with over 150 employees and has been involved in major construction projects in infrastructure development and vertical construction in the high rise residential, hospitality and institutional areas. As an independent consultant over 20 years, Ms. Guerra has represented investors, banks, and financial institutions involved in development, construction and financial investments in multi million dollar acquisitions. Currently is the president for Quantum Consulting, which provides development, construction management, and financial services to the real estate industry. Ms. Guerra has also been involved as a developer and partner in various projects.
Among the projects developed, Ms. Guerra was part of a group who started the re-development of the Miami River providing housing for first time homebuyers and bringing life back to the Miami River. Another project Ms. Guerra has been involved in is the development of a higher end enclosed community on the Miami River, which included the infrastructure for 3,000 residential units and 700,000 square feet of office and commercial space. The project responsibilities included re-platting, providing all utilities, developing the master plan, putting in roads inside the project and the surrounding arteries, coordinating the design of all of the buildings, developing the budget, contracting with contractors, buy out for labor and material required for construction, monitoring schedule and budget and compliance with plans, coordinating with all consultants and governmental agencies and overall supervision of the projects.
Herbert E. Kaiser — Herbert E. Kaiser served as chief administrator, technologist, and secretary and treasurer of several health and hospitality related companies. Mr. Kaiser has also served as Vice President, Director, and Manager of several leading technology companies to include Control Data, AT&T, Oracle, Information Builders, MCI Systemhouse, Open Text, and Technology Solutions Company. He has extensive experience, knowledge and capabilities effectively and efficiently managing information technology resources and services in a variety of industries. He has solid experience in strategic solution selling, large enterprise project management, full systems development life cycle projects, resource recruiting and development, financial planning and management, and partner relationships. He served in the United States Air Force as a Captain and C-141 Pilot during the Vietnam War era after getting a BS degree from Auburn University.
Elena D. de Giannareas — Elena D. de Giannareas is a graduate of the Pancyprian Economic Lyceum of Nicosia, Cyprus with honors. Certificated by the Pittmans University of London in English Languages and by Aliance Francais with distinction in French. Served at the Commercial Department of the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). She is Director, Secretary and Treasurer in several Companies, administrating the M/N OLYMPIA and M/N CRISTOS, dedicated to the shrimp industry in Vacamonte Port, Panama, Rep. of Panama for more than 20 years. She has served two times as President of the Greek Ladies Benefical Association, Director of Greek Languages and Culture of the Greek Community Board of Directors, in Panama City. She is the General Manager of the Hotel Colon, Casco Antiguo. Supervisor Turistico Certificated by the Camara de Turismo de Panama (CAMTUR) through the Capacitacion Empressarial Program, also certificated by APATEL, COSPAE, PRODUCE, IPAT, assisting several courses in Hotel Administration and Customer Services with Quality.
The management team has a combined 75 years of operations experience working with 4- and 5-star hotels to oversee and implement the highest standards of performance and service. The mission is to develop a network of exceptional boutique hotels renowned for their aesthetics, efficiency, high-end guest amenities and profitability, staffed by dedicated, hard working, and service oriented people. The companies will grow through direct acquisitions and ground-up development, as well as by forging profitable hotel management relationships. The vision is to create a network of top-drawer boutique hotels throughout Latin America that range in size from 40 to 100 rooms, with immediate plans for five properties in Panama and the surrounding area.
The development and management teams are lead by Robert V. Gibbs, whose hotel development experience includes the Seagate Hotel and Beach Club in Del Rey Beach and the Ocean Pines Resort near Ocean City, Maryland. In addition to Mr. Gibbs, the principals include former Marriott International Regional Vice President, Lawrence B. Murphy, and former international hotel regional director of revenue management, Mark Lichenwalner, and Melba Guerra, with development, construction, systems, and financial experience with housing, commercial, and office projects.
As further detail, the management team experience includes:
Robert V. Gibbs, Managing Partner and Owner — Robert V. Gibbs became involved in the Latin American sector in 1971. As a Vice President in the Latin American area of Chase Manhattan Bank, he was responsible for governmental and infrastructure development lending in Northern Latin America and the entire Caribbean. Mr. Gibbs was also a major shareholder and Director of the Hilton Head and Sea Pines Companies, owners of the well-known Hilton Head resort island. He also successfully redeveloped several historic sites in the United States to include the Seagate Hotel and Beach Club in Del Rey Beach, Florida, and the architectural headquarters of Addison Mizner, who designed the original Boca Raton Hotel. Simultaneously, Mr. Gibbs was able to restore Mizner's adjacent Tea House, modeled after El Greco's home in Toledo, Spain, which he then reopened as Addison's Restaurant. Mr. Gibbs was also a partner in the Ocean Pines Resort located on the Assawoman Bay, adjacent to Ocean City, MD.
Jayme Ayers Klein — Jayme Ayers Klein served as President of Middle States Holding Co., Inc., a real estate development and land acquisitions firm. Ms. Klein has over 20 years experience in the industry and has been involved in both the technical and legal aspects of the business. She obtained her JD in 1983, and specializes in contract negotiation for real estate and construction and litigation of same. Projects include an 1800 unit PUD in the Annapolis, Maryland suburb and several resort and hotel locations on the eastern shore of Maryland.
Lawrence B. Murphy, Director & Owner — Lawrence B. Murphy is a graduate of the Cornell University School of Hotel Management, Mr. Murphy has spent 30 years in the hospitality and service industries. Mr. Murphy has performed in such diverse capacities as Resident Manager, General Manager and Regional Vice President responsible for the Northeastern operations of Marriott International Hotels. He was also Executive Vice President responsible for the worldwide operations and service development group. He has extensive experience in all aspects of hotel operations and management, and has distinguished himself within the industry through delivery of impeccable service and emphasis on customer satisfaction.
Mark Lichtenwalner, Director & Owner — Mark Lichtenwalner spent his youth with his American family in the Middle East, received his degree in Hotel Administration from the University of New Hampshire in 1980. He worked for Marriott International for 18 years in numerous operations positions including Food & Beverage Director, Area Manager, and General Manager. He also has extensive experience in Sales and Marketing and worked as a Regional Director of Revenue Management for 20 hotels with the team that pioneered yield management strategies for Marriott. Mr. Lichtenwalner also has experience opening new hotels as a Director of Sales and Marketing and was recognized for consistently exceeding revenue goals.
Melba Guerra — Melba Guerra graduated Magna Cum Laude from Barry University and FIU with an MBA with a concentration on Management and Finance. She continued with courses for a specialist degree at FIU on track for a Doctoral Program in Management.
Ms. Guerra became a pioneer in developing systems and controls for the construction industry. She was a Construction Management professor at FIU, for nine years, teaching in the Graduate program under the college of Engineering. She developed the curriculum for courses in Project Development and Economic analysis in Construction Projects. She has been President of a construction company with over 150 employees and has been involved in major construction projects in infrastructure development and vertical construction in the high rise residential, hospitality and institutional areas. As an independent consultant over 20 years, Ms. Guerra has represented investors, banks, and financial institutions involved in development, construction and financial investments in multi million dollar acquisitions. Currently is the president for Quantum Consulting, which provides development, construction management, and financial services to the real estate industry. Ms. Guerra has also been involved as a developer and partner in various projects.
Among the projects developed, Ms. Guerra was part of a group who started the re-development of the Miami River providing housing for first time homebuyers and bringing life back to the Miami River. Another project Ms. Guerra has been involved in is the development of a higher end enclosed community on the Miami River, which included the infrastructure for 3,000 residential units and 700,000 square feet of office and commercial space. The project responsibilities included re-platting, providing all utilities, developing the master plan, putting in roads inside the project and the surrounding arteries, coordinating the design of all of the buildings, developing the budget, contracting with contractors, buy out for labor and material required for construction, monitoring schedule and budget and compliance with plans, coordinating with all consultants and governmental agencies and overall supervision of the projects.
Herbert E. Kaiser — Herbert E. Kaiser served as chief administrator, technologist, and secretary and treasurer of several health and hospitality related companies. Mr. Kaiser has also served as Vice President, Director, and Manager of several leading technology companies to include Control Data, AT&T, Oracle, Information Builders, MCI Systemhouse, Open Text, and Technology Solutions Company. He has extensive experience, knowledge and capabilities effectively and efficiently managing information technology resources and services in a variety of industries. He has solid experience in strategic solution selling, large enterprise project management, full systems development life cycle projects, resource recruiting and development, financial planning and management, and partner relationships. He served in the United States Air Force as a Captain and C-141 Pilot during the Vietnam War era after getting a BS degree from Auburn University.
Elena D. de Giannareas — Elena D. de Giannareas is a graduate of the Pancyprian Economic Lyceum of Nicosia, Cyprus with honors. Certificated by the Pittmans University of London in English Languages and by Aliance Francais with distinction in French. Served at the Commercial Department of the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). She is Director, Secretary and Treasurer in several Companies, administrating the M/N OLYMPIA and M/N CRISTOS, dedicated to the shrimp industry in Vacamonte Port, Panama, Rep. of Panama for more than 20 years. She has served two times as President of the Greek Ladies Benefical Association, Director of Greek Languages and Culture of the Greek Community Board of Directors, in Panama City. She is the General Manager of the Hotel Colon, Casco Antiguo. Supervisor Turistico Certificated by the Camara de Turismo de Panama (CAMTUR) through the Capacitacion Empressarial Program, also certificated by APATEL, COSPAE, PRODUCE, IPAT, assisting several courses in Hotel Administration and Customer Services with Quality.