Page 31 - URGO Hotels

Team Biographies
• Urgo Hotels’ senior team members average over 20 years of professional experience in all aspects of the hospitality
industry. In addition to the development, acquisition, financing and operation of several hotels for Urgo Hotels,
members of senior management have encountered and resolved complex financing, investment, acquisition,
development and redevelopment issues relating to all hotel property types for several clients over the years
Donald J. Urgo, Sr. – President & CEO
Mr. Urgo received his undergraduate and law degrees from Fordham University in New York and began his law
practice in 1962 with the New York law firm of Hughes, Hubbard and Reed. He developed a specialty in
international business transactions with emphasis on the hotel and airlines industries. In 1972, Mr. Urgo was
retained by the Marriott Corporation to spearhead an effort to expand the Company’s operations throughout the
world. During the next 15 years, he was directly responsible for a number of key acquisitions and joint ventures
including the acquisition of the Sun Line Cruise Line; the acquisition of the Howard Johnson Company and
divestment of the Howard Johnson franchise group to Prime Motor Inns; and the development and acquisition of
numerous hotels and air catering facilities throughout the world. Mr. Urgo also played a key role in the conversion
of the Essex House Tower in New York and the Camelback Inn in Scottsdale, Arizona to condominium hotels. In
addition to his work for Marriott, Mr. Urgo has acted as counsel and advisor to a number of institutional,
development and operating clients including, among others, Howard Johnson, the Trammel Crow Organization, Ted
Lerner Enterprises, Americana Hotels and Realty Corporation, the Bank of New York, Riggs National Bank of
Washington, DC, the Travelers Insurance Company and Merrill Lynch. Throughout his career, Mr. Urgo has also
rendered professional services regarding hotel and other matters to a number of airline clients including TWA,
Northwest, Pan American, Aer Lingus, and BWIA. As an integral part of his comprehensive range of advisory and
investment services, Mr. Urgo co-founded a hotel management company whose primary role has been to manage
hotel assets for clients and investment partnerships in which he participates. While over the years Mr. Urgo has
maintained a close working relationship with Marriott that has enabled his firm to maximize the value of the
Marriott Hotels in which he is involved, he also has established solid relationships with executive management
throughout the hotel industry which enhance his ability to develop and operate additional brands when and where
appropriate.
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