JLL strengthens EMEA Hotels Capital Market’s team with strategic appointment

London, March 31 2022: JLL has appointed Heidi Schmidtke as Head of Operator Selection in its EMEA Hotels & Hospitality business.

In this role, Heidi – based in Germany, will lead a dedicated team and establish JLL’s EMEA Hotels & Hospitality business line as a first mover in the industry to launch an Operator Selection platform. This service will enable clients to unlock value from hotel and hospitality assets within their portfolios and for new projects alike. The selection of the best suitable operating partner and the negotiation of competitive contractual terms will enhance the profitability of the client, increase the liquidity for the assets and align stakeholders behind investment objectives.

Heidi has a significant track record with more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality and capital markets business. She holds the position of Managing Director of Hotels & Hospitality at JLL, where she continues to be leading advisory and investment sales activities across German-speaking countries. During her career, Heidi also worked for Art-Invest Real Estate, where she looked after the asset management of the group’s hotel funds and gained extensive expertise in managing mixed-use properties. Furthermore, she was involved in development projects and is adept with projects involving a change of use.

In her new role, she will connect an expanding team of hotel industry professionals at JLL who will draw on their ability to facilitate the next phase of growth for the business in this priority market. Heidi will continue to report to Will Duffey, Head of EMEA Hotels Capital Markets.

William Duffey, Head of EMEA Hotels & Hospitality Capital Markets, JLL, said: “We are delighted to welcome Heidi to her new role as EMEA Head of Operator Selection. Her in-depth market knowledge, long-standing connections, and strong understanding of the themes shaping the sector make her a valuable asset to our team, particularly at a time as we aim to establish our Operator Selection platform with global knowledge and local reach, ensuring one voice to all stakeholders.”

JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group has completed more transactions than any other hotels and hospitality real estate advisor over the last five years, totalling $83 billion worldwide, and across EMEA, JLL advised on €13.4 billion of hotel sales over the same period. JLL’s hotel valuation, brokerage, asset management and consultancy services have helped more hotel investors, owners and operators achieve high returns on their assets than any other real estate advisor in the world.