Mountain Shore Properties began with your father, Charlie Wendell, who developed and leased commercial buildings to tenants like Pizza Hut and Allied Chemical in the early 80s prior to hotel development for some of the most prominent hoteliers in the world like Hyatt and Marriott. What are the key characteristics of a successful CEO that you learned from your dad as you watched him grow the firm? 

Do you classify yourself as a typical CEO, if there is one? How are decisions made across the executive team?

Capital markets are increasingly challenging right now yet you’ve continued to stay bullish. Your firm recently closed on a site in Chattanooga for a hotel set to open in 2025. How did this deal compare to past acquisitions and why was this submarket attractive? 

Mountain Shore Properties now has $500 million in project value in 25 cities. What is your philosophy for identifying submarkets and which regions excite you most over the next ten years? 

Skilled labor and the guest experience have been hot topics since travel opened up post-COVID. It’s my understanding that you hosted a job fair with your partners at Bunkhouse to find staff at Hotel Genevieve. What kind of training followed and how does this differentiate the experience at this property from other hotels in Louisville? 

How has the popularity of the Bourbon Trail and the Kentucky Derby changed the hotel scene in Louisville? What other lifestyle amenities and attractions make the city desirable year-round?   

Your Hudson Valley hotel Camptown opened earlier this year in Leeds, NY. I will admit I had never heard of Leeds but its proximity to Hudson is incredible. What’s been particularly interesting about the renovation of a 1930s former motor lodge compared to previous renovations? 

The sophistication of accommodations and the culinary scene in the Hudson Valley really is staggering. Is affordability a concern and are you planning more projects in the Hudson Valley? 

Back to your Louisville property, Hotel Genevieve was a former parking lot next to the popular Rabbit Hole Distillery. Is ground-up development a preference or will Mountain Shore Properties also seek out adaptive reuse projects? 

In your opinion, are big-box hoteliers falling behind when it comes to adapting to travel preferences and consumer needs?

What component of boutique hospitality is most ripe for disruption and how do you see change taking root?