Business Overview
Passion Drives Performance. InnVest Hotels “InnVest” succeeds because our people love what they do. Our entire team shares a deep-rooted passion for the world of hospitality and travel that extends far beyond the walls of our offices.
Our company culture is built on collaboration. A nimble team where everyone has a voice and an opportunity to pursue their passions. Our skillsets are as diverse as our portfolio, but we all have a singular focus: partnership delivers the best results. We embrace an entrepreneurial approach to decision making, respect for others, a strong sense of integrity and the curiosity and courage to challenge the status quo.
With over 100 hotels in our portfolio, representing internationally recognized hotel brands, InnVest is the largest owner of hotels in Canada. Our management team oversees the day-to-day activities of almost 90 hotels, making InnVest the largest operator of hotels in Canada. InnVest’s portfolio is geographically diverse with hotels from Vancouver, British Columbia to Corner Brook, Newfoundland. From roadside inns to luxury urban properties, we are also experientially diverse.
At InnVest, our mission is simple – to deliver outstanding guest experiences and superior returns on quality hospitality investment. A career at InnVest will provide you with unrivalled opportunities and invaluable exposure to Canada’s largest independently-owned and operated hotel portfolio.
Mission
Delivering outstanding guest experiences and superior returns on quality hospitality investments
We continually redefine what it means to be an owner and operator of hotels, raising the benchmark for excellence and delivering on the rising expectations of our people, partners and guests.
Hospitality is our sole focus. Our passion for hotels defines who we are and sets us apart. It is why we make long-term investments in people who share our passion. People who seek to excel in our engaging and inspiring culture.
With our exclusive focus on hospitality comes the ability to see the bigger picture. To react faster to the shifting dynamics of travelers and the travel industry. To harness broader economic drivers in ways that enable us to consistently outperform expectations.
We believe that our success is ultimately measured by the pride and passion our people, partners and guests feel through their relationship with us.
Values
Teamwork: We nurture collaborative conversations and diverse perspectives to thrive and persevere regardless of the challenges or opportunities ahead.
Respect: We are proactive, pragmatic and brave in our goals to constantly raise the bar and make InnVest better every day.
Integrity: We ensure the right things happen. We are fair but resolute for the benefit of all – our people, our partners and our guests
Performance: We are committed to setting the standard for the hotel industry. Whether financial, guest satisfaction or employee engagement, we are relentless in our commitment to delivering unparalleled results
Executive Team
LYDIA CHEN
Lydia Chen is the President and Chief Executive Officer of InnVest Hotels and a member of its Board of Directors. She assumed the role on April 1, 2017. Prior to assuming her role at InnVest Hotels, Ms. Chen was CEO of the parent company Bluesky Hotels and Resorts.
As CEO, Ms. Chen is committed to developing InnVest Hotels’ asset portfolio, and pursing quality asset growth opportunities across Canada.
Ms. Chen has more than 20 years of experience in senior management positions with several Fortune 500 companies in Asia, Europe, and North America. Ms. Chen has been involved in a wide variety of industries including finance, real estate, biopharmaceuticals, and technology. Ms. Chen was born in China and holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering and a master’s degree in management. Lydia Chen also serves on the Board of Directors of Choice Hotels Canada.
GEORGE M. KOSZIWKA
George Kosziwka was named Chief Strategy Officer of InnVest in January 2024, having previously served as Chief Financial Officer of InnVest since December 2012, and as Vice President Finance since InnVest’s inception in 2002. Mr. Kosziwka has substantial hospitality real estate experience having worked over 25 years in the industry. Prior to joining InnVest he held senior finance executive positions for predecessors of the REIT, including UniHost Corporation and Journey’s End Corporation. Mr. Kosziwka is also currently a director of Choice Canada. Mr. Kosziwka holds an Honours Bachelor of Mathematics from the University of Waterloo and is a Chartered Professional Accountant, Chartered Accountant.
Brad Pollock
Brad Pollock was named Chief Financial Officer of InnVest in January 2024, having previously served as Senior Vice President of Treasury and Taxation since January 2013. Previously, Mr. Pollock shared his time as Vice President Taxation of InnVest and Westmont Hospitality Group where he was involved with private equity hotel funds with such partners as Goldman Sachs, Ivanhoe Cambridge, The Baupost Group and Kimco Realty.
Brad has over 20 years of experience in real estate transactions including corporate reorganizations, mergers and acquisitions, and cross-border transactions. He holds a Bachelor of Mathematics from the University of Western Ontario and is a Chartered Professional Accountant, Chartered Accountant.
Jeff Hyslop
Jeff Hyslop was named Senior Vice President of Asset Management in January 2018. Mr. Hyslop leads the Asset Management team, which is focused on maximizing performance and value of InnVest’s portfolio of hotels. Mr. Hyslop has over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry including 12 years in progressive Asset Management roles. Prior to joining InnVest he held senior roles at Pomeroy Lodging, Westmont Hospitality, Legacy Hotel REIT and PKF Consulting. Mr. Hyslop started his career in the hospitality industry in many front line positions at hotels in Toronto, Vancouver and New Brunswick. Mr. Hyslop received his Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Guelph’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management and has a Certificate in Urban Land Economics from the Sauder School of Business at UBC.
Satinder Dhillon
Satinder Dhillon was named Senior Vice President of Operations in January 2019. Mr. Dhillon is responsible for Operations for all IHML hotels. In Canada, prior to joining InnVest Hotels, he was with Westmont Hospitality Group, Larco Hospitality, and Commonwealth Hospitality, managing the Radisson Ottawa, which he converted to the Marriott Ottawa, and the Renaissance Toronto Skydome Hotel. His forty years of international experience includes assignments in India, Iraq and Canada. Mr. Dhillon has a strong commitment to the hospitality industry and has served with Ottawa Tourism and Convention Authority as Vice Chairman of the Board and Chairman Tourism Committee. He has been a member of the Radisson Franchise Advisory Committee and on the board of the Hotel Association of Canada. He is currently on the IHG Owners Association Canada Committee and the Humber College B.Com. Advisory Committee. Mr. Dhillon graduated from Oberoi School of Hotel management and has a Bachelors of Commerce (Hons). He has attended the Advanced Management Hospitality Program at Guelph University.
Leo V. Fleming
Leo Fleming was named Senior Vice President of Asset Management – Capital Projects of InnVest in January 2024, having previously served as Vice President of Asset Management – Capital Projects since April 2015, and as Director and Manager Asset Management since InnVest’s inception in 2002.
Leo has substantial hospitality real estate experience having worked over 25 years in the industry with experience in Renovations, Asset Management, Acquisitions and Finance. Prior to joining InnVest, Leo held progressively senior positions with predecessors of InnVest Hotels including InnVest REIT, UniHost Corporation and Journey’s End Corporation. Mr. Fleming is also a past director of Choice Canada.
Leo graduated with a diploma in Business & Marketing from Loyalist College in Belleville,
Mclean Xavier
Mclean Xavier (CHTP) was named Chief Information Officer of InnVest in January 2024, having served as Vice President of Information Technology since February 2019. Mr. Xavier started his Hospitality career in Antigua after a few years in the Oil and Gas industry. He worked in accounting and operations roles at Forte Hotel and Chartwell Hospitality prior to joining Westmont Hospitality Group as their first IT staffer in Canada. Mr. Xavier has over 25 years of IT leadership experience, wherein he has developed and implemented IT solutions in Europe, South America, the United States, and Canada. Mr. Xavier is profoundly involved in global hospitality IT leadership, doing his part to enhance the technology footprint in the hospitality sector through ongoing dialogue with leaders and partners in the tech industry.
Management Team
Fanming Meng
As the General Counsel of InnVest Hotels LP, Mr. Meng works closely with business functions to provide legal and regulatory support to execute InnVest’s strategy. Prior to joining InnVest, Mr. Meng held his position as a corporate lawyer at a leading Canadian law firm working on various corporate, real estate and private equity transactions. Fanming has a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Toronto.
James Wolfe
James Wolfe was named Vice President of Asset Management in May 2020. As a true Hotelier, Mr. Wolfe has had an inspiring 22-year career with Accor where he was most recently Hotel Manager at the iconic Fairmont Royal York. With diversified Revenue Management, Operations and Finance experience, he has worked at various properties in Vancouver, Victoria, Winnipeg, and Calgary. InnVest is very familiar with Mr. Wolfe as he was the General Manager of the Sheraton Suites Eau Claire where he successfully navigated the asset through the 2015 oil crises while acquiring valuable knowledge of Marriott processes and systems. He has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Victoria and holds a CPA designation.
Jason Bell
Jason Bell was named Vice President of Human Resources in January 2024, having previously served as Senior Director of Human Resources since January 2020. Prior to joining InnVest, Mr. Bell held director-level positions in HR with Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Hilton Hotels & Resorts in Toronto. He began his hospitality career with Mariposa Cruises as Manager of Hospitality Services before moving to leadership roles in Banquets at the Fairmont Royal York.
Mr. Bell has been an active Board member of the Hospitality Human Resource Professionals Association (HHRPA) since 2018 and is a past Advisory Board member of the Hospitality Workers’ Training Centre (HWTC). He holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) from the University of Guelph.
SCOTT MIREAULT
Scott Mireault was named Vice President of Finance at InnVest Hotels in June 2022. Prior to joining InnVest, Mr. Mireault worked with Deloitte LLP for over 17 years, where he was a Director in the Audit and Assurance Practice specializing in audits of clients in the hospitality and real estate sectors.
Mr. Mireault has over 20 years of experience in public accounting and financial reporting. He holds an Honours Bachelor of Accounting from Brock University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA).