Meet The Team
Dan Weber
CEO & Co-Founder
Dan Weber serves as CEO of Lodging Advisory Group, LLC (LAG). LAG owns a portfolio of Extended Stay hotels (18 hotels, 1,933 rooms). LAG also provides Asset Management services, Revenue Management, Sales support, and Business Analytics for 50+ hotels.
Dan is the former CEO of Value Place (rebranded WoodSpring Suites). Dan was hired in 2011 to financially restructure the company, restart franchise/corporate development, and create a new leadership team/culture. Under his leadership, the company secured a $200MM equity commitment from New York based Lindsay Goldberg.
Prior to Value Place/WoodSpring Suites, Dan served as Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer for Cole Real Estate Investments. Cole is a diversified commercial real estate firm that manages several private and public non-traded real estate funds (over $4.5 Billion under management).
Dan received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master of Business Administration Degree with a concentration in Finance from the University of Houston.
Tyler Brown
Partner & Co-Founder
As partner and co-founder, of LAG, Tyler Brown is responsible for revenue management, analytics, and operations surrounding LAG’s hospitality holdings. In addition, he is the Founder and current CEO of Lodging IQ, a lodging and solutions company that handles rate negotiation, booking, billing, and reporting for businesses with extended stay travelers. Previously, Brown was Chief Information and Strategy Officer with WoodSpring Hotels. There he was responsible for distribution, technology, and strategy. He also served as CIO for Dean & DeLuca, a global gourmet retailer, and as Senior Vice President of Operations at CLC Lodgings. Brown holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and business administration.
Garrett Morris
Senior Vice President of Asset Management
As Senior Vice President of Asset Management at LAG, Garrett Morris and his team oversee the assigned hotel management company to ensure financial performance and upkeep of assets, capital budgeting, project management, brand compliance, vendor management, as well as other customer-based services. Prior to LAG, Garrett served as Vice President of Facilities and Vendor Management with Nationwide Hotel Management Company. He also worked in senior facilities and asset management roles with Value Place and Woodspring Hotels. While there he successfully oversaw Value Place’s brand transition to Woodspring Suites at all corporate-owned hotels. Morris has a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Wichita State University. He and his wife Breanne, and daughters, Aubrey and Kennedy, enjoy sports and boating. He is also a passionate fan of Wichita State basketball.
John M. Klaassen
Senior Vice President of Business Intelligence
As SVP, Business Intelligence, John Klaassen conducts financial analysis and reporting, as well as coordinating budget efforts within the company. Prior to joining LAG, he served as Senior Director, Operations and Finance at Nationwide Hotel Management Company, where he led the budgeting efforts for 120 WoodSpring properties, as well as monthly reporting and analysis. Klaassen also worked in labor management and in other operational projects. He served in the same role for the WoodSpring Hotels brand. Prior to NHMC/WoodSpring Hotels, Klaassen worked in financial analysis, planning, and accounting at Textron Financial Corporation/Cessna Finance Corporation. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Chris Young
Vice President of Sales and Asset Management
Chris Young has extensive expertise in Operations, Sales and Revenue Management. His career in Hospitality spans more than 25 years. Prior to working with LAG, Young was a District Manager of Operations for Extended Stay America Hotels where his territory included hotels in Missouri, Kansas, New Mexico, Nebraska, Arizona and Montana. He served in that position for nearly 16 years. Young also served as Corporate Director of Revenue Management for Sunburst Hospitality. He has an avid love of the outdoors where he spends his off time hunting, fishing and camping with his family.
Bob Preble
CRME, Vice President of revenue analytics-development
Bob Preble is a Certified Revenue Management Executive (CRME) and a certified Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP). He also has extensive experience in the operational side of the business as a Rooms Division Manager, Director of Sales and General Manager. Preble has spent over 20 years in revenue management with various hotel companies including, Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt and a number of independent branded hotels. In addition to his hotel background, Preble is an experienced economic developer and online professor. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Webber International University and a Masters of Business Administration from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He currently resides in Albuquerque, NM with his wife and daughter. In addition, he has a son currently serving in the US military. He loves to travel and spend time at the beach.
James Layne
CRME, Vice President of Revenue Management
As VP of Revenue Management, James works to foster strong partnerships across all departments while helping the company remain as profitable and efficient as possible. Layne is a Certified Revenue Management Executive (CRME). In his 20-year career in the hospitality industry he has specialized in the economy extended stay sector. He has 9 years of operational experience, including area management of multiple properties, and over 11 years of revenue management experience, including positions as Senior Director of Revenue Management at the Nationwide Hotel Management Company and Regional Revenue Manager at WoodSpring Hotels and Extended Stay America. Layne also worked as General Manager and Area Manager for Extended Stay America in the Richmond, VA market. He is married with two sons and enjoys golf and spending time at ballfields and near the water. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from Virginia Tech.
Darren Martin, CPA
Senior Business Analyst
In his role as Senior Business Analyst at LAG, Darren Martin is tasked with extrapolating numbers and trends to help property owners and managers track and meet their business goals. Martin also spent eight years in the restaurant industry as Controller/Senior Controller for a number of clients ranging from 20-110 locations. Prior to that, he owned 3 franchises – two of which were recognized for being in the top ten in the nation. Martin holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Newman University and a Master of Public Administration from Wichita State University. He is married with three grown children and has run 11 marathons, logging over 13,000 miles since 2014.
Yolette Hiltl
Director of Asset Management
As Director of Asset Management, Yolette Hiltl is responsible for strategic capital planning, operational oversite, and vendor management. She has over 20 years of experience in hospitality and multi-family units. Before working at LAG, she was a Regional Director of Operations for Nationwide HMC and its properties in Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Arizona and California. She began her career in hospitality as General Manager for Value Place, where she helped oversee the company and its brand through its multiple transitions from Value Place to WoodSpring. She currently resides in El Paso, TX with her husband and three daughters. In her personal time, she enjoys vacationing on the beaches of South Texas, traveling to new places and watching her daughters play basketball.
Dan Williams
CHA, DIRECTOR OF ASSET MANAGEMENT
Dan Williams is a Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA). He has extensive experience in both full-service and economy extended-stay brands as well as independent boutique properties. In his most recent position as Vice President of Hotel Division with American Resort Management, Dan oversaw all property operations, sales, business development, revenue management, multimillion-dollar renovations, and new construction. Before his time with American Resort Management, he was Director of Facilities with Nationwide Hotel Management Company overseeing Capex for 120 Woodspring Suites and property renovations.
Timothy Cramer
CRME, Director of Revenue Management
Tim Cramer initially joined LGA as an Asset Manager. Shortly thereafter, he transitioned from Asset Manager to Revenue Manager. Cramer has been in the hotel industry since 2002, starting at a boutique hotel in Peoria, IL as a BOH Manager. He then held management roles with Red Roof Inn, LaQuinta, and Days Inn before joining Extended Stay America in a District Manager position. Cramer was a standout DM for 4 years before spending a year as a Revenue Manager with ESA. He then moved back into a DM role with Gulf Coast Hotel Management for 2 years. Before entering the hospitality industry, Cramer owned a small water business in St. Petersburg, Russia for 9 years. He has a bachelor's degree in philosophy and a master’s degree in history.
Rebecca King
corporate revenue manager
As Corporate Revenue Manager, Rebecca works to build trusted relationships with colleagues and stakeholders while implementing strategies to maximize revenue opportunities for hotels at all levels. With nearly 20 years of experience in the travel & hospitality industry, Rebecca became a Certified Revenue Management Executive (CRME) in 2019. She has worked in a variety of roles and led teams in Contact Center Operations, Customer Care & Member Services, social media & Reputation Management, and Revenue Optimization for Midscale to Upper Upscale hotels across the globe. Rebecca is married to her husband, Al, and they have one son. When not working, Rebecca enjoys reading, puzzles, watching documentaries, and spending time with family.
John Warne
corporate revenue manager
With over 30 years of experience in hospitality, John is a Corporate Revenue Manager. His extensive background includes Guest Services, Operations, Training, Distributions, and the last 15 years in revenue management. At LAG, John builds on his experience with portfolios ranging from midscale to upper-scale properties across diverse brands and markets in both Canada and the United States. John was twice named Revenue Professional of the Year at Radisson Hotel Group, holds CRME, CHRM, and IDeaS G3 RMS certifications, and is also certified with Cornell University in Advanced Revenue Management. He holds bachelor’s degrees in social sciences and secondary education as well as graduate work in international relations. John resides in Omaha, NE, and in his free time, he enjoys fishing, home renovation, and volunteering. John is also an avid Minnesota Vikings fan.
Cecilia Jones
regional Director of Sales
Cecilia Jones is a Director of Sales currently supporting hotels in the Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Florida, and Oklahoma regions. Before joining LAG, she served as the General Manager at Extended Stay America where she focused on hotel operations. Jones has worked as a sales professional in numerous industries including automotive, professional development, home furnishings, home improvement/remodeling, and hospitality. She is a graduate of the University of Central Missouri. She resides in Shawnee, KS with her husband and two daughters. She enjoys running in 5ks and is a Girl Scouts leader.
James Haigwood
REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF SALES
James Haigwood is LAG’s Corporate Sales Manager for the Texas and Louisiana markets. The Texas native has spent more than 10 years in operations and sales management, specifically in the extended stay sector. Haigwood started his hospitality career as a Guest Service Representative. He is customer service-oriented and focuses on building relationships with both his hotel teams and clients. In his off hours, he enjoys working on cars, fishing and spending time with his 8-year-old Aussie Reba.
Gia Joko
REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF SALES
Gia Joko is an industry veteran with extensive experience selling in the hospitality industry. She’s spent the last twenty-five years supporting hotel sales with time in property management and corporate housing prior to that. She is an avid student of the game who enjoys building relationships that stand the test of time. She is a native of beautiful Colorado where she enjoys the mountains, the 300-plus days of sun each year, and some fantastic snow-filled views in between. She is the mother of two grown boys and is now an empty nester - who enjoys traveling with her husband and spending time in new places visiting with her friends and family. She also has two wonderful cats (or at least one wonderful cat, but she loves them both the same).
Victoria Schaefer
regional director of Sales
Victoria Schaefer comes to Lodging Advisory Group as a creative Sales Director & Leader with over 25+ years of Sales experience. She has a proven ability to meet her clients' needs while exceeding goals, profitability, volume, and market share. Her sales excellence includes many brands such as Marriott, Hilton, Choice, IHG, Extended Stay America, CLC Lodging & GitGo Hospitality. In her spare time, she likes traveling, spending time listening to live music (mostly 80’s hair bands), and spending time with her daughter and new son-in-law.