US: Extended Stay America (ESA) has promoted Judi Bikulege to chief investment officer.
In this newly created role, Bikulege assumes direct responsibility for new-build construction as well as renovations and ongoing capital investments to ensure the company’s hotels are operating effectively and efficiently. She will continue to lead ESA’s efforts to identify sites for new hotels as well as executing the asset segmentation and disposition strategy.
“Judi is a seasoned hotelier who has been integral to our team,” said Bruce Haase, president and CEO of Extended Stay America. “Over her career, she has been one of the industry’s major dealmakers with involvement in more than $8 billion of hotel acquisitions and dispositions and has successfully placed over $5 billion of debt and financing. She knows hotels, our company and has broad experience in real estate capital markets and a tremendous record of success in helping companies grow. She is an incredible asset to our team, and this new position will allow us to be positioned to continue our aggressive growth strategy.”
Prior to her promotion to chief investment officer, Bikulege was senior managing director of real estate for Extended Stay America. Her career also includes senior roles with Gencom and Morgans Hotels Group. Bikulege holds a degree in business administration from the University of Houston.</p
