Aries Capital has become a founding member of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA). A supporter for many years, Aries Capital strengthened its investment with the organization to demonstrate its commitment to provide an alternative source of financing for Asian-owned businesses throughout the United States.
“As an intermediary and direct lender as well as a hotel owner ourselves, Aries Capital understands all sides of the financing process and has developed substantial credibility with lenders,” said Rushi Shah, senior vice president of Aries Capital. “Recognizing that this is an exciting time in the Asian-American business community, we want to further our commitment to assisting these dynamic entrepreneurs in the pursuit of their success in the hotel and real estate communities. Through our expanded participation in AAHOA, members now have better access to Aries Capital’s long-held relationships with CMBS and other lenders, thereby offering successful hotel owners a diverse range of potential solutions.”
Aries Capital was one of the CMBS pioneers in the early 1990’s, and one of the first CMBS originators closing over $2 billion in transactions over the next decade. In 2011, the firm was one of the few organizations leading the reemergence of CMBS financing after originating one of the top ten loans into the $715 million JP Morgan/Ladder Capital CMBS securitization, considered one of the first true securitizations after 2007. Aries Capital’s most recent CMBS closings include an $8.9 million loan for the Holiday Inn Express in Baytown, TX, which is owned and operated by AAHOA member, Nilesh Patel of Pride Management.
“We very much expect, given the market conditions and hotel owners’ appetite for non-recourse, 10-year money with cash-out, our deal volume to increase this year. By bringing membership access to our CMBS relationships, we hope to demonstrate the value of our experience and abilities. We don’t simply work with one lender and try to fit the borrower into a box. We start with what the borrower needs and their best interests, and then create a custom structure for our clients, which may include more than one type of financing or lender. We maintain control of the process, mitigating any issues along the way to ensure what was promised is delivered. It’s a very customized approach and one that has a long history of success.”
Aries Capital’s Rushi Shah will speak at the upcoming AAHOA Annual Convention and Trade Show regarding “Financing Options for Hoteliers.” The event will be held from April 22-25, 2015 at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center in Long Beach, CA. Aries Capital was also invited to attend this year’s prestigious leadership council in Las Vegas.