Atlanta-based Hotel Equities (HE) added three new Regional Revenue Managers to the firm’s leadership team. Barbara Soucia is based in the Atlanta corporate headquarters’ office, Yanbo Zhu works from the firm’s regional office in Plano, Texas, and Mischa Moore is based in Louisiana. All three report to Drew Salapka, Vice President of Sales & Revenue Generation.
Ms. Soucia, Mr. Zhu and Ms. Moore each work with a defined number of properties in the Hotel Equities’ portfolio to assist, support and direct pricing, as well as yield management and mix management, in order to maximize and grow RevPAR. They also conduct training for the Directors of Sales at their respective hotels.
Yanbo Zhu holds more than 14 years of industry experience with a focus on revenue management. He joined Hotel Equities from the Le Meridien Dallas and the Sheraton Dallas North where he served as Complex Director of Revenue Management. He began his career by overseeing operations as Assistant Front Office Manager at the Embassy Suites Atlanta Centennial Olympic Park and discovered his niche in revenue management.
Mr. Zhu was promoted to Director of Revenue Management over two hotels before he moved to a similar position with Marriott’s Autograph Collection Lodge and Spa Resort at Callaway Gardens and the Marriott Macon City Center. The Westin New Orleans Canal Place tapped him as Complex Director of Revenue Management, followed by a promotion to the Westin DFW Airport & Sheraton Suites Market Center in Dallas.
In addition to exceeding budget and growing market share consistently in his progression of positions, Mr. Zhu won a Marriott award for the Best Full-Service Hotel Opening in 2009 and the 2011 Interstate Hotels and Resorts’ Overall Revenue Management Performance award.
Mr. Zhu holds a degree in International Hotel & Restaurant Management from the Hotel Institute Montreux in Switzerland and a B.S. degree in Hotel & Restaurant and Tourism Management from the University of South Carolina. He also earned a diploma in Hospitality Management from the American Hotel and Lodging Association. His interests include playing soccer and spending time with his family that includes his wife and two children.