Hotel industry veterans Michael A. DeNicola and Erik U. Nylen today announced the launch of Sapient Lodging Ventures LLC, a full service hospitality real estate investment and advisory firm based in Irving, Texas. With more than 70 years of combined industry experience, Sapient Lodging's founders have the ability to unlock hidden value in real estate by identifying exceptional opportunities and then targeting efficient capital infusions in tandem with savvy adjustments in operations and marketing.

DeNicola and Nylen are former FelCor Lodging Trust (NYSE: FCH) executives who collectively led the acquisition of $500 million in hotels and resorts, disposition of 140 properties with $1.5 billion in sale proceeds, and managed over $1 billion in major redevelopment projects including The Knickerbocker Hotel located in Times Square, Fairmont Copley Plaza Boston, Marriott Union Square San Francisco, and Kingston Resorts in Myrtle Beach, among others.

"As investors, we are pursuing under-valued hospitality assets with strong real estate fundamentals. Our experience in facility programing, market positioning, technology, development and capital markets give us a unique understanding of the core drivers of value in the hospitality space," said Michael A. DeNicola, CEO of Sapient Lodging Ventures LLC.

The company's advisory services, which include acquisitions, strategic property positioning, development management, master planning, entitlements and redevelopment are focused on the strategies that unlock hidden value in hotel real estate. "By concentrating on those essential components relevant to today's travelers, we can transform hotels to achieve above market returns for investors and owners," said Erik Nylen, president of Sapient Lodging Ventures.

DeNicola has spent more than 35 years in hospitality investments and operations. In his previous position, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer for FelCor. Nylen has more than 35 years of experience in all aspects of hospitality and resort investment and most recently served as Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and Development at FelCor.

Meet DeNicola and Nylen at the NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference, June 5-7, 2016 at the New York Marriott Marquis. #NYUHospitality