Phil Hugh

Principal

philhugh@doceconomou.com

With more than 18 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Phil has held virtually every position on both the development and operations sides of the hotel business. Prior to founding DOC in February 2005, he was Senior Vice-President of Franchise Sales and Development for Cendant Corporation, responsible for the development of all new-construction hotels, under 8 different brands, throughout the United States and Canada. During Phil's tenure at Cendant, he was instrumental in enhancing the Wingate Inn brand.

Phil began his career as a night auditor at the Pittsburgh International Airport Days Inn. Through hard work and a passion for the business, he quickly rose through the ranks into positions of increasing scope and responsibility, including General Manager of a 144-room full-service hotel in Cleveland, Ohio. Additionally, he served as Director of Sales for the Crowne Plaza Resort Hilton Head Island and Nemacolin Woodlands Golf Resort in Pennsylvania. He also served as Director of Franchise Development for Holiday Inn Worldwide and Vice President Development for Cendant's Real Estate Division.

Under Phil's direction as President and CEO of DOC, the company has several projects under way. These include the new construction of a 67-room boutique Hotel Indigo in Fort Myers, Florida; a 13-story commercial building in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which houses a 120-room Staybridge Suites hotel, 31 residential condominiums, and retail space; and a mixed-use project in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, consisting of 140 luxury hotel rooms, 23 condominiums, a conference center, and retail space.

Phil received the 2007 Renovation Award from the InterContinental Hotels Group for his company's $3M renovation of a 123-room Holiday Inn in downtown Fort Myers. In September 2007, he was personally featured in Gulfshore Business Magazine's "40 Under Forty" issue saluting Southwest Florida's young leaders. He received his bachelor of arts in communications from Allegheny College.