The Connection Between Art and Hospitality with David Johnstone
Dot Dot Dot: The NINE dot ARTS Podcast
Episode 66
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As a longtime leader in the hospitality industry, David Johnstone, Chief Investment Officer for Hospitality at McWhinney, understands what drives value for investors, developers, and audiences. He and host Martha McGee discuss various trends, opportunities, and challenges that have informed the hospitality industry in the past, as well as where the industry is headed amidst today’s economic climate. Dave emphasizes the importance of a shared vision and values system across all project partners to achieve project success, as well as the role that art and culture play in enhancing property values and ROI. Tune in to hear these themes explored in the context of several active projects including the National Western Center in Denver and the Cal Neva Resort in Lake Tahoe.
Discussed in the Episode:
McWhinney
The Clayton Hotel & Members Club
Chad McWhinney
Denver’s Dairy Block
Centerra Master Plan
Crawford Hotel at Union Station
Union Station
Elizabeth Hotel
Cal Neva Resort
Maven Hotel
National Western Center
David Johnstone on LinkedIn
About David Johnstone:
With a legacy of more than 40 years of real estate and hospitality experience, Dave Johnstone, McWhinney’s Chief Investment Officer – Hospitality, is responsible for acquisitions, developments, asset management and dispositions. Specifically, he creates and executes business strategies associated with all hospitality-related acquisitions and development.
His career began in 1979 in Chicago at Laventhol and Horwath, a hospitality accounting and consulting firm, before moving in 1981 to open their Denver office. He then served as an Investment Manager for Prudential Property Company in Atlanta in 1987, where he was responsible for an equity portfolio of hotel properties located in the Southeastern United States. He then joined Sage Hospitality in 1989, where he served as Principal for the Denver-based, nationwide owner/operator of hotels. In 1996 he departed for Hong Kong in his role as Vice President of Development for the Asia/Pacific Region at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, a subsidiary of Marriott International, Inc., where he negotiated operating, management, and technical services contracts for new hotel projects. In his final role before joining McWhinney in 2015, Dave joined Miller Global Properties, LLC, a real estate pension fund advisory firm, where he developed and acquired hotels throughout the United States.
Passionate about creating new destinations with endless possibilities in the ever-changing world of hospitality, Dave is driven by the numerous opportunities McWhinney discovers. He continues to give back to the industry that has shaped his professional life by serving on university boards and councils, as a guest lecturer, and authoring several articles and book chapters on industry-related topics.
About Dot Dot Dot: The NINE dot ARTS Podcast
Dot Dot Dot is the continuing conversation around art and placemaking in the built environment. Hosted by NINE dot ARTS CEO Martha McGee, episodes explore art, culture, community, and more with a range of reputable business leaders. Tune in biweekly to learn how an original art experience can boost your business and make a social impact. Episodes are available wherever you get your podcasts!