We passionately develop, own, and manage places of hospitality with an eye for operational efficiency and a genuine desire to elevate experience.
Our History
ROOTED IN HOSPITALITY
In 1926, our founders John, Sr. (Jack) and Marvin McKibbon felt that their community of Gainesville, Georgia, would be a better place if it had its very own self-service grocery store. Determined entrepreneurs, the McKibbon brothers opened a Piggly Wiggly franchise in their town. It was a small, but impactful beginning for the McKibbon name; one that John (Jack) McKibbon, Jr. decided to build on 20 years later by developing the area’s first motor court, complete with a full-service restaurant. This idea spurred the company’s evolution, and by the 1960s, the company had become one of the earliest Holiday Inn franchisees with hotels in operation throughout the state of Georgia. Hotel development and management became the company’s core focus and have been ever since.
Since taking over in the early 1990s, John McKibbon III continued the tradition by developing and operating new hotels throughout the Southeastern U.S. for Hilton and Marriott while also building a tenured leadership team with an unmatched reputation for impeccable service and innovation in the industry. Coming full circle, John completed his final development project in 2019: Kimpton Hotel Arras in Asheville, North Carolina. Kimpton’s first franchised hotel and McKibbon’s first Kimpton flag, John’s vision and innovation changed the skyline of Asheville forever as he handed the company off to the next generation of trusted McKibbon leaders, including his son, J.B. McKibbon IV.
Carrying on the family legacy, J.B. completed his first development project, Hyatt House Tampa Airport Westshore in 2021 and was named President of McKibbon Equities in 2023, a newly developed arm of the company responsible for new development and asset management of McKibbon-owned properties, as well as the McKibbon Family Investment Fund. His dedication to growing his family’s business paired with his eye for innovation, knack for problem solving, and focus on providing top-notch, all-encompassing services have primed McKibbon to continue growing and evolving, building on a legacy while finding new ways to expand its presence in the industry.
NUVOLE TWENTYTWO ROOFTOP
Turning Investments Into Legacies
$743 M
53 ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT
HOTELS DEVELOPED
73 HOTELS PROFITABLY SOLD
11 27 MANAGED OWNED DEVELOPED
YOUR TURNKEY HOTEL PARTNER
WILDWOOD STILL ROOFTOP BAR
At our core, we are developers, owners and operators first. It’s a unique perspective that’s critical to our investment, acquisitions and asset management philosophy. Our decades of experience in the hospitality industry guides everything from the partnerships we forge to the markets we choose—and don’t choose— to enter. Most of all, we’re proud to be part of projects that have helped transform and reinvigorate communities across the U.S.
TEMPO BY HILTON RALEIGH
Investments & Asset Management
For nearly a century in the hotel business, we’ve built our own properties and partnered with renowned brands, and seasoned investors to build theirs. We’ve applied our extensive experience in planning and project execution to more than 80 hotel development projects. Whether it’s ground-up construction or repurposing an existing structure, our process begins long before we break ground, with strategic market research, collaborative strategy sessions and a clear vision designed with brands and budgets in mind.
Development & Renovations
With dozens of managed new build and renovation projects under our belts, our team has the experience and understanding to overcome any challenges our industry faces in hotel development and renovations. Whether building a prototypical hotel or a boutique hotel, our team and partners are prepared and ready to bring your vision to life from concept drawings to opening day.
Hotel & Restaurant Management
As one of the largest (and most awarded) hotel management companies, we operate dozens of franchised Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG & Kimpton hotels and independent restaurants & bars for third-party ownership groups. Guests come for the location, amenities, and design, but they come back for the service. We put the right people and processes in place to make sure guest experience is nothing less than exceptional, inspiring brand and property loyalty.
Our Team
LEADING BY EXAMPLE
KIMPTON HOTEL ARRAS
McKibbon Hospitality McKibbon Places
McKibbon Equities
HOTEL & RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT
NEW BUILD & RENOVATION PROJECT MANAGEMENT
DEVELOPMENT & INVESTMENTS
ASSET MANAGEMENT & FINANCE
McKibbon Hotel Group, Inc.
Executive Leadership
Joe Taggart | President & Chief Financial Officer, McKibbon Hotel Group
Joe Taggart serves as President and Chief Financial Officer of McKibbon Hotel Group, overseeing the financial well-being of all McKibbon entities, including McKibbon Hospitality, McKibbon Places, McKibbon Family Investment Fund, and McKibbon Equities. Taggart joined McKibbon as Chief Financial Officer in 2019, charged with managing the companies’ accounting, cash management, insurance, property and income tax, partnership-owned finance, and audits. Taggart brings more than 20 years of leadership experiences and financial expertise to McKibbon, much of it in the realm of commercial real estate. Prior to joining McKibbon, Taggart spent 12 years at Valley National Bank and its predecessor USAmeriBank in Tampa as Senior Vice President, Florida CRE manager and stakeholder preceded by his time as Vice President of Commercial Real Estate Lending for Colonial Bank. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Virginia and attended the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University.
J.B. McKibbon, IV | President, McKibbon Equities
J.B. McKibbon, IV, the fourth generation of McKibbon leaders, serves as President of McKibbon Equities, a newly developed arm of the company responsible for development and management of McKibbon-owned assets as well as the McKibbon Family Investment Fund. McKibbon joined the company in 2017 as Asset Manager and was promoted to Vice President of Asset Management in 2021, leveraging his more than 10 years of professional hospitality experiences as well as a lifetime living in and around the business to the company to oversee all aspects of existing McKibbon investments as well as sourcing and underwriting new investments, including acquisitions and ground-up development. Prior to joining the family business, he worked as Senior Asset Manager for Apple Hospitality REIT, consulting with multiple third-party management organizations to ensure strong financial results for their respective Apple-owned portfolios. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Managerial Sciences from the Georgia State University J. Mack Robinson College of Business.
Randy Hassen | Chief Executive Officer, McKibbon Hospitality
Randy Hassen serves as McKibbon Hospitality’s Chief Executive Officer, guiding the management company’s long-range planning and strategic direction. Hassen joined McKibbon Hospitality in 1991 as a Houseman at the former Days Inn Athens. After graduating from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality, Hassen was named the opening General Manager of McKibbon’s Courtyard Tampa North in 1995, where he was awarded General Manager of the Year from Marriott International. In 1998, he went on to open a second hotel, the Courtyard by Marriott Tampa Downtown. Hassen was promoted to Director of Operations in 2000, Vice President of Operations in 2007, Senior Vice President of Operations in 2009, and President of McKibbon Hospitality in 2012. He serves on Marriott’s AC Hotels Franchise Advisory Council and is involved with many Tampa non-profit organizations.
Bruce Baerwalde | President, McKibbon Hospitality
Bruce Baerwalde serves as McKibbon Hospitality’s President, responsible for driving peak performance across McKibbon’s portfolio of hotels and restaurants. A tenured hospitality professional, he joined the company in 1996 as the opening General Manager of the Courtyard by Marriott in Gainesville, Florida. The following year in 1997, he moved to the Residence Inn by Marriott brand, serving as opening General Manager of the Residence Inn by Marriott Tampa North, which was awarded Opening Hotel of the Year by Marriott International. In 1998 Baerwalde moved on to open the Courtyard by Marriott Maitland/Orlando and was recognized by Marriott as Opening General Manager of the Year for his efforts. He was promoted to Director of Operations in 2000, Vice President of Operations in 2007, Senior Vice President in 2009, and Executive Vice President in 2012. Bruce currently serves on Hilton’s Product Advisory Council and in 2022 was appointed President of Marriott’s Aloft Franchise Advisory Council.
Erik Rowen | President, McKibbon Places
Erik Rowen has served as the President of McKibbon Places since the company’s inception in 2019, which was established to sharpen McKibbon’s focus of its thirdparty hotel development and renovation efforts. A registered architect, Rowen joined McKibbon in 2003 as a project manager, later serving as Vice President of development, where he managed more than 35 award-winning new build projects for a variety of hotel brands. Rowen earned his Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University and an MBA with a concentration in Real Estate from Georgia State University.
Matthew Ram | Senior Vice President of Acquisitions
Matthew Ram serves as McKibbon’s Senior Vice President of Acquisitions, responsible for leading the charge as the family-owned and operated company moves into the acquisition space. Bringing more than 10 years of financial analysis expertise, Ram manages deal sourcing, underwriting and investment analysis, acquisitions, dispositions, asset management, transaction support, and investor relations for the company. Ram returns to McKibbon after most recently serving as Senior Vice President of Acquisitions for Peachtree Hotel Group. Prior to joining McKibbon as Vice President of Acquisitions in 2019, he served as Investment Manager for the Tampa-based commercial real estate investment, development, and management company, Liberty Group, where he oversaw real estate investment activity, conducting investment analysis, financial planning, and more. Over the course of his career, Ram has held positions with companies including J.J. Haines and Co., Wells Fargo, and The John Hopkins Hospital. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of South Florida.
Wes Townson | Vice President of Business Development
Wes Townson joined McKibbon Hospitality in 2003, serving as the company’s Vice President of Acquisitions before assuming his current role as Vice President of Business Development, overseeing market analysis, site selection, brand selection and entitlements for new hotel developments. Townson has over 40 years of experience in real estate development and has completed many hotel transactions in his time with McKibbon. He earned a Bachelor of Science from Columbus State University, a Master of City and Regional Planning from the University of Memphis, as well as a Master of Business Administration from Georgia Southern University.
Jim Coyle | General Counsel
Jim Coyle joined McKibbon Hospitality in 2016 to provide legal oversight and support as the company’s General Counsel. He holds a master’s degree in law with a focus in taxation from Boston University School of Law, and he earned his law degree from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University. Coyle attended Washington and Lee University for his undergraduate degree. After graduating from Boston University, he returned home to Gainesville, Georgia to begin his private practice at Stewart, Melvin & Frost LLP, where he spent 14 years working in collaboration with former McKibbon board member Woody Stewart.
Our Experience
EVERY PROJECT HAS A STORY
MOXY ASHEVILLE
Each story has a “what,” a “why” and a “how.” The best way to explain our value and experience to potential partners is to simply show you our work. We are happy to share a few of our favorite success stories.
AC Hotel
Asheville Downtown
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA
Opened 2017
132 Keys
9 Stories
Capella on 9 Rooftop Bar
Capella on 9 Rooftop Bar
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA
AC Hotel & Residence Inn
Charlotte City Center
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
Opened 2018
300 Keys
23 Stories
Nuvolé Rooftop TwentyTwo
Nuvole Rooftop TwentyTwo
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
Kimpton Hotel Arras
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA
Bargello
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA
District 42
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA
Hyatt House Tampa Airport Westshore
TAMPA, FLORIDA
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA
Opened in 2024
115 Keys
7 Stories
Wildwood Still Rooftop Bar & Restaurant
Wildwood Still Rooftop
Bar & Restaurant
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA
Hilton Garden Inn
Cape Canaveral
CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA
Opening in 2025
156 Keys
6 Stories
Independent Restaurant Concept
AC Hotel & Moxy Tampa Channel District
TAMPA, FLORIDA
Opening in 2028
310 Keys
13 Stories
Independent Rooftop Bar & Restaurant
Street Level Retail
WE HAVE A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR AT MCKIBBON
Marriott
Marriott CONNECT Renovation Excellence Award
Aloft Asheville Downtown, 2022
Marriott Diamond General Manager of the Year
Matthew McCloud, Courtyard & Residence Inn Tallahassee
North/I-10 Capital Circle, 2022
Marriott Spirit to Serve Award
Cody Brown, Aloft Asheville Downtown, 2022
Partnership Circle Award
McKibbon Hospitality, 2020, 2017 & 1995
J. Willard Marriott Award of Excellence
Rada Kukrika, Courtyard Orlando Maitland, 2020
Theresa Wilson, TownePlace Suites Pensacola, 2014
Alice S. Marriott Community Service Award
Aloft Asheville Downtown, 2019
Marriott Business Council Rays of Excellence Award
McKibbon Tampa Hotels, 2019
Community Service Hotels of the Year Award
Residence Inn Macon, 2019
TownePlace Suites Pensacola, 2013 & 2012
Aloft General Manager of the Year Award
Aloft Jacksonville Airport, 2019
Aloft Asheville Downtown, 2016
Aloft Hotel of the Year Award
Aloft Greenville Downtown, 2018
Opening Hotel of Year Award
Aloft Greenville Downtown, 2016
Aloft Asheville Downtown, 2012
SpringHill Suites Pensacola, 2014
Residence Inn Little Rock, 2013
Platinum Awards
Courtyard Fort Myers, 2016 & 2014
SpringHill Suites Pensacola, 2016 & 2014
SpringHill Suites Richmond, 2010
Kimpton & IHG
Kimpton Crusher Franchise Award
Kimpton Hotel Arras, 2021
IHG Luxury & Lifestyle Americas Franchise of the Year
Kimpton Hotel Arras, 2023
IHG Torchbearers Award & One Rewards Guest Love Excellence Award
