Executive Vice President of Valencia Hotel Group

A little bit about John…

John Keeling started his hospitality career in food operations at UCLA. After promotion to General Manager of the graduate residence hall and successfully overseeing its renovation, he went on to Michigan State University where he earned his MBA in Hotel Administration. His first assignment upon graduation was at the Twin Bridges Marriott in Arlington, Virginia – Marriott’s first hotel. He went on to assignments with Marriott in Chicago and Dallas. He served on the taskforce opening the Lincolnshire Marriott. At that time he could easily name every Marriott hotel, he would be hard pressed to do that today.

After Marriott, he joined Laventhol & Horwath, a distinguished CPA firm specializing in hotels and hospitality. After 14 years he formed his own consulting firm and ultimately merged his practice with PKF Consulting. When Colliers purchased PKF and after his two-year earn out, he offered his resignation. Doyle Graham heard of John’s availability and brought him onboard as a member of the development team. Prior, Doyle had been a client of PKF and John had assisted Doyle in thinking through the transition from developing Hilton branded properties to independents. John was also the broker that represented the sites of the first two Valencia Hotels in San Antonio and San Jose.

John is primarily responsible for sourcing and vetting Valencia’s hotel management, acquisition and development projects. Valencia Hotel Group specializes in the management of upper-upscale and luxury independent and soft-branded hotels. Differentiating Valencia from its competitors is its proven ability to create authentic and unique identities for each property. Valencia developed, owns and operates many of its hotels and has designed and/or operated very successful independent boutique hotels for third-party owners. He has a passion for boutique hotels and makes a point to stay in them wherever he travels.