Jim Risoleo

Jim Risoleo serves as President and CEO of Host Hotels & Resorts, the largest lodging-focused real estate investment trust in the United States. Host owns 77 luxury and upper-upscale hotel properties with approximately 42,000 rooms, primarily operated under management agreements with Marriott International (the largest operator for Host), Hyatt, Four Seasons, and other premium hotel brands. Host's portfolio strategy focuses on owning premium properties in high-barrier-to-entry markets — locations where limited new supply and strong demand drivers (business travel, conventions, leisure tourism) support RevPAR growth. Key markets include Maui, San Diego, San Francisco, New York, Washington D.C., Boston, and Miami. The company has been actively recycling capital — selling older, lower-growth assets and reinvesting in properties with stronger long-term demand profiles. As a REIT, Host distributes substantially all taxable income as dividends, making it an income-oriented investment. The lodging REIT model provides hotel real estate exposure without the operational complexity — the hotel operators (Marriott, Hyatt) run day-to-day operations while Host collects the economic returns of property ownership. Key stock drivers include RevPAR (revenue per available room) trends, business and leisure travel recovery, group/convention demand, hotel transaction cap rates, interest rate environment, new supply in key markets, and the impact of alternative accommodations (Airbnb) on luxury hotel demand.