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Starcity (www.starcity.com) is announcing today that it has added two seasoned hospitality executives to its leadership team with Karlene Holloman and Payal Gandhi, and Stephen Richardson to its board of directors.
Karlene Holloman will join the leadership of Starcity as Executive Vice President of Asset Management. Karlene has more than 30 years of strategic experience in the hospitality industry in both the United States and Australia. Karlene’s previous role as Chief Executive Officer at Point Hospitality Group, a Hotel Management Company headquartered in San Francisco, operating five boutique and branded hotels in California and Arizona. Under her leadership, the company successfully acquired, renovated, and positioned uniquely-situated hotel properties, resulting in some hotels achieving the highest occupancy and ADR milestones in 25 years and being awarded Conde Nast’s top 20 hotel rating in San Francisco. Karlene was also a founding member of Joie de Vivre Hospitality, which became the most extensive collection of boutique hotels and resorts in California.
“Karlene is a rare leader that brings industry expertise and an innovative approach to our ranks. She’s acutely aware of the challenges that the modern renter faces in cities and is excited to bring a high-touch level of service that she mastered in her career to the Starcity member,” Jon Dishotsky, CEO of Starcity, commented.
Payal Gandhi will join Starcity as Executive Vice President of Development. Payal brings to Starcity extensive experience in business development, product marketing, investment management, and strategic finance with a track record of delivering successful projects for startups, global companies, and institutional investors. She most recently led multifamily development strategy as the VP of Real Estate at Silicon Valley-based venture-backed startup Mighty Buildings, in its mission to disrupt the construction industry with new materials, automation, and 3D printing. Before that, she spent the past decade focused on growing the footprint of big brands in the hospitality industry in various development, acquisitions, and corporate finance roles, notably at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants and Starwood Hotels & Resorts.
“We’re honored to have Payal come on board at Starcity. Her ability to grow our platform is unparalleled versus industry peers. She is shepherding a track record that combines both high growth technology as well as mastery of delivering significant returns for institutional investors,” noted Jon Dishotsky, CEO of Starcity.
Stephen Richardson, co-CEO of Alexandria, will be joining Starcity as a board member. A 20-year Alexandria veteran, Mr. Richardson jointly leads the company with a long-term focus on strategic planning and revenue growth. Alexandria is now one of the world’s largest real estate investment trusts and a leader in life sciences real estate.
Stephen becomes the third outside director on Starcity’s board, joining Eric Wiesen, partner at Bullpen Capital, and Dan Kimmerling of Deciens Capital.
“We’re building Starcity for the long-term,” said Jon Dishotsky, CEO of Starcity. “We’re lucky to do so alongside a roster of varied directors who believe that a revolution is required in housing to more closely align with what consumers want.”
Starcity is one of the largest global coliving owners and operators. It now operates over 1,500 units, with over 3,000 units in its development and operations pipeline throughout North America and Western Europe and tens of thousands in the pipeline. It is backed by Bullpen Capital, Deciens, Industry Ventures, NEA, Social Capital and Y Combinator.
