David Tessier

Founder AND CEO

David is the visionary behind HGA with a unique understanding of culture, design and concepting along with world-class business acumen. His strategic leadership enables the company to complete complex projects with innovative solutions. David is a veteran of the hospitality and gaming industry, with experience in over $11 billion of financial transactions. He has held leadership positions with some of the most ground breaking hotel and gaming companies in the industry.

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In addition to his experience in HGA David served as Chief Investment Officer and CFO for Turnberry Associates and Fontainebleau Miami JV LLC, after serving as CFO of the Americas at InterContinental Hotels (IHG). As the former CFO of Kerzner International Resorts (best known for Atlantis Paradise Island and One and Only Resorts), David directed development in resort, gaming, water park, retail, vacation ownership, and residential real estate, playing a pivotal role in the company's multi-billion privatization and associated financing.

As CFO of Ian Schrager Hotels he managed the companies most rapid expansion period including opening hotels domestically and internationally. He has previously worked as SVP of Finance for Hilton Hotels, overseeing all hotels worldwide and has 17 years experience with Marriott International.

David has served on several boards including Avendra, Windsor Capital Group, joint ventures with Starwood Vacation Ownership, Turnberry Residential and Kerzner International. He is a trustee at the Landmark School and a member of the Arts and Science Advisory board at Bentley University. David holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accountancy from Bentley University and an MBA from Nova Southeastern University.


Anna Gomez

Partner

Anna boasts over 20 years of experience in the hospitality and gaming industry where her focus is balancing vision, strategy and concepting with asset valuation. Anna’s background includes operations, accounting, financial planning and investment analysis.

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In 2009, Anna began her consulting career by assisting HGA in the debt restructuring and operations at the Fontainebleau Resort in Miami Beach, Florida. In 2011 Anna became a partner in HGA and has been a key contributor in the company's international and domestic projects. Anna was contracted by Ian Schrager between 2013 - 2017 to assist with two private labels, the asset management and sale of the PUBLIC Hotel Chicago and the opening of the PUBLIC Hotel New York City.

Prior to consulting, Anna oversaw InterContinental Hotel’s (IHG) financial planning and investment analysis team for the Americas, which supported more than 3,200 hotels and included the InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, StayBridge, Candlewood, Indigo and Holiday Vacation Club brands. Before IHG, she was VP Financial Planning and Analysis for Kerzner International Resorts, where she was a key contributor in Atlantis’ $1 billion expansion on Paradise Island and led feasibility for the development of Atlantis The Palm, Dubai, Morocco, various One and Only acquisitions and contributed to many proposed projects including Sentosa Island, Singapore and a casino JV with MGM in Las Vegas. Prior to Kerzner, Ms. Gomez worked in corporate roles at Ian Schrager Hotels and Hilton Hotels and Resorts expanding upon her hotel level experience with Marriott International where she started her career.

Ms. Gomez received her B.S. in Accounting from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida and a Masters degree in Business Administration from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. She also completed graduate studies at the University of Oxford, England.

Sagar Desai

Development

Sagar has over 15 years of experience across all hospitality verticals within the United States, Europe, Middle East and South America. Prior to Hospitality Gaming Advisors, Sagar was Global Head of Acquisitions & Development for Viceroy Hotels, Sagar led the global expansion of the brand through sourcing and execution of acquisition, development and management opportunities. Sagar has successfully closed over $1 billion of transactions during his tenure in key markets including the Maldives, Abu Dhabi, New York, Miami, Chicago, Anguilla, Los Angeles and Panama. Prior to joining Viceroy, Sagar was with Bank of America Securities in New York City within their Real Estate, Gaming & Lodging Investment Bank Division. Sagar is currently on the board of Selina (NYSE:SLNA) and leads strategic investments in early-stage hospitality companies. Sagar earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics with a minor in Business and Philosophy, Cum Laude from New York University.

Jessica Tracey

FINANCIAL PLANNING & INVESTMENT ANALYSIS

With over 15 years of experience including seven years with HGA, Jessica’s expertise is focused on strategic, operational and financial advisory support to hotel operators, developers and investors. She specializes in performing feasibility analysis, valuation and financial modeling, as well as conducting due diligence and field work for market studies, workouts, and acquisitions/dispositions and development.

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With HGA, Jessica has undertaken projects for major developers, hotel companies and investment firms, including Turnberry Associates, Brookfield Properties, Ian Schrager Company and Windsor Capital Group, among others. Some of her notable projects include hotels in New York, Miami and Nashville. She also has considerable advisory experience in Mexico and the Caribbean. She previously worked for Jones Lang LaSalle, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Lehman Brothers.

Jessica graduated with distinction from the Hotel School at Cornell University and later received her MBA from the University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management. She currently facilitates managerial finance and accounting courses for the Executive Master’s program in the College of Human Ecology and for eCornell, the University’s online executive certification program.


Laura Modica

LIFESTYLE, BRANDING AND MARKETING

Laura has over 15 years of experience with Lifestyle, Branding and Entertainment for highly innovative brands including Soho House & Co., HEI Hotels & Resorts, EDITION Hotels, PUBLIC Hotels, Morgans Hotel Group and Ian Schrager Hotels. 

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Laura is recognized as an innovator who merges vision, programming and operations to establish the tone for a brand’s success. She has led restaurant, bar and nightclub openings and repositionings in key markets including New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Hawaii, and Istanbul.

In 2018, Laura joined Soho House & Co. as Head of New York Operations. Previously, she managed 65 properties for HEI Hotels as Corporate Director of Restaurants, Bars and Nightlife. Laura began her career in hospitality working for Ian Schrager, later joining Marriott International to help launch EDITION Hotels, a collaboration between Ian Schrager and Marriott International. After launching EDITION, she rejoined Ian to launch his PUBLIC Hotel brand as Corporate Director of Nightlife and Special Events.

In 2011, under Laura’s leadership, EDITION was nominated for a Virtuoso Award for Best Bar in the World, a first for Marriott International. In 2015, Nightclub and Bar Media Group recognized PUBLIC as one of the Top 100 Bars. Laura has been featured in multiple publications such as Eater Magazine and Tasting Panel.

Laura attended DePauw University as a Bonner Scholar, focusing on Asian Studies and Music.