Deirdre (Murphy) Ventura, CHB, President

Deirdre (Murphy) Ventura began her professional real estate career in 1981 and has since specialized exclusively in lodging property brokerage. Her outstanding closing record elevated her from sales executive to a principal in the firm, Wilder Group, L.L.C. and in 2003 she became the sole owner of Wilder Group LLC and changed the name of the firm to Innvest Hotel Brokers, LLC.

Having completed hundreds of hotel sales, she has sold and financed many franchised and independent properties for banks, government agencies, hotel Companies, REIT's and private individuals. Ms. Murphy was also very active in the Hotel Brokers International (HBI) the oldest and largest group of hotel brokers in the United States.

Her HBI peers have recognized her sales volume and professionalism with numerous awards, including Hotel Sales Achievement Awards (in recognition of outstanding sales production); an HBI Co-op Sales Award (for having completed the most co-op sales in a year); and three HBI Unique Deal of the Year awards (for having closed the year's most complicated transaction). Sales Person of the Year, (for the north east and Mid Atlantic Region) Broker of the Year (for completing more transactions and the highest dollar volume than any other member), and Largest Portfolio Sale.

Deirdre is a former member of the Board of Directors of the HBI and has graduated from its Certified Hotel Broker Program, earning her the prestigious CHB designation. The CHB program is sponsored by the Cornell University and HBI. Course work includes information technology and hotel brokerage; economics of the lodging industry; hotel investment analysis; sales strategy and marketing plans; and developing hotel packages. Ms. Murphy has also instructed portions of the program, as well as contributing to the programs curriculum.

She has been invited to speak at several industry conferences and events including the IHM/RS International Hotel & Motel Restaurant Show sponsored by the AH&MA and the Hotel Investment Conference sponsored by New York University.

Deirdre (Murphy) Ventura is the principal owner of Innvest Hotel Brokers. She developed www.innvest.com is an Internet site that has attracted over 300 hotel listings. It has served buyers, sellers, lenders and brokers since 1996. Ms. Murphy believes that the growth of the Internet's Innvest site as a hotel marketing tool is a revolutionary step in how properties are marketed and results in a more liquid hotel sales market for those that take advantage of the Innvest location.