Jonathan Jaeger, MAI currently serves as Senior Managing Director with LW Hospitality Advisors, based in New York City. Prior to joining LWHA, Mr. Jaeger had been with Pinnacle Advisory Group from January of 2008 through January of 2014. He began as a Consultant in the Boston office and was promoted to Vice President and head of the New York Practice. During his tenure at both Pinnacle and LWHA, Mr. Jaeger has been involved in the execution of over 1,500 lodging & gaming consulting and valuation assignments throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
Prior to his advisory career, Mr. Jaeger held various operational and accounting/finance positions with Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Kimpton Hotels & Resorts. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the Boston University School of Hospitality Administration in addition to a minor in Business Administration from the Boston University School of Management. Mr. Jaeger is a State Certified Real Estate Appraiser specializing exclusively in the evaluation of hotel, gaming, and resort properties. During his time in Boston, he served on the Emerging Leaders Committee of the Massachusetts Chapter of the Appraisal Institute as well as a Council Member of the Massachusetts Lodging Association Under 30 Gateway Chapter. Beginning in the spring of 2011, Mr. Jaeger joined the adjunct faculty at Boston University, serving as co-instructor of the Hotel Asset Management course.
Mr. Jaeger has written several articles for industry wide publications, and is a member of YHIP, the Young Hospitality Investment Professionals Group. Mr. Jaeger is also a member of the Metro NY Chapter of the Appraisal Institute. Beginning in the Fall of 2014, Mr. Jaeger joined the Adjunct Faculty at New York University teaching the Lodging Development and Hospitality Finance courses. In 2015, Mr. Jaeger was given the Emerging Excellence in Hospitality Consulting Award from the International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) and is now an Associate Member of the organization.
Mr. Jaeger is a designated member of the Appraisal Institute (MAI); he achieved this designation in June of 2013. In addition, Mr. Jaeger is an active member of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) as well as a Development Coach for the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA).
Read More About Jonathan Jaeger, MAI
Hometown: Westchester, NY
Current Location: New York, NY
Why did you choose SHA?
SHA has an excellent reputation and is well known within the hospitality industry. I was impressed with SHA’s track record for helping place students with jobs in the industry (both internships and permanent positions). SHA continues to dedicate significant resources to attracting well respected employers to recruit on campus. I was also attracted to the fact that SHA is a relatively small school within the much larger University and students have the opportunity to get to know each other and work closely with professors.
What are some of your favorite BU memories?
My favorite BU memories (on the academic side at least) relate to my time as a tutor/teaching assistance for various classes within SHA. I truly enjoyed working with other students and helping them understand the material.
What was your first full-time job? How did you end up in your current position?
Upon graduation, I accepted a full time position as a Consultant with Pinnacle Advisory Group based in Boston. I have been with PAG since January of 2008 and have recently been promoted to Vice President. My promotion also came with a transfer to the New York City Office.
Please describe your current role. How did your SHA education impact your career?
At PAG, I am currently responsible for a wide range of consulting engagements. I primarily work on market/feasibility studies for new hotel development as well as appraisals of existing and proposed hotels throughout the United States and the Caribbean. My role also includes other types of consulting projects such as Asset Management, Brand Impact Studies, and Operational Reviews. More recently, I have been given an added responsibility for marketing Pinnacle’s services to prospective clients.
My education at SHA directly impacts the work I do on a day-to-day basis. Having a general understanding of the hotel industry prepared me for a career as a consultant. The Finance and Accounting courses were definitely the most important as I spend a majority of my time analyzing the financial performance of hotels.
Any advice for current and prospective students?
I would advise all current and prospective students to work hard, but enjoy their time at BU. The school has so much to offer, and students need to take advantage of what is available to them. Once you graduate, vacations and time off are much harder to come by!
Also, make sure to work closely with your professors. You never know what a recommendation or advice they give you will lead to in the future. I was granted an interview with my current employer thanks to Professor Buchin.
