Management Team

Management Team

CapStar’s management includes a group of hotel real estate professionals who have acquired, developed, financed and renovated more than $5 billion in hotel assets:

Paul W. Whetsell, President and CEO

Over the past two decades, Paul Whetsell has built some of the nation’s largest hotel ownership and third-party management companies, overseeing the acquisition, development, financing, operations and disposition of more than 300 hotels valued at more than $5 billion.  He founded and led the original CapStar Hotel Company in 1987 until its August 1998 merger with American General Hospitality Corporation, which resulted in the creation of MeriStar Hospitality, the nation’s third largest real estate investment trust, and MeriStar Hotels & Resorts, the nation’s largest independent management company.  He oversaw the sale of MeriStar Hospitality (NYSE: MHX) to an affiliate of the Blackstone Group for $2.6 billion in 2006.  Previously, he served in development and operating capacities for Lincoln Hotels in Dallas, Texas, and held various positions with Quality Inns (now Choice Hotels International), rising to vice president of franchise.  

He is the chairman of the board of Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: IHR), a member of the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s Industry Real Estate and Financing Advisory Council, and is a past member of NAREIT’s board of governors.  He is a member of the Urban Land Institute, the Travel Business Roundtable, and is on the governing council of the Washington, D.C. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Whetsell holds a BA degree in history from Davidson College. 

Jerry Kraisinger, Vice President of Development and General Counsel

Before joining CapStar, Jerry Kraisinger was executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of MeriStar Hospitality.  He previously was an associate general counsel of Host Marriott Corporation, now known as Host Hotels & Resorts, and has significant experience in hotel acquisition and development law, including architecture and construction, real estate development and finance, loan restructuring, bankruptcy and creditors' rights and litigation management.  

He previously practiced law at the Tampa, Florida office of Holland & Knight, where he focused primarily on matters involving bankruptcy and creditors’ rights.  He is a former member of the board of directors of ProRiver, Inc., a regional restaurant chain now operated by Dave's of America.  Mr. Kraisinger is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and is admitted to practice law in Maryland, Florida, and the District of Columbia. He is also a registered corporate counsel in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Tim Hussion, Vice President of Asset Management

With more than 18 years’ hospitality industry experience, Tim Hussion has extensive expertise in operations, asset management, capital planning and financial review.  His industry experience includes significant hands-on operations experience, including general manager, regional operations manager and vice president of operations with MeriStar Hospitality Corporation and its predecessor companies.  Prior to joining CapStar, Hussion was senior vice president of asset management at MeriStar Hospitality.  He is a graduate of West Virginia University and is a member of Hotel Asset Managers Association (HAMA)

Michele Reing, Chief Financial Officer

With nearly 15 years of experience in finance and accounting, Michele Reing has in-depth expertise in virtually all phases of hotel and real estate finance and accounting. Previously she was vice president of finance of MeriStar Hospitality Corporation, where she represented the company in more than 35 acquisitions and dispositions, worked on two proposed and one completed merger, oversaw SEC reporting and compliance and created an internal audit department. In addition, she directed of the company’s accounting and financial reporting, which included property accounting for more than 100 hotels, corporate general accounting and construction accounting.

Ms. Reing is the former vice president and corporate controller of Analex Corporation, where her responsibilities included oversight of a 20-person accounting department, SEC reporting, and compliance with establishing and monitoring a system of adherence to Analex’s 404 internal control policies. Ms. Reing holds a Bachelor’s of Science in accounting from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Harold G. Scheffler II, Vice President of Design and Construction

Harold Scheffler has more than 30 years’ experience in the design, construction, renovation and operations of hotels, working on more than 200 properties in his career.  Previously, he was senior vice president of interior design and project services for MeriStar Hospitality Corporation, and continued in that capacity following the company’s acquisition by the Blackstone Group.  

He began his career in operations, holding key positions in food and beverage, rising to general manager.  He has worked in design and construction since 1990 with Interstate Hotels & Resorts and its predecessor companies.  Scheffler is a 1980 graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Whittemore School of Business and Economics with a degree in Hospitality Management. 

Hoyt Bacon, Vice President of Revenue and Asset Management

Hoyt Bacon has over 25 years experience in the travel and hospitality industry in the areas of sales, strategic planning and marketing, electronic communication and asset management. Hoyt is VP, Revenue & Asset Management for CapStar Hotel Company reviewing asset performance, hotel positioning, revenue strategies and business mix. He most recently worked for Blackstone as an Asset Manager in the Alcor Acquisition portfolio. In 2007 the Alcor Portfolio has a forecasted REVPAR of 9.4%

Prior to the Blackstone’s acquisition of MeriStar Hospitality in May of 2006 he was responsible for reviewing sales metrics and identifying all additional revenue opportunities for all MeriStar’s assets. He worked all distribution channels leveraging electronic channels, GDS, and web initiatives maximizing revenue opportunities.

For 4 years prior, Hoyt was Chief Marketing Officer with Interstate Hotel & Resorts where he led the sales and marketing organization for the largest independent hotel management company with over 300 multi-branded hotels and 2 billion dollars in revenue. The department was the support mechanism for driving direct sales, revenue management, and marketing communications.

Earlier Bacon was President and founder of United Direct Response, which grew into All Points Communications, a leading direct marketing and fulfillment company. For more than a decade United Direct Response developed sales strategies, marketing plans and promotions for some of the world’s leading travel and hospitality companies. Prior, he worked for Amfac Hotels and Westin Hotels & Resorts in various senior level sales and marketing positions.

Mr. Bacon is a Past President of Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) and remains on the Board of Directors. He is a member of the Marketing Committee for the American Hotel & Lodging Association and on the Advisory Board of Virginia Tech University. He is Chairman Emeritus of HSMAI’s Educational Foundation and a member of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants. He is a graduate of the University of Denver Hotel & Restaurant School.

Gary Klett, Senior Director of Finance

Gary Klett provides support and analysis in underwriting, financing, due diligence, and asset management for CapStar.  Prior to joining the company, Klett was a senior financial analyst at MeriStar Hospitality Corporation.  At MeriStar, he provided detailed financial modeling, strategic analysis regarding financial planning, and compiled the annual budget for more than 115 hotels and corporate departments.  Klett graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Commerce with concentrations in finance and marketing from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia. 

Larry Whetsell, Director of Project Administration

Larry Whetsell has over 10 years of experience in Project Administration. Currently he is assisting with the on-site supervision and implementation of the approved property capital plans for CapStar Hotel Company.
Prior to joining CapStar, Larry was with Meristar Hospitality Corporation in a similar capacity. Further, he worked in golf course management for Doral Golf and helped implement the golf course capital plans at South Seas Resort on Captiva Island Florida.

Previous to his work in the hospitality industry he ran a research laboratory at West Virginia University in Animal and Veterinary Sciences for thirteen years. Mr. Whetsell is a graduate of West Virginia University.