Lou Plasencia
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Lou Plasencia | |
|---|---|
| Add a Photo | |
| Born | Cuba |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Hotel investment advisor, businessman |
| Known for | Founder, chairman, and CEO of The Plasencia Group |
| Website | tpghotels |
Lou Plasencia is a seasoned hotel investment advisor and businessman. He is the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of The Plasencia Group, a hospitality investment consulting firm headquartered in Tampa, Florida. Since its founding in 1993, the company has advised on billions of dollars in hotel transactions across the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean.[1]
Early life and education
Plasencia was born in San Luis, Pinar del Rio, Cuba and immigrated to the United States in 1961 where he became a proud U.S. citizen. as a child in Tampa’s cigar-making Ybor City neighborhood[2]
He earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and broadcast media from Loyola University New Orleans and, subsequently,a master's degree[3]
Career
Early Career
Plasencia began his professional career in academia, University and later at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.[3] He subsequently joined Hyatt Hotels Corporation, working in Sales & Marketing in New Orleans, Washington, DC, and other eastern markets. Plasencia was named the youngest Director of Sales & Marketing in the Hyatt system in late 1983 and was then tapped to open the new Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay in the Westshore business district in Tampa, Florida.[4] He was soon recruited by several national commercial real estate firms to join their hospitality divisions. Plasencia departed Hyatt to join Grubb & Ellis Commercial Real Estate, leading the startup of that firm's hotel investment sales division and growing their Hospitality Services Group to dozens offices across the United States.
The Plasencia Group
In 1993, Plasencia founded The Plasencia Group, Inc. in Tampa, Florida. The firm provides advisory services in hotel and resort investment sales, asset management, valuation, development consulting, and capital placement[5]. In its first year, the company closed over US$100 million in transactions.[1] Today, The Plasencia Group regularly averages over $1B in hotel transactions each year. The firm quickly expanded geographically, establishing offices in various U. S. markets including San Diego, Houston, Cleveland, Washington, DC and Chicago. The company also enhanced its service lines in 1998 to include owner representation and asset management, serving as advisor for major institutional hotel owners such as MetLife Real Estate, Starwood Hotels, Apollo Global and Blackstone.
The Plasencia Group has completed notable transactions involving properties such as the Amelia Island Plantation, PGA National Resort & Spa, Arizona Biltmore, and the Beverly Hilton.[1] In 2011, the firm received the “Single Asset Transaction of the Year” award for the sale of Amelia Island Plantation. The group's Investment Advisory Division has handled numerous portfolio transactions, including the sale of fifteen hotels on behalf of InterContinental Hotels Group for over $700M[6]. In 2022, it was recognized by the Tampa Bay Business Journal for executing US$500 million in transactions across nine properties in the Tampa Bay area alone.[7]
Lodging Industry Titan
Over the years, Plasencia well-known hotel landmarks such as industry knowledge[8]
Leadership and affiliations
Plasencia has served as vice chairman of the Hospitality Development Council at the Urban Land Institute, is a American Hotel Lodging Association[9], and sits on advisory boards for Visit Tampa Bay, St. Lawrence Parish School (Tampa), and the Tampa Bay Super Bowl Host Committee.[3] He is also a member of The Society of Aeons, a group of notable figures who previously served on or worked with the Board of Aeons while attending Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. It includes past presidents, deans, and chancellors, recognizing their significant contributions to the university.[10] Plasencia is actively involved in and is a past board member[11], a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization founded in 1961 made up of Florida business leaders who advise the state's governor and legislature. Plasencia has also been recognized numerous times by Florida Trend magazine as one of the 500 most influential business leaders in Florida.[12]
Personal life
Plasencia in Bloomington, IN. Plasencia and his wife reside in the Tampa Bay area.[2] He works alongside his three sons at The Plasencia Group. In 2024, the Plasencias were recipients of the Diocese of St. Petersburg's St. Jude Medal for service to their parish and the Diocese.[13] Plasencia is active in various local and national charitable initiatives and has supported numerous educational and civic organizations.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Company History". The Plasencia Group. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Lou Plasencia". Florida Trend 500. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Lou Plasencia Profile". Urban Land Institute. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
- ↑ "Lou Plasencia". Revere. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
- ↑ "Representative Engagements". The Plasencia Group. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
- ↑ "InterContinental Sells 15 US Hotels for $728M". benefitspro.com. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
- ↑ "Top Hospitality Project 2022". Tampa Bay Business Journal. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
- ↑ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
- ↑ ahla_2020_membership_directory_digital_0
- ↑ University, Board of Aeons Indiana (2022-10-22), Aeons Reunion 2022-107, retrieved 2025-08-18
- ↑ "The Florida Council of 100 Announces New Officers and Board Members | The Florida Council of 100". fc100.org. Retrieved 2025-08-15.
- ↑ "Florida 500". Retrieved 2025-08-15.
- ↑ "The 2024 St. Jude Medal... - St. Lawrence Catholic Church".
External links
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