Sara E. Olson, MAI

Consulting Experience

As the Director of HVS Omaha, Sara Olson, MAI, is among the firm's experts on the Omaha and Kansas City markets. Sara's hospitality career has been focused on the Rocky Mountain and Midwest regions, where her expertise has translated into HVS articles on a variety of hotel markets. Sara graduated magna cum laude from the University of Denver with a degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management and has worked in both sales and front desk operations in full-service and extended-stay hotels. A native of Omaha, Nebraska, Sara's hands-on hotel experience began at the Magnolia Hotel in Omaha and continued at Hospitality Real Estate Counselors in Denver and the Hyatt Summerfield Suites hotel in Broomfield, Colorado. She is a Designated Member of the Appraisal Institute (MAI) and a state-certified general appraiser.

Employment History

2011 - Present
HVS Consulting and Valuation
Boulder, Colorado

May 2010 - June 2011
Hyatt Summerfield Suites Hotel
Broomfield, Colorado

Feb 2010- June 2010
Hospitality Real Estate Counselors
Denver, Colorado

June 2009- Dec 2009
The Magnolia Hotel
Omaha, Nebraska

June 2008-June 2009
The Fox and Hound
Denver, Colorado and Omaha, Nebraska

Education

UNIVERSITY OF DENVER
Bachelor of Science

Other Specialized Training Classes Completed:
Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice – 15 hours
Basic Appraisal Procedures – 30 hours
Basic Appraisal Principles – 30 hours
General Appraiser Income Approach – 60 hours
General Appraiser Market Analysis and HBU – 30 hours
General Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach – 30 hours
General Appraiser Sales Comparison Approach – 30 hours
General Appraiser Report Writing and Case Studies – 30 hours
Statistics, Modeling and Finance – 15 hours
Advanced Income Capitalization – 40 hours
Business Practices and Ethics – 7 hours
Quantitative Analysis – 35 hours
Advanced Concepts and Case Studies – 40 hours
Advanced Highest and Best Use – 35 hours
Comp Exam for the MAI Designation – Passed
General Demonstration – Capstone
Advanced Hotel Appraisal - Full Service Hotel – 7 hours
Report Writing – 7 hours
Eminent Domain & Condemnation – 7 hours
Small Hotel/Motel Valuation – 7 hours
Honing In – 2 hours
Income Approach Case Studies – 4 hours
Expert Witness – 7 hours
Appraisal Subject to Ground Lease – 7 hours
Biennial USPAP Updates

State Certification

Iowa
Kansas
Missouri
Nebraska
South Dakota

Affiliations

Designated Member of the Appraisal Institute (MAI)

Hotels Evaluated

Sample List for Illustrative Purposes

PORTFOLIO ANALYSIS 
Quarterly Clarion Portfolio of 17 Courtyard Hotels, Various Locations
Portfolio of 18 Hotels, Various Locations
Portfolio of 7 Hyatt- and Marriott-branded Hotels, Various Locations
 
ARIZONA 
Mainstay Suites, Casa Grande
Proposed TownePlace Suites by Marriott, Chandler
Proposed Holiday Inn Express & Suites - Phoenix Airport North, Phoenix
Proposed Home2 Suites by Hilton Phoenix Airport North, Phoenix
Ventana Canyon Resort, Tucson
 
ARKANSAS 
Residence Inn by Marriott, Springdale
 
CALIFORNIA 
Embassy Suites Arcadia Pasadena, Arcadia
SLS Hotel, Beverly Hills
Embassy Suites, Brea
Homewood Suites, Carlsbad
Motel 6, Carlsbad
DoubleTree by Hilton, Commerce
Homewood Suites, La Quinta
Embassy Suites, Lompoc
Courtyard by Marriott, Long Beach
Shilo Inn, Mammoth Lakes
Savage Lodge & Trading Post, Mariposa
Proposed Residence Inn by Marriott, Moreno Valley
Proposed Hotel, Napa
Embassy Suites, Ontario
Homewood Suites, Palm Desert
Courtyard by Marriott, Rancho Cordova
Hyatt Place Sacramento Rancho Cordova, Rancho Cordova
Days Inn, Richmond
Hampton Inn & Suites, Riverside
SpringHill Suites, Roseville
TownePlace Suites, Roseville
Residence Inn by Marriott Sacramento Cal Expo, Sacramento
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Sacramento Airport Natomas, Sacramento
Residence Inn San Diego Mission Valley, San Diego
Towne & Country Resort & Conference Center, San Diego
Holiday Inn Express Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco
Quality Inn Silicon Valley, San Jose
Embassy Suites, San Luis Obispo
Embassy Suites, Santa Ana
Proposed Hyatt Place, Santa Cruz
Holland Inn & Suites, Taft
Embassy Suites, Temecula
 
COLORADO 
Proposed Boomerang Hotel, Aspen
Proposed Hotel North Boulder, Boulder
Best Western Brighton Inn, Brighton
Proposed Hotel Brighton, Brighton
Hyatt Summerfield Suites, Broomfield
Proposed Fairfield Inn by Marriott, Broomfield
TownePlace Suites, Broomfield
Americas Best Value Inn, Colorado Springs
Clarion/Quality Inn, Colorado Springs
Proposed Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, Colorado Springs
Proposed Hilton Garden Inn Colorado Springs Downtown, Colorado Springs
Proposed Limited-Service Hotel, Colorado Springs
Proposed Renaissance, Colorado Springs
Radisson Hotel, Colorado Springs
Best Western Sundance, Delta
Comfort Inn Merchandise Mart, Denver
DoubleTree DTC, Denver
Microtel Inn, Denver
Motel 6, Denver
Proposed Best Western Plus Gateway Park, Denver
Proposed Cherry Creek Hotel, Denver
Proposed Hampton/Homewood Tower, Denver
Proposed Boutique Hotel – Sloan Lake, Denver
Ramada Hotel & Suites, Denver
Ramada Limited DIA, Denver
Proposed TownePlace Suites DTC, Englewood
Heritage Inn, Evans
Courtyard by Marriott, Fort Collins
Hilton Garden Inn, Fort Collins
Marriott, Fort Collins
Plaza Hotel, Fort Collins
Residence Inn by Marriott, Fort Collins
Proposed Boutique Hotel, Fort Collins
Comfort Inn, Fruita
Hotel Denver, Glenwood Springs
Hotel Glenwood Springs, Glenwood Springs
TownePlace Suites Federal Center, Golden
Proposed Courtyard by Marriott, Highlands Ranch
Hot Sulphur Springs Resort & Spa, Hot Sulphur Springs
Holiday Inn, Lakewood
Proposed Residence Inn, Littleton
Candlewood Suites, Loveland
Proposed Full-Service Hotel, Loveland
Proposed Residence Inn by Marriott, Mammoth Lakes
Comfort Inn, Parachute
The Peaks Resort and Spa, Telluride
Proposed Extended-Stay Hotel, Westminster
Proposed Wolcott Inn, Wolcott
 
CONNECTICUT 
Proposed Steelpointe Harbor Hotel, Bridgeport
 
FLORIDA 
Proposed Westin, Daytona Beach
DoubleTree East, Orlando
Sheraton Downtown, Orlando
Residence Inn by Marriott, Sebring
Embassy Suites Tampa USF/Busch Gardens, Tampa
Hampton Inn, Tampa
Proposed Four Points by Sheraton, Venice
 
GEORGIA 
Embassy Suites Atlanta Alpharetta, Alpharetta
Fairfield Inn & Suites Suwanee, Atlanta
Hampton Inn Buckhead, Atlanta
 
ILLINOIS 
Homewood Suites by Hilton, Chicago
Courtyard by Marriott, Elmhurst
Hampton Inn, Gurnee
Comfort Inn, Moline
Hampton Inn, Naperville
Hampton by Hilton, New Lenox
 
IOWA 
Motel 6 Des Moines East Altoona, Altoona
Hampton Inn Cedar Rapids, Cedar Rapids
Motel 6 Cedar Rapids, Cedar Rapids
Proposed Hilton Garden Inn, Cedar Rapids
Best Western Crossroads, Council Bluffs
Country Inn & Suites, Council Bluffs
Hilton Garden Inn Omaha East Council Bluffs, Council Bluffs
Motel 6 Council Bluffs, Council Bluffs
Proposed Courtyard by Marriott at Mid-America Center, Council Bluffs
Hampton Inn, Des Moines
Proposed Grinnell Hotel & Event Center, Grinnell
Clarion Hotel Highlander Conference Center Iowa City, Iowa City
Sheraton, Iowa City
Proposed Courtyard by Marriott, Mason City
Americas Best Value Inn, Osceola
Royal Amsterdam Hotel, Pella
Proposed Comfort Inn & Suites, Sergeant Bluff
Proposed Autograph Collection Hotel, Sioux City
Proposed Warrior Hotel at the Warrior and Davidson Buildings, Sioux City
Courtyard by Marriott Des Moines West, West Des Moines
Element West Des Moines, West Des Moines
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, West Des Moines
Motel 6 Des Moines West, West Des Moines
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Des Moines West, West Des Moines
 
KANSAS 
Motel 6, Hays
Great Wolf Lodge, Kansas City
Proposed Hotel, Lawrence
Proposed Candlewood Suites, Lenexa
Proposed Holiday Inn Express, Lenexa
Motel 6, Manhattan
Chase Suites, Overland Park
Hampton Inn Kansas City Overland Park, Overland Park
Homewood Suites by Hilton Overland Park, Overland Park
Hyatt Place Kansas City Overland Park, Overland Park
Proposed Hampton Inn & Suites, Overland Park
Proposed Staybridge Suites, Overland Park
Sheraton Overland Park Convention Center, Overland Park
Proposed Boutique Hotel, Topeka
Proposed Cyrus Hotel, Topeka
Proposed SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Topeka
Best Western Airport Inn & Conference Center, Wichita
La Quinta Inn & Suites, Wichita
Proposed Element WSU Innovation Campus, Wichita
Red Roof Plus Wichita East, Wichita
 
LOUISIANA 
Hilton New Orleans, New Orleans
 
MICHIGAN 
Days Inn, Holland
 
MINNESOTA 
Proposed Hotel, St. Paul
Saint Paul Hotel, St. Paul
La Quinta Inn & Suites Saint Paul Woodbury, Woodbury
 
MISSISSIPPI 
Wingate by Wyndham, Biloxi
La Quinta Inn & Suites, Brandon
Regency Hotel, Jackson
 
MISSOURI 
Proposed Home 2 Suites by Hilton, Independence
TownePlace Suites, Joplin
Chase Suites, Kansas City
Hampton Inn Kansas City Airport, Kansas City
Hotel Phillips, Kansas City
Marriott, Kansas City
Proposed Boutique Hotel, Kansas City
Proposed Hotel, Kansas City
Proposed Hyatt Convention Headquarters, Kansas City
Proposed Hyatt Place Downtown Kansas City, Kansas City
Proposed TownePlace Suites, Liberty
 
MONTANA 
Motel 6, Billings
 
NEBRASKA 
Residence Inn by Marriott Omaha West, Elkhorn
Proposed Hotel, Grand Island
Grand Island Hotel, Grand Island
Proposed Hotel, Hastings
Holiday Inn Lincoln Downtown, Lincoln
Proposed Hotel, Lincoln
Proposed Fallbrook Hotel, Lincoln
Holiday Inn Express North Platte, North Platte
Hilton, Omaha
Hilton Garden Inn, Omaha
Hyatt Place Omaha Downtown Old Market, Omaha
Marriott Omaha, Omaha
Proposed Blackstone Hotel, Omaha
Proposed Curio by Hilton, Omaha
Proposed Hotel, Omaha
Proposed Landmark Hotel, Omaha
Proposed West Elm Hotel, Omaha
Residence Inn by Marriott Omaha Aksarben Village, Omaha
Value Place, Omaha
Proposed Hotel South Sioux City Nebraska, South Sioux City
 
NEVADA 
Embassy Suites Convention Center Las Vegas, Las Vegas
 
NEW JERSEY 
Proposed Courtyard by Marriott, Carteret
Proposed Holiday Inn Express, Jersey City
TR Hotel (Holiday Inn), Toms River
 
NEW MEXICO 
Proposed Hotel Chaco, Albuquerque
Anasazi Inn, Farmington
Comfort Inn & Suites, Las Cruces
Econo Lodge, Lordsburg
La Posada de Santa Fe Resort & Spa, Santa Fe
 
NEW YORK 
Hampton Inn & Suites, Albany
Hilton, Albany
Holiday Inn Express, Albany
SpringHill Suites Long Island Brookhaven, Bellport
Best Western, Brooklyn
Proposed Limited-Service Hotel 22^nd Street, Brooklyn
Proposed Limited-Service Hotel East New York Avenue, Brooklyn
Proposed Wingate by Wyndham, Brooklyn
Proposed Select-Service Hotel, Mineola
Comfort Inn – The Pointe, Niagara Falls
Proposed Hotel, Niagara Falls
Proposed Hotel, Oyster Bay
Courtyard by Marriott, Poughkeepsie
Courtyard by Marriott, Rye
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Saratoga Malta, Saratoga Springs
Proposed Homewood Suites by Hilton, Scotia
Taughannock Farms Inn, Trumansburg
 
NORTH CAROLINA 
Renaissance, Asheville
Proposed Courtyard by Marriott and Residence Inn by Marriott, Charlotte
 
NORTH DAKOTA 
Proposed Savannah Suites, Dickinson
Proposed Limited-Service Hotel, Minot
 
OHIO 
Proposed Hampton Inn, Alliance
Baymont Inn & Suites, Cambridge
 
OREGON 
Courtyard by Marriott Portland Beaverton, Beaverton
Hotel Eastlund, Portland
 
PENNSYLVANIA 
Courtyard by Marriott Philadelphia Devon, Wayne
 
SOUTH CAROLINA 
Courtyard by Marriott Greenville Haywood Mall, Greenville
Proposed Residence Inn by Marriott, Greenville
Proposed SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Greenville
Value Place, Greenville
Proposed Courtyard by Marriott, North Charleston
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Charleston Airport Convention Center, North Charleston
Proposed Courtyard by Marriott, Sumter
 
SOUTH DAKOTA 
Ramada Mitchell Hotel and Conference Center, Mitchell
Proposed Marriott Hotel, Pierre
Proposed Dual-Branded Hotel, Rapid City
Days Inn Sioux Falls Airport, Sioux Falls
Motel 6, Sioux Falls
Proposed Holiday Inn, Sioux Falls
Proposed Splash Resort and Waterpark, Sioux Falls
Proposed Fairfield Inn, Watertown
 
TENNESSEE 
Carnegie Hotel & Spa, Johnson City
DoubleTree, Johnson City
Courtyard by Marriott Memphis Airport, Memphis
Courtyard by Marriott Nashville Airport, Nashville
DoubleTree, Oak Ridge
 
TEXAS 
Fairmont Hotel, Dallas
Courtyard by Marriott Dallas Plano Parkway at Preston Road, Plano
Staybridge Suites, Plano
Courtyard by Marriott Dallas Richardson at Spring Valley, Richardson
Courtyard San Antonio Downtown Market Square, San Antonio
 
UTAH 
TownePlace Suites, Orem
Park City Peaks Hotel, Park City
Days Inn, Salt Lake City
Motel 6, Salt Lake City
Residence Inn by Marriott, Salt Lake City
Best Western Capital Reef, Torrey
 
VIRGINIA 
Courtyard by Marriott Charlottesville North, Charlottesville
Aloft, Chesapeake
SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Chesapeake
Holiday Inn Express, Williamsburg
 
WASHINGTON 
Belfair Motel, Belfair
Holiday Inn Express, Marysville
Days Inn, Port Orchard
Holiday Inn Express, Sumner
Courtyard by Marriott Seattle Southcenter, Tukwila
 
WISCONSIN 
Proposed Extended Stay America Madison Midtown, Madison
Hilton Garden Inn Milwaukee Downtown, Milwaukee
 
WYOMING 
Super 8, Cody
Hampton Inn & Suites, Green River
 
INTERNATIONAL
 
Esperanza Resort, Los Cabos, Mexico

My Articles

HVS Market Pulse: Downtown Omaha, NE

The landscape of Downtown Omaha continues to evolve as new construction projects within the commercial, hotel, residential, and public sectors move forward.

• May 16, 2019 By Sara E. Olson

HVS Market Pulse: Kansas City

Kansas City experiences a wave of new hotel development born by a surge of economic development.

• November 20, 2018 By Daniel P. McCoy , Sara E. Olson

Five Key Takeaways | 2015 NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference

Encouraging news about hotel demand, investment, and new supply inspires optimism at this year’s hospitality conference.

• June 15, 2015 By Daniel P. McCoy , Sara E. Olson , Dorothy A. Jennings

• Hotel Investments & Ownership , Lending , Food & Beverage , Development & Construction , Valuations & Market Studies , Travel & Tourism , Economic Trends and Cycles

Market Intelligence Report 2013 Colorado Springs

Institutions ranging from Olympic centers to major military bases underpin the economy of Colorado Springs. Tourism brings additional demand to area hotels, which have noted improvements in transactions and performance over the past year.

• September 3, 2013 By Sara E. Olson

• Economic Trends and Cycles

Demand High, Hotel Supply Low in Eastern Montana and Western North Dakota

Billions of barrels of unextracted oil have drawn masses of companies, crews, and support personnel to parts of Montana and North Dakota. The boom could last for decades, prompting the need for new hotels.

• January 7, 2013 By Desiree M. Flanary , Sara E. Olson

• Valuations & Market Studies , Economic Trends and Cycles

HVS Hotel Market Intelligence Report: Des Moines, Iowa

International attention falls on Des Moines, Iowa every four years as the epicenter of the presidential primaries, but the city hosts an unsung stable of big businesses that consistently generate demand for area hotels.

• May 7, 2012 By Sara E. Olson , Ryan Bee

• Valuations & Market Studies , Economic Trends and Cycles