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.

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HVS is the nation's leading consulting firm that is laser-focused on the hospitality sector. The firm provides expertise through every phase of ownership across a wide range of hospitality assets. We help clients succeed in the complex consulting arena, from feasibility studies to exit strategies and everything in between.

Employment History

2011 to 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
Rates & Ratios – 7 hours
Complex Properties - The Odd Side of Appraisal – 7 hours
Appraisal of REO and Foreclosed Properties – 7 hours
Biennial USPAP Updates

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
Portfolio of 5 Hotels, Arkansas
 
ALABAMA
Hyatt Place Birmingham Inverness, Birmingham
 
ARIZONA
Home2 Suites by Hilton Phoenix Avondale, Avondale
MainStay Suites, Casa Grande
Hampton Inn Phoenix Chandler, Chandler
Home2 Suites by Hilton Phoenix Chandler, Chandler
Proposed TownePlace Suites by Marriott, Chandler
Courtyard by Marriott Phoenix Mesa, Mesa
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
Proposed Everhome Suites Corona, Corona
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
Proposed Tru Oxnard, Oxnard
Homewood Suites, Palm Desert
Residence Inn by Marriott Pleasant Hill Concord, Pleasant Hill
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
Hotel Californian, Santa Barbara
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
 
DELAWARE
Sandcastle Motel, Rehoboth Beach
 
FLORIDA
Proposed Westin, Daytona Beach
DoubleTree East, Orlando
Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suites Waterpark, 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
Hilton Atlanta Northeast, Norcross
 
ILLINOIS
Homewood Suites by Hilton, Chicago
Courtyard by Marriott, Elmhurst
Hilton Orrington Evanston, Evanston
Hampton Inn, Gurnee
Comfort Inn, Moline
Hampton Inn, Naperville
Hampton by Hilton, New Lenox
Proposed Hotel Kate, Rockford
DoubleTree by Hilton Chicago North Shore, Skokie
 
IOWA
Motel 6 Des Moines East Altoona, Altoona
Holiday Inn Ames Conference Center ISU, Ames
Radisson Hotel Ames Conference Center at ISU, Ames
Proposed Courtyard, Bettendorf
Proposed Hotel, Bettendorf
Hampton Inn Cedar Rapids, Cedar Rapids
Motel 6 Cedar Rapids, Cedar Rapids
Proposed Hilton Garden Inn, Cedar Rapids
Proposed Dual-Brand avid/Candlewood Suites, Coralville
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
Surety Hotel Des Moines, Des Moines
Proposed Grinnell Hotel & Event Center, Grinnell
Proposed Indianola Limited Service Hotel, Indianola
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
Courtyard by Marriott Sioux City Downtown Convention Center, Sioux City
Proposed Autograph Collection Hotel, Sioux City
Proposed Warrior Hotel at the Warrior and Davidson Buildings, Sioux City
Extended StayAmerica Des Moines – Urbandale, Urbandale
Courtyard by Marriott Des Moines West, West Des Moines
Element West Des Moines, West Des Moines
Extended Stay America West Des Moines, West Des Moines
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, West Des Moines
Motel 6 Des Moines West, West Des Moines
Residence Inn by Marriott Des Moines West at Jordan Creek Town Center, West Des Moines
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Des Moines West, West Des Moines
 
KANSAS
Proposed Hotel Edwardsville, Edwardsville
Proposed Hampton Inn Goddard, Goddard
Motel 6, Hays
Great Wolf Lodge, Kansas City
Proposed Hotel, Lawrence
Proposed Candlewood Suites, Lenexa
Proposed Holiday Inn Express, Lenexa
Proposed Tribute Lenexa, Lenexa
Motel 6, Manhattan
Chase Suites, Overland Park
Courtyard by Marriott Kansas City Overland Park Convention Center, 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
Holiday Inn Salina, Salina
Courtyard by Marriott Topeka, Topeka
Cyrus Hotel, Topeka
Proposed Boutique Hotel, Topeka
Proposed Cyrus Hotel, Topeka
Proposed SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Topeka
Senate Luxury Suites, Topeka
Best Western Airport Inn & Conference Center, Wichita
Courtyard by Marriott Wichita Old Town, Wichita
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Wichita Airport, Wichita
La Quinta Inn & Suites, Wichita
Proposed Element WSU Innovation Campus, Wichita
Red Roof Plus Wichita East, Wichita
 
LOUISIANA
Hilton New Orleans, New Orleans
The Natchez New Orleans, New Orleans
 
MICHIGAN
Days Inn, Holland
 
MINNESOTA
Crowne Plaza Minneapolis Northstar Downtown, Minneapolis
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
Staybridge Suites Ridgeland, Ridgeland
 
MISSOURI
Hilton Garden Inn Independence, Independence
Proposed Home 2 Suites by Hilton, Independence
Residence Inn by Marriott Kansas City Independence, Independence
TownePlace Suites, Joplin
Chase Suites, Kansas City
Hampton Inn Kansas City Airport, Kansas City
Hilton President Kansas City, Kansas City
Holiday Inn Kansas City Downtown Aladdin, Kansas City
Hotel Indigo Kansas City Downtown, Kansas City
Hotel Phillips, Kansas City
Marriott, Kansas City
Proposed Aloft and Tribute CC Plaza KC, 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 Kindler Hotel, Kansas City
Proposed WoodSpring Suites Kansas City, Kansas City
Proposed TownePlace Suites, Liberty
Aloft North Kansas City, North Kansas City
Element North Kansas City, North Kansas City
Proposed Element and Aloft, North Kansas City
Proposed Home2 Suites Saint Joseph, Saint Joseph
 
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 72 Hotel - Tribute by Marriott, Lincoln
Proposed Hampton by Hilton, Lincoln
Proposed Hotel, Lincoln
Proposed Fallbrook Hotel, Lincoln
Rodeway Inn Lincoln, Lincoln
Proposed Tribute Hotel, Norfolk
Holiday Inn Express North Platte, North Platte
Hampton Inn Omaha Midtown Aksarben Area, Omaha
Hilton, Omaha
Hilton Garden Inn, Omaha
Hotel Indigo Omaha Downtown, an IHG Hotel, Omaha
Hyatt Place Omaha Downtown Old Market, Omaha
Marriott Omaha, Omaha
Marriott Omaha Downtown at the Capitol District, Omaha
Proposed Blackstone Hotel, Omaha
Proposed Curio by Hilton, Omaha
Proposed Hotel, Omaha
Proposed Landmark Hotel, Omaha
Proposed Peregrine Hotel Downtown Omaha, Curio Collection by Hilton, Omaha
Proposed West Elm Hotel, Omaha
Residence Inn by Marriott Omaha Aksarben Village, Omaha
University Inn Midtown Crossing, 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
Marriott at Forrestal Princeton, Princeton
Crowne Plaza Saddle Brook, Saddle Brook
TR Hotel (Holiday Inn), Toms River
Hyatt House Parsippany Whippany, Whippany
 
NEW MEXICO
Pan American Inn & Suites, Albuquerque
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 TownePlace Suites by Marriott, Brooklyn
Proposed Wingate by Wyndham, Brooklyn
Mirror Lake Inn, Lake Placid
Proposed Tryp by Wyndham Long Island City, Long Island City
Proposed Select-Service Hotel, Mineola
Proposed Ascend Collection Hotel, Morristown
Proposed Staybridge Suites, New York
Comfort Inn – The Pointe, Niagara Falls
Proposed Cambria Hotel Niagara Falls, 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 Hampton/Homewood Suites by Hilton Cary, Cary
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
Holiday Inn & Suites Cincinnati Eastgate, Cincinnati
Hilton Garden Inn Cleveland East Mayfield Village, Cleveland
 
OKLAHOMA
Residence Inn by Marriott, Stillwater
 
OREGON
Courtyard by Marriott Portland Beaverton, Beaverton
Whaler Motel, Newport
Hotel Eastlund, Portland
 
PENNSYLVANIA
Wyndham Garden Philadelphia Airport, Essington
Crowne Plaza Pittsburgh South, Pittsburgh
Courtyard by Marriott Philadelphia Devon, Wayne
 
SOUTH CAROLINA
Holiday Inn & Suites Beaufort @ Highway 21, Beaufort
Granary Hotel Event & Convention Center, Columbia
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
Proposed Hyatt Place Rapid City, Rapid City
Days Inn Sioux Falls Airport, Sioux Falls
Motel 6, Sioux Falls
Proposed Holiday Inn, Sioux Falls
Proposed Limited-Service Sioux Falls Hotel, 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
Hilton Nashville Airport, Nashville
DoubleTree, Oak Ridge
Hampton by Hilton Pigeon Forge On The Parkway, Pigeon Forge
 
TEXAS
Wyndham Garden Hotel Austin, Austin
Fairmont Hotel, Dallas
Proposed Pier 334 Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Gun Barrel City
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
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Salt Lake City Airport, 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
Four Seasons Island Resort, Pembine
Days Inn, Port Orchard
Holiday Inn Express, Sumner
Courtyard by Marriott Seattle Southcenter, Tukwila
 
WISCONSIN
La Quinta Inn & Suites Madison American Center, Madison
Proposed Extended Stay America Madison Midtown, Madison
Hilton Garden Inn Milwaukee Downtown, Milwaukee
Kimpton Journeyman Hotel, Milwaukee
 
WYOMING
Super 8, Cody
Hampton Inn & Suites, Green River
 
 
INTERNATIONAL
 
Esperanza Resort, Los Cabos, Mexico

My Articles

“Volleyball Day in Nebraska” Sets World Attendance Record and Boosts Hotel Demand

Approximately 92,000 Nebraska volleyball fans packed Memorial Stadium on August 30, 2023, to watch the Nebraska Huskers sweep Omaha in an outdoor match, setting a new women’s sporting event attendance record. Local hotels benefited from the midweek event, as most available guestrooms in the market were filled.

• September 5, 2023 By Sara E. Olson, MAI

• Hotel Operations , Travel & Tourism , Convention, Sports, Entertainment , Economic Trends and Cycles , Lincoln , Nebraska , United States , North America

Omaha’s COVID-19 Impact and Hotel Recovery

In the second quarter of 2020, metro-area Omaha hotels suffered unprecedented declines in demand, similar to most cities in the United States. With the widely available vaccines and the lifting of pandemic restrictions in early 2021, we explore how the city’s recovery has begun and look at the long-term outlook for the market. We also examine recent trends in the Downtown Omaha hotel submarket relative to the overall Douglas County hotel market.

• September 7, 2021 By Sara E. Olson, MAI , Daniel P. McCoy, MAI

• Hotel Operations , Development & Construction , Travel & Tourism , Economic Trends and Cycles , COVID-19 , Omaha , Nebraska , North America , United States

COVID-19’s Impact on the Greater Kansas City Lodging Market

Since early March 2020, Greater Kansas City hotels have suffered unprecedented declines in demand, similar to most cities in the United States, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. How much of an impact has the market experienced, and how quickly can this market recover?

• July 15, 2021 By Daniel P. McCoy, MAI , Sara E. Olson, MAI , Zabada N. Abouelhana

• Hotel Operations , Development & Construction , Economic Trends and Cycles , COVID-19 , Kansas City , Kansas , Kansas City , Missouri , United States , North America

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, MAI

• Development & Construction , Valuations & Market Studies , Travel & Tourism , Economic Trends and Cycles , Omaha , Nebraska , United States , North America