Christian Cross

Consulting Experience

Christian Cross, a Director with HVS, got his start with the firm as an intern with the Vancouver office. Christian later rejoined HVS in a full-time capacity and spent three years at HVS Atlanta, where he conducted appraisals, market studies, and feasibility studies for hotels throughout the Southeast region. Christian has since relocated to the Great Lakes region to launch the HVS Buffalo office (and he also oversees HVS Pittsburgh). He now focuses on the Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Rochester, Syracuse, Finger Lakes, and Cleveland lodging markets, as well as other markets throughout the northeastern U.S.
 
He has worked on a wide range of hotel asset types from simple limited-service hotels to full-service hotels, from independent economy motels to complex high-end resorts, from large nationally branded convention hotels to boutique historic hotels, and from properties located in downtown areas to airport markets and rural highway markets. Furthermore, Christian has completed consulting assignments in more than ten states.

Below is a sample illustrating the variety of assets Christian has evaluated.

• Holiday Inn Express Cheektowaga North East (Buffalo airport hotel)
• DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Pittsburgh - Green Tree (group-focused hotel)
• TRYP by Wyndham Pittsburgh/Lawrenceville (historic, boutique Hotel)
• Saranac Waterfront Lodge, Saranac Lake, New York (luxury lakefront hotel)
• Hampton Inn & Suites Albany-Downtown (limited-service hotel)
• Foxhall Resort & Sporting Club, Georgia (resort)
• The Oaklander Hotel, Pittsburgh (full-service hotel)
• 1899 Wright Inn & Carriage House, Asheville (bed & breakfast)
• Element Miami Doral (extended-stay hotel)
• Buffalo Grand Hotel & Event Center (independent convention hotel)
• Baymont by Wyndham Buffalo (limited-service hotel)

Testimonials

"I hired HVS to complete a feasibility study for a hotel in an untested location with few true competitors. They did a very thorough job of researching the market and truly understanding the supply and demand factors that would influence the performance of a new hotel on the site. HVS's report answered all of our questions about the site and has armed us with the information we need to move forward." – Mr. Versel, WePartner Management

"Janet Snyder and Christian Cross understand the market requests and particular data we are looking for to compliment our real estate development business. A great team we respect for their professionalism and their expertise, plus listening to the local and market nuances having impacts upon our proposed developments." – Mr. Norman, North Star Villages

Employment History

2017 to present
HVS CONSULTING AND VALUATION SERVICES
Atlanta, Georgia

Summer 2016
HVS CONSULTING AND VALUATION SERVICES
Internship
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
 
2014 – 2015
ONTARIO RESTAURANT HOTEL & MOTEL ASSOCIATION
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

2010 – 2011
HILTON HOTEL & SUITES 
Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

2010 – 2011
VINTAGE HOTELS, QUEEN’S LANDING 
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada

2008 – 2015
SOUTH COAST COOKHOUSE
Crystal Beach, Ontario, Canada

Education

Bachelor of Commerce – University of Guelph

Other Specialized Training Classes Completed:
Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice
Basic Appraisal Procedures
Basic Appraisal Principles
General Appraiser Income Approach (Parts I and II)
General Appraiser Market Analysis and HBU
General Appraiser Report Writing and Case Studies
General Appraiser Sales Comparison Approach
General Appraiser Site Valuation and Cost Approach
Real Estate Finance, Statistics, Valuation Modeling
Expert Witness for Commercial Appraisers
Commercial Appraisal Review
Advanced Income
Advanced Market Analysis & HBU
PA Law
NY Fair Housing
Advanced Concepts & Case Studies
Business Practices and Ethics
Quantitative Analysis
Biennial USPAP Updates

Hotels Evaluated

Sample List for Illustrative Purposes

PORTFOLIO EVALUATION
9 Extended Stay America Hotels, Northeastern U.S.
 
ALABAMA
InTown Suites Auburn, Auburn
Hotel Indigo Birmingham Five Points, Birmingham
InTown Suites Vestavia Hills, Birmingham
InTown Suites Decatur, Decatur
 
CALIFORNIA
Proposed Fairfield by Marriott Buttonwillow, Buttonwillow
 
CONNECTICUT
Courtyard by Marriott Hartford Farmington, Farmington
Courtyard by Marriott Hartford Manchester, Manchester
Hilton Garden Inn Norwalk, Norwalk
Residence Inn by Marriott Hartford Rocky Hill, Rocky Hill
Hilton Garden Inn Shelton, Shelton
Homewood Suites by Hilton Wallingford Meriden, Wallingford
 
FLORIDA
Aloft Miami Doral, Doral
Best Western Premier Jacksonville Hotel, Jacksonville
24 North Hotel Key West, Key West
Fairfield by Marriott Key West at The Keys Collection, Key West
Gates Hotel Key West, Key West
Hilton Garden Inn Key West / The Keys Collection, Key West
Proposed Aqua Suites, Rosemary Beach
 
GEORGIA
Courtyard by Marriott Atlanta Alpharetta Avalon Area, Alpharetta
Proposed Embassy Suites Halcyon Village, Alpharetta
Proposed Homewood Suites Halcyon Village, Alpharetta
Aloft Atlanta Downtown, Atlanta
Hilton Suites Atlanta Perimeter, Atlanta
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Atlanta Downtown, Atlanta
Hotel Clermont, Atlanta
Hotel Indigo Atlanta Vinings, Atlanta
Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Atlanta
Proposed Boutique Hotel Atlanta, Atlanta
Proposed Curio by Hilton Atlanta, Atlanta
Proposed Element, Atlanta
Sheraton Atlanta, Atlanta
Ecco Suites, Augusta
Proposed Fairfield Inn & Suites Braselton, Braselton
Proposed Tru by Hilton Braselton, Braselton
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Calhoun, Calhoun
Hampton Inn Atlanta Canton, Canton
Hampton by Hilton Emerson LakePoint, Cartersville
Home-Towne Suites Columbus, Columbus
InTown Suites Columbus, Columbus
Hampton Inn Covington, Covington
Proposed Staybridge Suites, Covington
Sun Suites, Cumming
Proposed Extended-Stay Hotel, Dalton
Proposed Westin & Villas @ Foxhall, Douglasville
Hampton by Hilton Atlanta Duluth Gwinnett County, Duluth
InTown Suites Gwinnett Place Mall, Duluth
Quality Inn, Duluth
Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta Airport North, East Point
Best Western Plus Fairburn Atlanta Southwest, Fairburn
Hampton by Hilton Atlanta Fayetteville, Fayetteville
Hampton Inn Valdosta Lake Park, Lake Park
Proposed Tapestry by Hilton, Lawrenceville
Home2 Suites by Hilton Atlanta West Lithia Springs, Lithia Springs
Hilton Garden Inn, Lithonia
Crestwood Suites, Marietta
InTown Suites Extended Stay Marietta, Marietta
InTown Suites Marietta Town Center, Marietta
Proposed New London Square Hotel, Marietta
Proposed AVID Hotel McDonough, McDonough
Garden Plaza Hotel, Norcross
Hilton Atlanta Northeast, Norcross
Holiday Inn Express Rome Georgia, Rome
Proposed Hampton Inn, Social Circle
Proposed Tru by Hilton, Stockbridge
Comfort Suites Northlake Tucker, Tucker
Country Inn & Suites, Valdosta
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Warner Robins, Warner Robins
 
ILLINOIS
Prairie Lakes Hotel Bloomingdale, Bloomingdale
Hampton by Hilton Bourbonnais Kankakee, Bourbonnais
Proposed DoubleTree, Bloomingdale
Holiday Inn Express, Chicago Magnificent Mile, Chicago
Hotel Felix, Chicago
Viceroy Chicago, Chicago
Proposed Select Service Hotel Oak Park, Oak Park
Courtyard by Marriott Peoria, Peoria
 
INDIANA
Proposed HomeTowne Studios, Avon
 
MINNESOTA
Fairfield by Marriott Minneapolis Bloomington Mall of America, Bloomington
Fairfield by Marriott Minneapolis Eden Prairie, Eden Prairie
Country Inn & Suites By Radisson Owatonna, Owatonna
Sheraton Saint Paul Woodbury, Woodbury
 
MISSOURI
Fairfield by Marriott Saint Louis West Wentzville, Wentzville
Hampton by Hilton Saint Louis Wentzville, Wentzville
 
NEW YORK
Hampton by Hilton Albany Downtown, Albany
Hilton Garden Inn Albany SUNY Area, Albany
Holiday Inn Express Albany Downtown, Albany
Home2 Suites by Hilton Albany Airport/Wolf Road, Albany
Adam's Mark Buffalo, Buffalo
Hostel Buffalo Niagara, Buffalo
Proposed Boutique Hotel Delaware Avenue, Buffalo
Residence Inn by Marriott Buffalo Galleria Mall, Buffalo
Proposed Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Canandaigua
Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Canandaigua
Proposed Courtyard by Marriott Central Valley, Central Valley
Holiday Inn Express Cheektowaga North East, Cheektowaga
Townhouse Buffalo International Airport by OYO, Cheektowaga
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Cooperstown, Cooperstown
Radisson Corning, Corning
Holiday Inn Express Cortland, Cortland
Maidstone East Hampton, East Hampton
Courtyard by Marriott Syracuse Carrier Circle, East Syracuse
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Syracuse, East Syracuse
Fairfield by Marriott Syracuse Carrier Circle, East Syracuse
Hampton by Hilton Syracuse Carrier Circle, East Syracuse
Residence Inn by Marriott Syracuse Carrier Circle, East Syracuse
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Syracuse Carrier Circle, East Syracuse
Proposed Hotel Hamilton, Hamilton
Proposed Dual-Branded 100-Key La Quinta & Hawthorne, Henrietta
Residence Inn by Marriott Kingston, Kingston
Grand Adirondack Hotel Lake Placid, a Tribute Portfolio, Lake Placid
Proposed REDD Farm Hotel Lodi, Lodi
Proposed Holiday Inn Express Malta, Malta
Home2 Suites by Hilton Middletown, Middletown
Proposed Hilton Garden Inn Newburgh, Newburgh
Kimpton Hotel Eventi, New York
Holiday Inn Express Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls
Hotel Niagara, Niagara Falls
Hyatt Place Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls
Proposed Cambria Hotel Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls
Holiday Inn Express Poughkeepsie, Poughkeepsie
Van Wyck Hotel & Suites Near JFK Airport, Queens
Comfort Suites Roanoke Fort Worth North, Rochester
Holiday Inn Express Irondequoit, Rochester
Holiday Inn Express Rochester Greece, Rochester
Homewood Suites by Hilton Rochester Henrietta, Rochester
Proposed Hotel Rochester, Rochester
Saranac Waterfront Lodge, Saranac
Saratoga Hilton, Saratoga Springs
Proposed Wyldwick Resort, Saugerties
Proposed The Skaneateles Lodge, Curio Collection by Hilton, Skaneateles
Candlewood Suites Syracuse Airport, Syracuse
Proposed Syracuse University Hotel, Syracuse
DoubleTree by Hilton Tarrytown, Tarrytown
Proposed Tupper Lake Crossroads Hotel, Tupper Lake
Best Western Watertown Fort Drum, Watertown
Motel 6 Buffalo Airport Williamsville, Williamsville
Thompson House, Windham
Wylder Windham, Windham
Hampton by Hilton Yonkers, Yonkers
 
NORTH CAROLINA
Hampton Inn, Asheboro
1899 Wright Inn & Carriage House, Asheville
La Quinta Inn & Suites Boone, Boone
Proposed Home2 Suites Boone, Boone
Homewood Suites by Hilton Raleigh Cary, Cary
La Quinta Inn & Suites Raleigh Cary, Cary
Proposed Aloft Hotel Charlotte, Charlotte
Proposed Comfort Inn & Suites Charlotte, Charlotte
Proposed Moxy Raleigh, Raleigh
Residence Inn by Marriott Charlotte Northlake, Charlotte
Candlewood Suites Durham Research Triangle Park, Durham
Aloft Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill
La Quinta Inn & Suites Durham Chapel Hill, Durham
La Quinta Inn & Suites Durham Research Triangle Park, Durham
Proposed SpringHill Suites, Durham
Proposed Tru by Hilton, Fayetteville
La Quinta Inn & Suites, Greensboro
Hilton Garden Inn Raleigh Durham Airport, Morrisville
La Quinta Inn & Suites Raleigh Durham Airport, Morrisville
La Quinta Inn & Suites Raleigh Crabtree, Raleigh
Proposed Dual-Brand Home2 Suites/Tru Raleigh, Raleigh
Proposed Origin Hotel, Raleigh
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Smithfield Selma I-95, Smithfield
Fairfield by Marriott Raleigh Wake Forest, Wake Forest
La Quinta Inn & Suites, Winston Salem
 
OHIO
Proposed Candlewood Suites, Columbus
Marriott Columbus Northwest, Dublin
Fairfield by Marriott Findlay, Findlay
Hampton Inn Findlay, Findlay
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Columbus Airport Gahanna, Gahanna
TownePlace Suites By Marriott Columbus Airport Gahanna, Gahanna
Homewood Suites by Hilton Columbus Hilliard, Hilliard
Fairfield by Marriott Lima, Lima
Proposed Full-Service Hotel Obetz, Obetz
Hampton by Hilton North Olmsted Cleveland Airport, North Olmsted
Fairfield by Marriott Springfield, Springfield
Hampton by Hilton Zanesville, Zanesville
 
PENNSYLVANIA
Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh Southpointe, Canonsburg
Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh/Cranberry, Cranberry Township
Home2 Suites by Hilton Pittsburgh Cranberry, Cranberry Township
Fairfield by Marriott DuBois, DuBois
Fairfield by Marriott Erie Millcreek Mall, Erie
Homewood Suites by Hilton Erie, Erie
Proposed Hotel Erie, Erie
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Farmington
Courtyard by Marriott Pittsburgh Greensburg, Greensburg
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Johnstown, Johnstown
Hampton by Hilton Grove City, Mercer
Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh Area Beaver Valley, Monaca
Ace Hotel Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh
Courtyard by Marriott Pittsburgh Airport Settlers Ridge, Pittsburgh
Crowne Plaza Pittsburgh South, Pittsburgh
DoubleTree by Hilton Pittsburgh Green Tree, Pittsburgh
Drury Plaza Hotel Pittsburgh Downtown, Pittsburgh
Fairfield by Marriott Pittsburgh Airport Robinson Township, Pittsburgh
Fairfield by Marriott Pittsburgh Neville Island, Pittsburgh
Home2 Suites by Hilton Oxford, Pittsburgh
Oaklander Hotel Autograph Collection Hotels, Pittsburgh
TRYP by Wyndham Pittsburgh Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh
Courtyard by Marriott Washington Meadowlands, Washington
Hyatt Place Pittsburgh South Meadows Racetrack & Casino, Washington
Proposed WoodSpring Suites, Washington
Residence Inn by Marriott Williamsport, Williamsport
 
RHODE ISLAND
Hampton by Hilton South Kingstown Newport, South Kingstown
Best Western Providence Warwick Airport Inn, Warwick
 
SOUTH CAROLINA
InTown Suites, Anderson
Hampton by Hilton Hilton Head, Hilton Head Island
Park Lane Hotel & Suites, Hilton Head Island
Comfort Inn & Suites, Orangeburg
 
TENNESSEE
La Quinta Inn Chattanooga Hamilton Place, Chattanooga
La Quinta Inn & Suites Kingsport TriCities Airport, Kingsport
 
VIRGINIA
Lodge at Mount Ida Farm & Vineyard, Charlottesville
 
WEST VIRGINIA
Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place, Morgantown
 
WISCONSIN
Proposed Homewood Suites by Hilton Madison, Madison

My Articles

Looking Ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh and Its Impact on the Hotel Market

With Pittsburgh recently announced as the host city for the 2026 NFL Draft, we take a look at the impact of previous drafts on both the host cities and area hotels.

• July 22, 2024 By Christian Cross

• Travel & Tourism , Convention, Sports, Entertainment , Economic Trends and Cycles , COVID-19 , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , United States , North America

Unique Factors Shaping the Buffalo Lodging Market

The Buffalo lodging market is affected by several unique factors given its location along the Canadian border. In this article, we explore the correlation between Buffalo occupancy and border crossings to the market from Canada, as well as the impact of the exchange rate for the U.S. dollar to the Canadian dollar.

• June 12, 2024 By Christian Cross

• Hotel Operations , Travel & Tourism , Economic Trends and Cycles , COVID-19 , Buffalo , New York , United States , North America

Significant Changes and Transformative Projects Coming to Syracuse

While the Syracuse market has been fairly stable over the past several decades, major transformational projects, including Micron Technology’s $100-billion computer chip plant, should reshape the market and have a notable impact on area hotels.

• July 10, 2023 By Christian Cross

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

Beyond the PGA Championship: Exciting Happenings in Rochester

The 2023 PGA Championship and the 2024 solar eclipse are just the start of the exciting events and projects in the Rochester area. With the world’s eyes on the city in May 2023 as it hosted golf’s second major championship of the year, this article looks at the PGA Championship’s effects on the Rochester market and what’s to come.

• June 13, 2023 By Christian Cross

• Hotel Operations , Development & Construction , Travel & Tourism , Convention, Sports, Entertainment , Economic Trends and Cycles , Rochester , New York , United States , North America

Strong Rate Growth and New Travelers Discovering New York State’s Resort Markets: The Impact of COVID-19 and the Recovery of the Finger Lakes, the Adirondacks, and the Catskills/Hudson Valley Markets

While New York City has been the focus of discussion around the state’s pandemic recovery, the Finger Lakes, the Adirondacks, and the Catskills/Hudson Valley markets have offered some of the biggest surprises. This article looks at how these three resort markets have fared throughout the pandemic, as well as the factors affecting their recent performance.

• September 26, 2022 By Christian Cross

• Hotel Operations , Development & Construction , Economic Trends and Cycles , Resorts , COVID-19 , New York , United States , North America , Catskill , Adirondack , Canandaigua

Autism and the Hospitality Industry: An Interview with Autism Double-Checked

As we observe World Autism Awareness Day, we want to highlight what our industry can do to help support individuals with autism. To better understand the diversity challenges, growing diversity programs, and opportunities to be more inclusive within the hospitality industry, we interviewed the founders of Autism Double-Checked, an organization that provides autism-specific training to hotel staff to create more autism-friendly travel experiences.

• April 1, 2021 By Christian Cross

• Hotel Operations , Sales & Marketing , Travel & Tourism , Hotel Companies , Hotel Management , United States , North America

The Hotel Industry's Pandemic Bright Spot: The Extended-Stay Segment

Extended-stay hotels have long been the industry's answer to those seeking accommodations similar to an apartment, but without the need to sign a long-term lease. Stays can be as short as one overnight or as long as years, in rare cases, but generally trend from two weeks to a couple of months.

• February 23, 2021 By Rod Clough, MAI , Christian Cross

HVS Market Pulse: Buffalo, New York

The Downtown Buffalo lodging market is almost unrecognizable from where it was just a decade ago. This article reviews how the market has changed, discusses the impact of the pandemic and related economic recession, and looks to what is next for the Nickel City.

• February 2, 2021 By Christian Cross

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

Hotel Cleanliness Policies in the Time of COVID-19

This article explores operational changes, specifically looking at cleanliness, as the hotel industry adapts to the challenges of COVID-19, outlining the initial response taken by hoteliers and examining where we are as an industry today and what to expect in the future, now that brands have established procedures and protocols for addressing the pandemic.

• September 16, 2020 By Christian Cross

• Hotel Investments & Ownership , Hotel Operations , Travel & Tourism , Economic Trends and Cycles , COVID-19 , United States , North America