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Rod Clough, MAI

President - Americas, Denver
  •   [email protected]
  •   +1 (214) 629-1136 (Work)
  •   English
  •   Business Card
  • Consulting Experience
  • Testimonials
  • Affiliations
  • Education
  • State Certification
  • Press Coverage
  • My Articles

Consulting Experience

As President of HVS Americas and in partnership with the firm's leaders, Rod developed and launched a new vision and mission for HVS Americas in early 2020. He now supports the firm's nearly 40 locations across all the Americas in their execution of regional strategies, which are ultimately working towards achieving the firm's vision. 

Rod is an Associate Level Real Estate Broker in the State of Colorado (License #: FA.100093786) and a Certified General Appraiser in Colorado (CG40017461) and additional states.
 
Rod began his consulting career with HVS in 1995 and became a Partner/Owner in 2000, upon his launch of HVS Dallas, the firm's fifth office. Since that time, he acquired all four original U.S. Consulting & Valuation offices and launched 30 more, in partnership with the founding Rushmore family. As of 2021, he is the co-owner of all 35 U.S. HVS Consulting & Valuation offices, as well as the Americas Brokerage and Financing divisions. He is a founding owner/partner of HVS Mexico-Latin America, as well. Rod has grown his team from 2 to 110, and his staff and consulting leaders have a significant average tenure.

Once associates join HVS, they tend to stay due to the extraordinary culture Rod has inspired. The culture of HVS Americas is defined by the ideals of balance, connectivity, efficiency, collaboration, honesty, integrity, kindness, and excellence, among many others.
 

  • Rod and HVS Americas believe Black Lives Matter. Diversity, inclusion, and equality are important to us, and we have a strategy that puts these words into real action.
     
  • Rod is proudly Hispanic and gay and leads and co-owns a firm that is welcoming of all races and colors, sexual orientations, ages, genders and gender identities, and all other protected classes and those that should be protected classes but are not yet. Rod was married to his husband, Jeff Clough, in 2014. Rod's mother emigrated from Mexico in the late 1960s; Rod and HVS celebrate immigration and those seeking to build a better future. 
     
  • Rod and HVS Americas believe in gratitude, and firm practices are built around recognition, rewards, and thoughtfulness. Moreover, HVS is proud of and thankful for its military veterans and all those who have served in our country's military.
     
  • Rod leads an organization that welcomes associates and staff affiliated with Democrat, Republican, and all other political parties.
Rod is a Designated Member of the Appraisal Institute (MAI), which is a designation that one-third of all HVS valuation consultants on the U.S. team have earned. His consulting experience encompasses all hotel property types and brand segments, including convention headquarters hotels, resorts, limited- and full-service hotels, and extended-stay hotels. In 2007, Rod secured the engagement for and coordinated the appraisals of nearly 200 properties associated with the $26-billion sale of Hilton Hotels to The Blackstone Group, an unprecedented transaction in the history of the international lodging industry and, to date, the largest assignment undertaken by the firm.

Follow Rod on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Rod uses the pronouns "he" and "him" 

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.
 

Testimonials

"HVS can be very proud of Rod Clough, MAI and Mike Handy in the quality of the report and the extraordinary attention to customer service they provided to our institution. They were able to deliver the report early and were available to respond quickly to our requests for clarification. This was our first occasion to have engaged HVS, but we look forward to future opportunities to work with them again." – J. Denis Watts, Washington Federal

"I was particularly impressed with (1) Rod Clough and his HVS team's responsiveness and overall professionalism with respect to all our contact throughout the entire process, (2) the level of detailed reporting for the feasibility study, (3) his team's understanding of the market and our specific needs relative to this unique assignment, and (4) a willingness and open mind to make changes as appropriate to the final draft." – John Palmer, Redico Management

"HVS sets the bar for the quality and timeliness of its reports in all spheres of the hotel industry. Not only are they dependable but [they] are qualitatively non-pareil." – Vijay Dandapani, Hotel Association of New York City (HANYC)

Affiliations

HVS is an allied member of the American Hotel and Lodging Association and a sponsor of the ForWard Conference. ForWard is an annual conference to recognize women leaders of the hospitality industry and champion the next generation of leaders.

HVS is an Industry Partner of the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality. This organization was founded in 1989 to educate, encourage, and empower minority students interested in pursuing hospitality careers.

HVS is an allied member of the Latino Hotel Association (LHA), which is the only association dedicated to Latino hotel ownership, development, and operations within the hospitality industry.

HVS is a member of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, whose members own roughly 1 in 2 hotels in the U.S. AAHOA's mission is to advance and protect the business interests of hotel owners through advocacy, industry leadership, professional development, member benefits, and community engagement.

HVS is an allied member of NABHOOD. Founded in 1998, the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators, and Developers seeks to increase the number of African Americans developing, managing, operating, and owning hotels, as well as increase vendor opportunities and executive-level jobs for minorities, thereby creating wealth within the African American community.

HVS supports membership in LGREG, the Lesbian and Gay Real Estate Group, which supports the LGBTQ community and is primarily active in California.

Rod is a Designated Member of the Appraisal Institute (MAI), a state-certified general appraiser, and a licensed real estate broker.

Education

Cornell University, School of Hotel Administration
Bachelor of Science

Rod has completed over 180 hours of basic level appraisal training to meet initial state certification requirements and over 200 hours of advanced education to meet all class requirements of the Appraisal Institute for its MAI designation. Beyond these initial requirements, Rod continues to take classes annually in appraisal standards, among other topics.

Appraisal Institute classes completed:
410 – Standards of Professional Practice Part A
420 – Standards of Professional Practice Part B
510 – Advanced Income Capitalization
520 – Highest and Best Use and Market Analysis
530 – Adv. Sales Comparison and Cost Approach
540 – Report Writing and Valuation Analysis
550 – Advanced Applications

Certified General Appraiser classes completed through the University of Colorado Continuing Education Department:
NCRE-200 Registered Appraiser,
NCRE-201 Basic Appraisal Applications
NCRE-203 Small Residential Income Properties
NCRE-208 Standards and Ethics
NCRE-211 Certified Residential
NCRE-215 Appraisal Principles and Advanced Applications
NCRE-216 Income Capitalization
NCRE-219 Commercial Case Studies

Other Specialized Training Classes Completed:
TALCB-ACE - Income Property Analysis – 2003
24-Hour Comprehensive Appraisal Workshop – 2002
Mandatory 8-Hour Broker Standards – 2001 Update
Anatomy of a Mortgage, URAR – 2005
USPAP Update – Annually
Solutions Approach – Appraisal Institute, 2006
Small Hotel/Motel Valuation – Appraisal Institute, 2008
Appraisal Curriculum Overview – 2011
Appraising and Analyzing Office Buildings for Mortgage Underwriting – 2011
Appraising Apartments: The Basics – 2011
Ad Valorem Tax Consultation – 2011
How To Analyze & Value Income Property – 2011
Risky Business: Ways to Minimize Your Liability – 2011
Florida Law Class – 2012
Fundamentals of Separating Real Property, Personal Property, and Intangible Business Assets – 2012
Pennsylvania Law Class – 2012
Appraising and Analyzing Industrial & Flex Buildings – 2012
Supervising Trainees – 2014
Oddball Appraisals – 2014
The Nuts and Bolts of Green Building – 2014
PA Law Class – 2015
Real Estate Finance Statistics and Valuation Modeling – 2015
Mold, Pollution and the Appraiser – 2015
MI Law Class – 2015
CA Law Class – 2016, 2020
The Income Approach – 2017
Basic Hotel Appraising – 2017
Review of Disciplinary Cases – 2017
Business Practices and Ethics – 2018
Basics of Expert Witness – 2019
Land and Site Valuation – 2019
The Dirty Dozen – 2019
Sexual Harassment – 2021
Evaluations, Desktops and Other Limited Scope Appraisals – 2021
Green Building Concepts for Appraisers – 2021
Appraisal of Fast-Food Facilities – 2021
Intro to Commercial Appraisal Review – 2021

Rod completes 15–20 hours of additional education annually, including National USPAP Update courses.

State Certification

Rod is a Designated Member of the Appraisal Institute (MAI).

Rod holds an Associate Level Real Estate Broker license in the State of Colorado (License #: FA.100093786)

Rod is a licensed, state certified appraiser in his home state of Colorado and additional states. In Colorado, he holds a Certified General Appraiser license (License #: CG40017461). Rod and his staff hold state certifications in virtually all 50 states.

Please contact Michelle Guetterman at [email protected] for more specific information regarding licensing. Michelle handles all licensing questions for the HVS US platform. Michelle can also provide a PDF copy of any license upon request.

Press Coverage

Multi-year recovery along with new opportunities for travel and hospitality sector: HVS, 2020

Focus: Breaking Journey Information investigates: HVS anticipates multi-speed international restoration, 2020

Report: Spas Contribute Substantially to U.S. Hotel Revenues, 2020

Luxury hotel treatment rooms generate more than double the revenue, 2020
Lot Lines: Airbnb – sharing technology effect

My Articles

View all Rod's articles

ALIS Kicks off 2023, with Most Expecting the Year’s Best Days to Come in the Second Half of the Year

Another ALIS is in the books, and a busy one at that, with nearly 3,000 in attendance. If you weren’t one of those lucky thousands, here are our takeaways.
  • January 27, 2023 By Rod Clough
  • Travel & Tourism , Economic Trends and Cycles , Hotel Brands , COVID-19 , United States , North America

Enhance Your Hotel Team’s Autism Awareness

Autism awareness is an effort HVS supports by engaging with Autism Double-Checked, an organization that provides education and training about this disability. We encourage you and your hotel operations team to contact them and learn more.
  • November 1, 2022 By Rod Clough
  • Travel & Tourism , Hotel Management , United States , North America

Conference Takeaways – The Lodging Conference 2022

The halls of the JW Marriott Desert Ridge were buzzing this week as thousands descended upon the Phoenix resort for this week’s Lodging Conference. If you couldn’t make it to the event, here’s a quick recap of what you missed.
  • September 23, 2022 By Rod Clough
  • Hotel Investments & Ownership , Hotel Operations , Development & Construction , Economic Trends and Cycles , United States , North America

The Perfect Weekend in Palm Springs

Based on his vast experience of Palm Springs, California, Rod Clough provides curated recommendations for dining, shopping, lodging, and passing the time in this desert oasis.
  • July 12, 2022 By Rod Clough
  • Food & Beverage , Travel & Tourism , Palm Springs , California , United States , North America

NYU Conference Takeaways: Despite Some Challenges, The Hospitality Sector Is Still Looking Good

The tale of the looming recession was mixed, with some forecasting a shallow, short-lived recession, and others expecting a more significant impact. The overall sentiment remains a positive one, and that cash flow growth should continue. Despite high inflation, other economic markers, such as consumer goods, mortgage default rates, and low unemployment rates, look positive.
  • June 14, 2022 By Rod Clough
  • Hotel Investments & Ownership , Development & Construction , Valuations & Market Studies , Brokerage & Transactions , Economic Trends and Cycles , United States , North America

2022 Hunter Conference Takeaways

Buyers face challenges with high pricing, elevated operating costs, and labor issues, but the industry remains optimistic.
  • March 28, 2022 By Rod Clough
  • Hotel Operations , Development & Construction , Travel & Tourism , Economic Trends and Cycles , COVID-19 , United States , North America

ALIS 2022 Takeaways – Our Industry Braces for a Big Year Ahead

ALIS kicked off the 2022 hospitality industry convention season this week with heightened optimism for the sector. Several factors are converging this year that are setting the stage for what may be a year of record-breaking transaction activity.
  • January 28, 2022 By Rod Clough
  • Hotel Investments & Ownership , Development & Construction , Valuations & Market Studies , Brokerage & Transactions , Economic Trends and Cycles , United States , North America

HVS NYU Investment Conference Takeaways

The NYU Investment Conference arrived five months late this year, but it was worth the wait. The event attracted over 1,000 registered participants eager to hear from a stellar lineup of the global industry’s top leaders and influencers, and it kicked off in a bustling Times Square on the same day U.S. airports reopened to fully vaccinated international travelers.
  • November 11, 2021 By Rod Clough
  • Hotel Investments & Ownership , Hotel Operations , Economic Trends and Cycles , Hotel Management , United States , North America

The Lodging Conference – HVS Perspectives

With nearly 2,000 registered, the Lodging Conference brought together members of the hospitality industry to discuss the recovery, challenges, and successes of the industry to date. The highlights of the event from those that attended from HVS are summarized here.
  • October 1, 2021 By Rod Clough
  • Economic Trends and Cycles , COVID-19 , United States , North America

ALIS Conference Perspectives

The ALIS Conference came and went this week, bringing Downtown L.A. hotels to life with optimism and hope that normal for the hotel industry is coming in the not-too-distant future. Here are some collective takeaways from our team that was in attendance.
  • July 30, 2021 By Rod Clough
  • Lending , Valuations & Market Studies , Brokerage & Transactions , Economic Trends and Cycles , COVID-19 , United States , North America

America's Great Restaurant Rebound

Like elsewhere, the United States’ restaurant sector has had a tough time responding to the seemingly endless challenges posed by COVID-19. However, interesting trends are emerging.
  • July 8, 2021 By Rod Clough
  • Food & Beverage , Economic Trends and Cycles , COVID-19 , United States , North America

Hunter Conference Marks a Return to In-Person Conferences

One thing that stood out at the recent May 2021 Hunter Conference at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis was that people are ready to travel, gather, and attend large-scale conferences again. The Marriott was ready, with attentive staff, well thought-out procedures, and a great experience all around. Kudos to both the Hunter Conference team and the Marriott team. It was a truly flawless event.
  • May 27, 2021 By Rod Clough
  • Hotel Operations , Technology , Travel & Tourism , Brokerage & Transactions , Economic Trends and Cycles , 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 , Christian Cross

HVS Market Pulse Update - the U.S. Heartland

Rod Clough, President – Americas, interviewed Dan McCoy, Managing Director and Senior Partner overseeing the U.S. Heartland region, on February 17, 2021, to discuss the current market dynamics and the outlook for recovery.
  • February 23, 2021 By Daniel P. McCoy , Rod Clough
  • Hotel Investments & Ownership , Valuations & Market Studies , Economic Trends and Cycles , Hotels - Distressed , COVID-19 , St. Louis , Missouri , United States

HVS Market Pulse Update - Pacific Northwest

Rod Clough, President – Americas, interviewed Kasia Russell, Managing Director and Senior Partner overseeing the U.S. Pacific Northwest region, on February 3, 2021, to discuss the current market dynamics and the outlook for recovery.
  • February 8, 2021 By Kasia M. Russell , Rod Clough
  • Hotel Investments & Ownership , Development & Construction , Valuations & Market Studies , Economic Trends and Cycles , COVID-19 , Seattle , Washington , United States , North America , Portland , Oregon

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  • Feasibility Studies
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