Irfan Tayabali
Hotel Asset Manager & Investment Specialist
Singapore
Summary
Hotel asset manager & real estate investment specialist with 20 years global experience across all segments of the hospitality market. Focused on strategic performance management, active change management, asset planning, & investment underwriting. Passionate about collaborative growth, team success, and achieving equitable solutions for stakeholders.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
10041
10041
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Director of Hotel Asset Management, Global
Aman Resorts Pte Ltd
08.2022 - Current
- Reporting to Owner CEO (Vladislav Doronin) and CFO
- Lead internal asset management function for a $5B+ global portfolio of 35 ultra-luxury hotels across the US, Europe, and Asia, and a development pipeline of 20+ properties
- Deliver consistent outperformance across key financial metrics, driving 19% YoY revenue growth (+$115M) and 19.4% GOP growth (+$47M) in 2024, achieving a 40% GOP margin and 60% flow-through
- Guide annual budgeting and capital planning processes across portfolio; hold GMs accountable through monthly P&L reviews, performance tracking, and site visits.
- Work closely with FCs and corporate finance functions to facilitate tax efficient owner returns across complex shareholder structures and international jurisdictions.
- Designed, built and implemented Aman’s portfolio-wide asset reporting and forecasting framework, now adopted as the corporate standard for monthly investor and board-level reporting
- Directed multi-million-dollar renovations including $8M Amanjena (Morocco), $7M Amankora (Bhutan), and $4M Aman-i-Khás (India), from capex strategy to execution oversight
- Serve as key liaison between ownership, asset and corporate leadership to align operating strategy with asset-level goals; support negotiation of HMAs and development of Aman’s standard contract template
- Part of investment team responsible for securing strategic equity investment including Cain International, Mubadala, and PIF through robust underwriting and portfolio analysis
- Support pre-opening and strategic positioning of flagship new openings including Aman New York, Janu Tokyo and Aman Nai Lert Bangkok
- Mentor senior hotel leaders globally, including GMs and functional executives, to build financial and commercial acumen aligned with long-term asset performance
Vice President Investment & Asset Management
Feo Hospitality Asset Management Pte Ltd
05.2017 - 06.2022
- Represented the Manager of Far East Hospitality Trust (FEHT) working strategically with corporate office & hotel executive teams to drive top & bottom-line growth across portfolio of 16 hotel & serviced residences in Singapore
- Reported to REIT CEO & Board of Directors
- Optimized operating performance via performance reviews, strategic analytics and other ad hoc interactions
- Successfully steered the REIT through the COVID pandemic operating challenges
- Renovation, refurbishment & ad hoc ROI based capital projects
- Annual hospitality budget & annual asset valuation process
- Managing REIT investors, SGX, REIT Sponsor, internal management, and Board of Directors
- Building & optimizing asset management infrastructure for the REIT
- Executed multiple transactions including S$210m purchase of Oasia Hotel Downtown in 2018 and the S$313.2m disposal of Central Square in 2021, both in Singapore
Hotel Asset Manager | Owner Representative
Apara Hotel Advisers
09.2011 - 01.2017
- Responsible for a portfolio of 15-18 hotels ranging from unbranded hotels, serviced apartments, economy, midmarket, and full-service hotels under major international hotel brands (including Hilton, Marriott, Accor & IHG)
- Represented multiple hotel owners working collaboratively with executive teams and corporate offices for each hotel asset to ensure alignment, drive growth & execute quantifiable initiatives
- Responsible for end-to-end hotel operator management contract negotiations, pre-opening budget preparation & evaluations, and development project oversight
- Involved in various hotel investment, development (urban & resort), and ROI-based asset analysis, feasibility studies across the hotel/mixed-use portfolio
- In-depth knowledge of key regional hospitality markets across the Asia Pacific region
- Front and back-end design of Apara’s proprietary asset management tools and analytic templates
Chartered Surveyor
Jones Lang Lasalle Hotels
09.2005 - 07.2011
- Hotel Valuation, Development, Investment Advisory and Asset Management, London & Singapore (EMEA & Asia Pacific Markets)
- Following completion of masters, started career with JLL in commercial real estate, hotel valuation and other advisory assignments in London
- Qualified as Chartered Surveyor (MRICs) valuer in the UK in 2007
- Transitioned to hotel development & investment, involved in lead generation, investor/buyer interaction, and strategic negotiations for hotel investment sales in the EMEA & Asia Pacific region
- Moved to Singapore in 2008 and spearheaded newly formed hotel asset management team – focused on strategic owner representation, asset reviews, valuations and other advisory assignments
English Language Teacher
Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET)
08.2001 - 07.2003
Education
Associate Certified Coach (ACC) Accredited
International Coaching Federation
SingaporeIMC - Investment Management Certificate (IMC Designation)
Jones Lang Lasalle
SingaporeMRICS - Qualified Member of Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors of England And Wales (MRICS)
Jones Lang Lasalle
London, UKMaster of Arts - Property Valuation and Law (RICS Accredited)
Cass Business School
London, UKBachelor of Arts - History of Art and Architecture
University of Manchester
United KingdomSkills
- Problem Solving & Change Management
- Conflict Resolution & Stakeholder Management
- Resourcefulness & Cultural adaptability
- Communication & Teamwork
- Financial Modelling & Valuation
- Business Development, Coaching & Mentoring
Personal Information
- Date of Birth: 04/16/80
- Nationality: UK
- Marital Status: Married with 2 children
Timeline
Director of Hotel Asset Management, Global
Aman Resorts Pte Ltd
08.2022 - Current
Vice President Investment & Asset Management
Feo Hospitality Asset Management Pte Ltd
05.2017 - 06.2022
Hotel Asset Manager | Owner Representative
Apara Hotel Advisers
09.2011 - 01.2017
Chartered Surveyor
Jones Lang Lasalle Hotels
09.2005 - 07.2011
English Language Teacher
Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET)
08.2001 - 07.2003
Associate Certified Coach (ACC) Accredited
International Coaching Federation
IMC - Investment Management Certificate (IMC Designation)
Jones Lang Lasalle
MRICS - Qualified Member of Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors of England And Wales (MRICS)
Jones Lang Lasalle
Master of Arts - Property Valuation and Law (RICS Accredited)
Cass Business School
Bachelor of Arts - History of Art and Architecture
University of Manchester
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