John M. Keeling

John Keeling is primarily responsible for sourcing and vetting both hotel acquisitions and hotel development projects for Valencia Hotel Group. He also participates on the firm’s Executive Committee. He brings 30+ years of experience in hotel management, asset management, brokerage, appraisal, development consulting, and strategic planning to Valencia.

Mr. Keeling is a noted lecturer, teacher, author, and authority on hotel matters and is frequently sourced by respected industry trades, business journals, and newspapers. He received his BA from UCLA, MBA in Hotel Management from Michigan State University, and MA in Theology from the University of St Thomas in Houston. Previous positions included Senior Vice President of PKF Consulting, Partner with Laventhol & Horwath, and Manager with Marriott International. He served as an infantry squad leader with the 1st Marine Division in Vietnam where he earned the Purple Heart and Navy Commendation with Combat “V.”

Mr. Keeling has lectured numerous times at the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel & Restaurant Management at the University of Houston and lectures on hotel design and serves on the student project review panel at the Rice University School of Architecture. In 2008 he was named an honorary alumnus of the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel & Restaurant Management and received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hotel & Lodging Association of Greater Houston. In 2015 Mr. Keeling was inducted into the Michigan State University School of Hospitality Business Hall of Fame as an Alumnus of the Year.

Keeling’s numerous professional and social memberships include The Counselors of Real Estate (CRE); The Appraisal Institute (MAI); the Hotel Development Council of the Urban Land Institute; the Real Estate Development Advisory Council for the School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University; the Board of Advisors at the Boutique & Lifestyle Leadership Association; the Board of Directors of Visit Houston (CVB); former Chairman and current member of the Executive Committee of the Hotel & Lodging Association of Greater Houston. He has earned the Certified Hotel Industry Analyst (CHIA) designation from the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute.