OUR TEAM

Ask any lodging broker you talk to "how many lodging properties have you actually owned or operated?" and you will find that none of them will have the experience in the lodging industry that compares to what you will find at National Hotel & Motel Brokers/Howard Mathews & Associates.

How could someone analyze a lodging property and speak with confidence to buyers about the advantages of owning a lodging property if they have not successfully operated a few motels or hotels themselves?

The agents at National Hotel & Motel Brokers/Howard Mathews & Associates have successfully operated over 50 lodgings properties and can address all of the concerns potential buyers might have.

HOWARD MATHEWS - Started in real estate in 1964 and spent the early years in home sales (new and resale homes) and then into buying and selling repossessed houses and apartments. He bought and sold over 150 properties on his own, and that gave him valuable experience in title, legal and escrow work that still helps him put deals together today.

From 1972 to present, he owned, operated or managed 20 motels and hotels from a 22-unit in North Lake Tahoe to a 310-unit full-service Ramada Inn in Salt Lake City. With that knowledge of what to do to a property (and probably more important is what not to do), he can show buyers what the potential in a property is and how to turn it into a profitable operation. The experience of operating all those properties is the basis of Howard's motel/hotel knowledge, and he uses it daily to show clients how to make a marginal property into a profitable one. He firmly believes that one of the reasons that he is successful in this business is that in addition to being experienced in real estate itself, he can relate his experience in operating motels and hotels to the buyers and sellers.

In addition to being still involved in the operations of the above properties, from 1983 to 1993 Howard was associated with American Motel Hotel Brokers in Burlingame, California. At most times the company employed between 20 and 30 agents that specialized in the sale of lodging properties. Howard was vice president in charge of brokerage and during that period he was the highest-producing agent in the company, producing more closed transactions than any other agent in the organization. He has personally sold and closed escrow on over 100 lodging transactions and supervised or been involved in the sale of at least 500 lodging properties. The company closed in 1993, and he became an independent broker.

Howard thrives on business, reading all that he can find on the industry such as newsletters on recent court decisions, escrow problems and the trends in each geographic area so he can show a buyer how to make a property profitable in slow economic times and overbuilt areas. He has been qualified and employed by the California Municipal and Superior courts as an expert witness in the hotel/motel industry and also in the hotel/motel brokerage business.

In 2001 Howard was elected for the third time to the board of directors of the California Lodging Industry Association (CLIA). This is a 50 year old organization consisting of approximately 1,200 members that own lodging properties in California. In 1997 Howard was elected president of the CLIA and considers it an honor to be elected to this office by his peers.
He has established a network of cooperating brokers throughout the western US that he has worked with in motels and hotels over the past 30 years. They exchange listing and sales information and cooperate as brokers for the sale of lodging properties. Working with all these brokers means that your property will receive full exposure in the market place which increases the chance of it selling because the information will be in front of more buyers.

Howard looks forward to working with you.

Give him a call or send an e-mail to: HowardNHMB.COM

MARTIN BARNHART -Starting in the lodging business in 1975 as a manager of a 45 unit California motel, Martin moved on to successfully operate 16 different properties including a 200 unit full service resort.

Having received his real estate license in 1977 and his broker’s license in 2002 Martin has now combined his experience of operating lodging properties with his real estate knowledge to help buyers and sellers achieve their goals of owning a lodging property.

Martin looks forward to working with you.

Give him a call or send an e-mail to: MartinNHMB.COM

RONDA BENNETT - Licensed in California since 1983, Ronda has spent over 20 years involved in all aspects of the escrow field of real estate.

She has gained vast experience from working at the commercial escrow division of a major title company and she was in charge of all escrow aspects for a large real estate company.

Since joining Howard Mathews & Associates in 1998, Ronda coordinates all aspects of the companies escrow work as well as obtaining new loans for buyers.

Ronda looks forward to working with you.

Give her a call or send an e-mail to: RondaNHMB.COM

RAMESH PATEL - Ramesh has been in the hospitality industry for over 25 years. He is an entrepreneur that has experienced all the different aspects of the hotel business.

He has not only managed and owned hotels and motels, but also built his own properties.

Although he has just recently attained his real estate license, he has already had extensive experience in the real estate industry. He has been instrumental in buying and selling many different properties.

Ramesh has advised many customers and has helped them achieve their business potential through his in-depth knowledge of the industry.

Ramesh looks forward to working with you.

Give him a call or send an e-mail to: RameshNHMB.COM

BRIAN MATHEWS -  Brian not only works as an agent for the company but also takes care of the IT requirements and website. 

He has been in the Hospitality business just over 5 years and has successfully operated a 36 unit independent property as well as a 65-unit Full Service Franchise in the Foothills above the Central Valley. 

He is currently studying for his Brokers license and enjoys working with clients, especially first time Buyers who need assistance with operations and property management procedures.

Brian looks forward to working with you.

Give him a call or send an e-mail to: BrianNHMB.COM

BRUCE LEE CARPENTER -  Bruce started his career as a California Real Estate Broker in the 1970s and entered the lodging business in 1972. With one other associate, he set up a company focused on buying underperforming motels/hotel properties, refurbishing them, then bringing them back on-line as profitable properties. From 1972 to 1984, Bruce bought, owned and operated 20 hotels in the western states of California, Oregon, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Utah. In 1984, Bruce moved to southern Oregon and duplicated his profitable endeavors with lodging properties with a different “product”--ranches.

In the 1990s, with his son Colby, Bruce ventured into another unusual opportunity: he bought standing timber, and exported it to Japan!

After the death of his son and partner, Bruce completed the last ranch project, and now has returned to his original interest, hotel/motel brokerage with, ironically, the same associates he started with in the 1970s.

Bruce looks forward to working with you.

Give him a call or send an e-mail to: BruceNHMB.COM