meet the team
reinventing the next generation of hospitality
THE NEXT GENERATION OF HOSPITALITY LEADERS
reinventing the next generation of hospitality
Rob Sadoff is a co-founder and principal of Scarlett Hotel Group where his focus is in the investment and development of hotel real estate assets. Since the formation of his new company in 2017, Rob has managed the execution of each deal for the company’s portfolio of owned hotels. His expertise in deal structuring, franchising, financing and legal oversight provides the team with the confidence to execute and close on each transaction.
Additionally, Rob’s strong business reputation of high ethics has been the catalyst for the addition of new capital and joint venture partners.
Previously, Rob served as the Senior Real Estate Director for First Hospitality Group where he was involved in over $125 million dollars of real estate transactions and 8 hotel developments. Rob was influential in the company’s growth by solidifying multiple management contracts generating nearly $6M in management fee revenue during his tenure. His department was also responsible for asset management on the portfolio of externally owned hotels with a portfolio value of over $900M. Responsibilities included managing numerous key relationships with clients that included private equity firms, banks, institutions and other private ownership groups.
Most recently, Rob helped to form the Sadoff Property Group a division of @properties and brought his knowledge commercial transactions to his team. The group remains instrumental in the Chicagoland area with average transactional volume between $25 -$35 million dollars.
Rob is a proud graduate of Michigan State University and currently serves on THE School of Hospitality Business Board of Directors. Rob is married with two boys. Along with his dog Coco they maintain their residence in the northern suburbs of Chicago.
Zio Pekovic is a principal and co-founder of Scarlett Hotel Group. He is involved in all aspects of the expansion of SHG’s portfolio and strategically innovating its acquisitions platform. Zio has developed strong relationships with local owners, brokers, and financial institutions throughout the country and internationally, allowing him to identify both on and off-market opportunities for our investors. His responsibilities include identifying and analyzing potential hotel investments and structuring JV partnerships with private equity funds, endowment funds, family offices, and private investors. Zio is also involved in asset management and investor relations. Additionally, he is responsible for identifying third party management and receivership opportunities.
Danika Smith-Josiah has over 20 years of successful hotel leadership with several brands, from full-service to limited service properties. Danika is a servant leader at heart with a passion for driving culture to propel businesses to top level industry performances. She takes pride in helping underperforming companies solve complex business challenges and achieve optimal results in both Operations and Service Excellence.
Danika holds an MBA in Global Entrepreneurship from the Florida Atlantic University (Summa Cum Laude), and a Bachelor of Science degree in Travel and Tourism from the Florida International University ( Phi Kapa Phi and Eta Sigma Delta Honor Societies).
She finds solace in staying physically active and enjoying the simple pleasures of making memories with her husband and her two boys.
Travis is Regional Vice President for the Scarlett Hotel Group and has over nineteen years experience leading strong hotel operations and developing future leaders. He has worked with properties from Select - Service to Full – Service within the three major parent hotel companies.
Opening hotels is his expertise, ensuring all aspects of the hotel, whether it be sales, operations or revenue management, are ready the moment the doors open. Helping drive the focus of SHG philosophies while focusing on the engagement of leadership within their properties is something Travis really values.
Harry serves as Vice President of Sales and Marketing and brings to Scarlett Hotel Group a proven record of accomplishment, achieving consistent revenue and share growth in on-property, area, regional and corporate environments. He has deep experience in portfolio management and proven leadership of Full Service, Extended Stay and Limited-Service sales, marketing & revenue management teams.
His background includes the management of and collaboration with owned, managed, and franchised assets for Starwood, Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, Renaissance, Wyndham, IHG and Accor brands. Bringing a passion for hotels and hospitality, he began his career as a sales manager with a 202-room Holiday Inn property in Richmond, Virginia. Proving that the sky's the limit for career growth in the hospitality industry, he went on to become a National Account Director at the 2,884 room Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Convention Center before moving onto leadership roles with Starwood Hotels & Resorts.
Harry resides in Atlanta, Georgia with his wife, four children and their Collie, Ronin. When away from the office he enjoys tennis, cycling and making lasting memories with his family.
Kevin is a seasoned hotelier with a notable career in revenue and asset management within the hospitality sector. Stemming from his foundational experiences in Tanzania, where he introduced the region's first Best Western property, Kevin has consistently delivered on portfolio expansion and revenue optimization.
In his role as Vice President of Revenue Management, Kevin melds his vast experience with innovative strategies to ensure consistent asset performance and revenue growth.
In his consulting capacity, Kevin has empowered owner-operated hotels to harness advanced revenue management strategies and technology integrations, driving tangible growth and efficiency.
His academic credentials testify to his expertise: an MBA from EDHEC Business School France, a Master's Certificate in Revenue Management from Cornell School of Hotel Administration, and a specialized certificate in Hotel Real Estate Investment and Asset Management. Additionally, he is certified as a CHA (Certified Hotel Administrator) by the American Hotel & Lodging Association.
David is Senior Director of Development at Scarlett Hotel Group. He is responsible for construction pricing, execution, quality control as well as scheduling and phasing for all construction projects across SHG’s portfolio. In addition, he works side by side with the SHG team to regularly evaluate future deals and provide detailed insight on both cost and timing for all construction-related matters.
David has over twenty years of experience, completing over 2 million square feet of Commercial, Industrial, Hotel, Restaurant, Hospitality, Entertainment, and Multifamily Construction primarily in the Chicago and Detroit metropolitan areas. For the past five years, he worked as Project Director for Bedrock, a Detroit based development firm, before joining SHG in 2023.
David graduated in 2004 from Michigan State University with a degree in Building Construction Management. He is married with two daughters and lives with his family in Glencoe, Illinois.
Robbie Thomashow is the Director of Acquisitions & Development for Scarlett Hotel Group. He is responsible for all new hospitality business origination and expanding SHG's strategic diversification. Additionally, he works with the principals to drive new capital relationships and ensure quality management of existing assets. Robbie has previously worked as the Acquisitions Manager at a family office placing capital into limited partnerships and co-general partnerships covering all asset classes and markets in the United States. He has experience in the top 25 markets across the country allowing him to identify numerous opportunities both on and off-market and offering a level of comfort stepping into any new submarket.
Robbie holds degrees from Indiana University in Real Estate Finance and Finance and resides in downtown Chicago.