Southern Hospitality Management & Development

What Southern Hospitality Management & Development does

Southern Hospitality Management & Development (SHMD) is a Florida-based, privately held hotel development and management company founded in 2014 by Nikesh Shah. The company operates a vertically integrated service platform for hotel owners and developers consisting of six core modules: third-party operations, sales and marketing, CPA-staffed finance and accounting, in-house revenue management (daily ADR/RevPar adjustment), reputation management, and asset management, plus separate consulting and hotel-development service lines. SHMD operates across the select-service and extended-sty segments under franchise brands including Hilton, Marriott, IHG, Choice Hotels, and Best Western.

The company's offering serves two primary customer segments — hotel property owners/investors requiring third-party management and developers building new properties — through what it characterizes as a sales-led go-to-market approach anchored in direct outreach, brand-franchisor referrals, and industry networking. Engagements are custom-quoted under multi-year contracts, with revenue composed of recurring management fees, project-based development and consulting fees, and ancillary asset-management fees.

SHMD manages and/or has developed 15 hotels across Florida markets including Orlando, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Tallahassee, Mount Dora, Sanford, Port Orange, and Lake Buena Vista, with an operational staff of approximately 300 across the properties. The company has an active development pipeline of new construction projects in The Villages, Palm Bay, and Lake Nona. Its technology stack is conventional for a mid-scale third-party operator — domain-specialized revenue management and reputation management functions — with no proprietary AI/ML platform, disclosed patents, or external funding rounds.

Name

Southern Hospitality Management & Development

Legal name

Southern Hospitality Management & Development

Website

https://shmdcorp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Southern Hospitality Management & Development is a Florida-based third-party hotel management and development firm founded in 2014, operating 15 hotels across the state under Hilton, Marriott, IHG, Choice, and Best Western franchises, and serving hotel property owners and developers with full-service operational, financial, and consulting support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hotel Management Services

NAICS

Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (72111), Traveler Accommodation (7211)

SIC

Hotels & Motels (7011), Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531)

akta.pro primary industry

Hospitality (Hotel) Property Management (BPAJAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hospitality (Hotels & Resorts) Asset Management (BPAJAMAE), Resort-Area Full-Service Hotels (Non–All-Inclusive) (THAGAAAD)

Keywords

• Hotel management services
• Hospitality consulting
• Revenue management
• Hotel development
• Asset management

Headquarters

HQ city

Mount Dora

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Third-Party Hotel Operations Management: Management fees for operating hotels owned by third parties. Provides comprehensive hotel management including property management, sales and marketing, reputation management, and finance and accounting services.
2. Hotel Development Services: Development of new hotel properties for owners, including project feasibility analysis, market analysis, financial modeling, and construction oversight.
3. Asset Management: Administrative and compliance management for hotel properties including tax management, business licenses, permits, insurance, and maintenance coordination.
4. Consulting Services: Expert guidance on hotel development and management projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Southern Hospitality Management & Development operates as a third-party hotel management and development firm, providing full-service hospitality management for hotel property owners across Florida. Its core offerings include hotel operations management, sales and marketing, finance and accounting, in-house revenue management, reputation management, and asset management, complemented by hotel development consulting covering project feasibility, market analysis, and financial modeling. The company currently manages 15 hotels under major franchise brands and is developing 3 additional new-construction properties.

Product overview

Southern Hospitality Management & Development is a hotel development and management company operating as a single integrated platform offering core hospitality services alongside a portfolio of managed hotel properties. The service offering consists of six interconnected modules: Third-Party Operations (full hotel management), Sales & Marketing, Finance Accounting Management (CPA-delivered), Revenue Management (in-house team with daily rate optimization), Reputation Management, and Asset Management. The company also provides consulting services for project feasibility, market analysis, and financial modeling. The managed hotel portfolio spans multiple brands including Hampton Inn, Fairfield Inn & Suites, TownePlace Suites, Comfort Inn & Suites, Quality Inn & Suites, Best Western Plus, Aloft, Holiday Inn Express, and WoodSpring Suites, with partnerships across Hilton, Marriott, Choice Hotels, and IHG. Current development projects include new properties in The Villages, Palm Bay, and Lake Nona.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Third-Party Operations Comprehensive hotel operations management service in which SHMD's team implements proven strategies to drive revenue and reduce expenses, helping client hotels achieve award-winning operational status. Designed for hotel owners and investors seeking professional third-party management.
• Sales and Marketing Professional sales and marketing strategies including appointment setting, in-person sales support, online marketing, and social media campaigns to maximize hotel bookings and revenue. Target customers are hotel owners and operators whose properties SHMD manages.
• Finance Accounting Management Financial management services delivered by Certified Public Accountants, covering accounts payable/receivable, accurate financial statements, forecasting, budgeting, and vendor relationship negotiation. Targeted at hotel owners and operators needing back-office finance and accounting support.
• Revenue Management In-house revenue management service providing dedicated Revenue Managers who perform daily rate monitoring, data analysis, occupancy/ADR/RevPar tracking, and weekly performance reporting to maximize hotel profitability. Built for managed hotel properties under SHMD's portfolio.
• Reputation Management Online reputation enhancement services including website optimization, search engine optimization (SEO), marketing strategy development, and performance reporting designed to enhance the brand value and perception of managed hotel properties.
• Asset Management Property asset management services including administrative compliance, tax management, business licenses, permit renewals, insurance management, and regular maintenance coordination to optimize hotel asset performance and value. Targeted at hotel property owners.
• Hotel Development Services End-to-end hotel development services from construction oversight to development strategy and brand affiliation, leveraging partnerships with major hotel chains. Designed for hotel developers and investors building new properties.
• Consulting Services Expert consulting guidance on project feasibility, market analysis, and financial modeling for hotel owners and developers navigating hotel development and management decisions.
• Quality Inn & Suites St. Petersburg Affordable hotel property in St. Petersburg, FL near I-275 and US Highway 19 featuring free breakfast, WiFi, fitness center, outdoor pool, and 552-square-foot meeting space; operated by SHMD under the Choice Hotels brand.
• Holiday Inn Express Lake Buena Vista 140-room Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotel in Lake Buena Vista offering free high-speed internet, 49-inch HDTV, microwave, refrigerator, Express Start Breakfast, pool, and fitness center; previously developed and managed by SHMD under the IHG brand.
• TownePlace Suites Orlando Airport All-suite hotel four miles from Orlando International Airport featuring free shuttle, complimentary hot breakfast, 24-hour fitness center, indoor pool, and fully-equipped kitchens in spacious suites; managed by SHMD under the Marriott brand.
• Hampton Inn & Suites Busch Gardens Hotel near Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Adventure Island offering discounted attraction tickets, complimentary hot breakfast, free WiFi, and proximity to major Tampa medical institutions; previously developed and managed by SHMD under the Hilton brand.
• Hampton Inn Mt. Dora Hotel on Highway 441 near Mount Dora attractions including Renninger's Antique Center and Modernism Museum, featuring complimentary hot breakfast, outdoor pool, fitness center, and meeting rooms; managed by SHMD under the Hilton brand.
• WoodSpring Suites Port Orange Extended stay hotel near Daytona Beach offering nightly, weekly, and monthly stays with apartment-style suites featuring kitchenettes, pet-friendly accommodations, and bi-weekly housekeeping; managed by SHMD under the Choice Hotels brand.
• Fairfield Inn & Suites St. Petersburg North Hotel near I-275 offering modern rooms with free WiFi, Keurig coffee makers, 49-inch HD Smart TVs, luxury bedding, fitness center, outdoor pool, and flexible event venue; managed by SHMD under the Marriott brand.
• Comfort Inn & Suites Northeast Gateway Award-winning hotel near Tropicana Field in Saint Petersburg offering complimentary breakfast with waffles, free WiFi, 24/7 fitness center, outdoor pool, and business center; managed by SHMD under the Choice Hotels brand.
• Aloft Hotel Lake Buena Vista Good Neighbor Disney partner hotel in Lake Buena Vista featuring loft-style rooms with complimentary WiFi, streaming services, WXYZ bar, Re:fuel 24-hour pantry, Splash Zone pool, and Tactic meeting space; previously developed and managed by SHMD under the Marriott brand.
• Southern Hospitality Current Development Projects New hotel development pipeline including Extended Stay America The Villages, TownPlace Suites Palm Bay, WoodSpring Suites Palm Bay, Homewood Suites Lake Nona, and TownPlace Suites Lake Nona. Represents SHMD's current construction and development engagements.
• Best Western Plus Sandford Hotel near Sanford Airport and Lake Mary offering Park Stay Fly program, proximity to Daytona 500, water sports, Sanford Zoo, and fine dining establishments; previously managed by SHMD under the Best Western brand.
• Fairfield Inn & Suites Tallahassee North Marriott property near I-10 exit 199 offering comfortable and clean accommodations near Florida State University, Florida A&M University, and downtown Tallahassee; previously developed and managed by SHMD under the Marriott brand.

Quantifiable outcome

• Dedicated Revenue Managers provide daily rate monitoring and adjustment based on market data to maximize ADR and RevPar
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HiltoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStrategic partnership with Hilton for managing Hampton Inn and Homewood Suites properties. SHMD operates hotels under the Hilton brand franchise, leveraging Hilton's loyalty programs, reservation systems, and brand standards.
• MarriottcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Marriott International for managing Fairfield Inn, TownePlace Suites, and Aloft properties. SHMD operates hotels under Marriott brands with access to Marriott Bonvoy program and global distribution.
• InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with IHG for managing Holiday Inn Express properties. SHMD operates hotels under the IHG brand franchise.
• Choice HotelscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Choice Hotels for managing Quality Inn, Comfort Inn, and WoodSpring Suites properties. SHMD operates multiple hotels under Choice brand franchises.
• Best WesterncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Best Western for managing Best Western Plus Sandford property. SHMD operates hotels under the Best Western brand.
• Asian Hotel OwnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNikesh Shah, President of SHMD, is an active member of the Asian Hotel Owners organization, providing networking and industry intelligence opportunities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Aimbridge Hospitality: Largest U.S. third-party hotel management company, operating across all major brands. Directly comparable to SHMD as a third-party operator serving hotel owners, but at materially greater scale and geographic reach.

Direct peers

• TPG Hotels & Resorts: Third-party hotel management and development company operating full-service, select-service and extended-stay hotels under major brands. Closely comparable business model to SHMD — third-party operations plus development across Hilton, Marriott, IHG and Hyatt systems.
• HVMG (Hospitality Ventures Management Group): Hotel management company providing third-party operations, asset management and development services across full-service, select-service and lifestyle brands. Closely comparable to SHMD's integrated service offering and multi-brand franchise approach.
• Crescent Hotels & Resorts: Third-party hotel management and asset management firm operating premium-branded hotels across the U.S. and Canada. Comparable to SHMD as a franchise-based third-party operator with similar service line breadth including revenue management and asset management.
• Marshall Hotels & Resorts: Hotel management and development company operating select-service, extended-stay and full-service hotels under major brands. Comparable mid-sized third-party operator to SHMD with similar brand-agnostic franchise approach.
• Prism Hotels & Resorts: Third-party hotel operator providing management, asset management and renovation services for select-service, full-service and lifestyle properties. Direct peer to SHMD with comparable brand portfolio and service modules.
• Sage Hospitality Group: Hotel management, development and investment group operating full-service, lifestyle and select-service hotels. Comparable to SHMD in combining third-party management with development services across major brands.
• Driftwood Hospitality: Hotel management and development company operating full-service, select-service and resort properties under major brands. Comparable third-party operator with a development pipeline, similar in scope to SHMD's model.
• Pacific Hospitality Group: Hospitality management, ownership and development company operating hotels and resorts under major brands. Comparable to SHMD as a vertically integrated operator combining third-party management with development expertise.
• Charlestowne Hotels: Hotel management, asset management and development firm operating soft-branded and independent lifestyle hotels. Comparable to SHMD as a third-party management and development platform, though with a more lifestyle/independent focus versus SHMD's franchise-heavy model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SHMDCorp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southern-hospitality-management-development-company

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Southern Hospitality Management & Development