Blue Flag Capital is a real estate private equity firm on a mission to rediscover the soul in hospitality. With more than $1 billion of assets under management, our team of in-house experts spans multiple disciplines—all dedicated to doing right by the communities in which we thrive.
Acquisitions
Smart and strategic deployment of capitalis at the core of all we do; by identifying markets, sourcing opportunities, and underwriting projects that fit our target criteria, our acquisitions team works closely with our development team to reimagine each asset we acquire. As stewards of space, we make strong connections with both prior ownership and our local communities to ensure that history is preserved for future generations to enjoy.
Asset Management
With over $1 billion of hospitality real estate assets in the country’s most sought after resort markets, Blue Flag Capital’s in-house asset management team works closely with our operating partners to manage the entire portfolio ensuring that business plans are executed and long term value creation is achieved.
Investment Management
Blue Flag Capital is a real estate private equity firm investing in hospitality assets via individual partnerships, joint ventures, and fully discretionary private equity. The full life cycle of our investments are managed in-house by our Investment and Capital Market team. Leading to strong, long-term, risk-adjusted returns for our investors.
Design
We live and breathe the design process. One of our guiding core values at Blue Flag Capital is “No Pink Soap.” What do we mean? No detail is too small down to the soap in the restrooms. Our goal is to bring colors unseen, flavors untasted, and scents newly conjured. Working with the top design firms in the country and vendors from around the globe, we are constantly pushing the creative limits.
branding
Hospitality can be hard work. We believe it’s an art. Our boutique hotel ‘brands of one’ go way beyond the logo. Each hotel has its own story that is crafted with meticulous care. This isn’t just brand speak either; we barrel past branding catch phrases to find the extraordinary in every place.
Entitlement & Construction Oversight
Precise entitlement and execution of complex projects across the country requires a team ofbest-in-class experts. Our in-house development team leads the process from acquisitions on;through design, execution, to turnover to operations, the Development and Construction Teams lead the mission.
We are experts in hospitality, finance and operations. Together we unlock doors to places beyond people’s wildest dreams.
Jason Brown
Jason is a life-long hotelier and hospitality leader, spearheading the firm's growth and investment strategies. Prior to co-founding Blue Flag Capital, he helped pioneer the affordable luxury hotel segment as YOTEL's Chief Development Officer. At YOTEL, he drove the company's global growth to more than 3,500+ keys worldwide, leading to a significant investment from Starwood Capital. Jason was previously with Kimpton Hotels, responsible for private equity fund investments, asset management and corporate strategy. He began his career in hospitality real estate at Ernst & Young and is a graduate of Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, where he currently serves on its Hospitality Entrepreneurship Advisory Board.
Brad Guidi
Brad is a visionary of spaces and brands and the dynamic force behind development, design, and branding at Blue Flag Capital. Prior to co-founding Blue Flag Capital, he led luxury residential development at Blue Flag Development and at the award-winning builder, Guidi Homes based in Greater Philadelphia. His expansive luxury residential development and construction background contributes to his unique approach to hospitality and F&B design and development. He began his career in advertising at Saatchi & Saatchi New York and is a graduated Cum Laude from Georgetown University.
Whitney Deason
Whitney is a seasoned finance leader with a proven track record of success across diverse industries, including hospitality, healthcare, and renewable energy. Prior to joining Blue Flag Capital, she served as the Senior Director of Global Finance for Fenix International and Director of Finance for Partners In Health. At Kimpton Hotels, she built out the asset management function for the firm’s private equity funds, overseeing performance of the funds portfolios. She is a graduate of Stanford's Graduate School of Business and the University of Denver's School of Hospitality Management.
Tyler Hardy
Tyler is a Partner and Head of Capital Markets. With over 17 years of experience in corporate finance, banking, and capital markets, he brings a deep understanding of capital structuring and execution. Prior to Blue Flag Capital, Tyler advised a wide range of companies, including Cox Communications and Coca-Cola, on capital strategies across various asset classes. Early in his career, he played a key role in establishing the Global Banking & Markets division at GE Capital. Tyler graduated from Union College and earned an MBA from Babson College.
Eric Brown
Eric is responsible for leading the firm’s investment activities and supports asset management. Prior to joining Blue Flag Capital, he co-founded CODEC, an investment firm focused on small-cap food & beverage and retail companies. Previously, he served as Vice President of F&B across AJ Capital's Graduate Hotels portfolio. Eric began his career with the Union Square Hospitality Group, where he played a key role in the growth and eventual IPO of Shake Shack. He is a graduate of Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration.
Evan Bailey
Evan and his team oversee the hotel and restaurant performance across our portfolio and work closely with the investment team and the operating teams to develop and execute the business plans for each asset. Prior to joining Blue Flag Capital, he played a key role in establishing and implementing institutional hotel asset management practices at two leading companies. Previously, Evan spent six years at Starwood Capital, overseeing the asset management of a national select-service hotel platform comprising over 300 properties. He holds a BA in Economics from Hamilton College and an MS in Real Estate Finance and Investments from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration.
Tess Blackstead
Tess is responsible for maintaining and improving the firm's internal financial records. Prior to joining Blue Flag Capital, she honed her experience in the private accounting sector. Tess is a highly motivated and detail-oriented professional with a strong understanding of our company mission. She prides herself on always lending a helping-hand and taking on each challenge with her unique perspective. Tess graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a major in Finance.
Patrick Ouellette
Patrick leads all aspects of design and construction planning and execution. With a proven track record of success, Patrick brings extensive experience to the role, having previously served as Sr. Construction Manager at Federal Realty Investment Trust, overseeing multiple large-scale projects at Assembly Row. Prior to that, he served as a third-party Project Manager for Massport on several major capital projects at Logan Airport. He is a graduate of Wentworth Institute of Technology's Civil Engineering Technology program.
Ben Davis
Ben oversees all aspects of our project buildouts. He manages general contractors, maintains project budgets, schedules, and ensures code compliance is upheld. Prior to Blue Flag Capital, he served as a lead project manager and superintendent on sites ranging from $10 million to $450 million in value across various sectors. Previous work includes Boston Children's Hospital and high-end commercial office spaces in Manhattan for firms such as Blackstone. Ben holds a degree in Political Science from Gettysburg College.
Julia Meier
Julia is directly responsible for managing hospitality projects throughout the entire project lifecycle including design, entitlements, branding, and construction. Prior to joining Blue Flag Capital, she gained valuable experience in both environmental permitting and construction management. Julia began her career at VHB, focusing on environmental permitting and entitlements for large-scale infrastructure and transit-oriented development projects. She further honed her skills in construction and project execution at Suffolk Construction and Jumbo Capital.
Aaron Paradis
Aaron is the Controller at Blue Flag Capital. Previously, he was Controller at TFL Franchise Systems, managing corporate accounting, centralized billing, and supporting franchisees in improving their accounting practices. A Babson College graduate, Aaron has been involved in various entrepreneurial ventures, including a VC-funded website, a clothing retailer, and a medical device company.
Andrea Dawson
Andrea is a powerhouse of support and our Chief of Staff at Blue Flag Capital. She has developed a reputation for wearing many hats, being adaptable, creative, and able to deliver results—no matter the challenge. Prior to joining Blue Flag Capital, she served as Events Manager and Executive Coordinator at OpenView, where she contributed to a positive company culture and maintained high operational standards. Andrea has also gained valuable experience at leading financial firms such as Wellington Management and SAC Capital. She holds a degree in Hospitality and Event Management from Lasell College.
Ricki Millington
Ricki Millington is a seasoned hospitality and asset management professional with a passion for creating exceptional experiences. Currently, as Director of Asset Management, he oversees a diverse portfolio of properties. Prior to Blue Flag Capital, Ricki held leadership positions at Cisco Brewers and Jack Wills, where he honed his skills in operations, general management, and brand development. With a strong academic background from the University of Bristol, UK, Ricki's unique blend of business acumen and hospitality expertise makes him most valuable to the team.
Dillon Prives
Dillon plays a key role leading entitlements, guiding design & branding, oversees construction, and facilitates a smooth project handoff to operations. Dillon joined the team in 2020 as a Project Manager on the development team supporting the AutoCamp Cape Cod project. When office closures necessitated a shift to on-site work, Dillon embraced the challenge, gaining invaluable hands-on experience with the construction team. Prior to joining Blue Flag Capital, Dillon was a Producer at Shadow Lion Productions and graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Jacquelyn Hegarty
Jacquelyn supports the sourcing, underwriting, due diligence, and investment management of the hospitality funds. Her keen eye for identifying opportunities and her passion for hospitality drive everything she does. Jacquelyn leverages her strong analytical and financial modeling skills to evaluate investment opportunities and contribute to the success of our funds. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Boston College with a Master's Degree from Boston College Carroll School of Management in Quantitative Finance.
As true partners in a community, Blue Flag Capital is committed to re-investing a certain percentage of revenue each year back into the communities that we serve. The Blue Flag Impact Committee’s goal is to allocate funds each year to the communities’ non-profit organizations. If your organization is interested in being considered by the Impact Committee, please reach out to us.
