Ownership Profile

Lodging First provides both the leadership and experience along with proven operations capable for both new hotel turnaround and hotel operations.  Our ability to assess market demand, define the appropriate hotel product, employ and train management staff and maintain effective control of multiple hotels, will allow the company to achieve its ambitious growth plans over the next five years.

---

Principal Owners

Peter Coratola (email) Peter Coratola is a principal in Lodging First.  He has a degree from the University of Akron.  Prior to the company's formation, he owned and managed several thousand apartments and numerous retail shopping centers with tenants such as CVS, Kroger, Hobby Lobby and Kinko's.  After graduating, Mr. Coratola served the citizens of Columbus, Ohio as a decorated and distinguished police officer for twenty years until his retirement.  These same core values are instilled throughout his company.  Mr. Coratola is responsible for acquisitions and development, coordination of investor relations, and is the liaison between ownership and the management group.

Matt Studer (email)  Matt is a graduate of The Ohio State University and manages all aspects of Lodging First's financing and franchising.   Matt started his career as a financial consultant with Merrill Lynch and quickly became one of Columbus’s top producing brokers. After 6 years with Merrill Lynch, Matt joined Morgan Stanley as First Vice President/Senior Financial Advisor where he worked for 4 years before concentrating his efforts full-time on managing his real estate portfolio.  Matt's degree in finance and extensive experience allows him to find the financing and flags that make our hotels successful.  Matt is 38 years old, married, and has 2 daughters.