​The Modular Advantage for Hospitality

​Join us for an insightful panel on the future of modular construction in the hospitality sector hosted by the Advanced Building Construction (ABC) Collaborative. Our expert speakers combine decades of experience in hotel development, franchising, branding, and operations. They will address why modular works and how to standardize hotel developments to benefit from economies of scale and deliver high-quality builds faster and more cost effectively.

​This event will cover how modular design can lead to more efficient project timelines, higher-quality developments, and fewer emissions. Whether you’re experienced in modular design or simply curious, this is a unique chance to connect with industry leaders and discover actionable insights to drive your projects forward.

​This event is hosted by the ABC Collaborative, ADL Ventures, and RMI.

​Industry Speakers & Featured Panelists

​Menno Hilberts, Panel Moderator

​Menno led the development team for citizenM from 2008 to 2023 and was responsible for over $1.5B in ground-up construction in major cities across Europe and the US. During this roll-out, he specifically focused on full volumetric modular delivery and was responsible for over 3,000 modular guest rooms in urban high-rise projects across 15 projects.

​David Walsh, Marriott

​Dave Walsh is a Senior Director of Global Design – Leading the Design & Project Management of Marriott’s Midscale Brands. With over 25 years at Marriott, Dave has led Project Management of the Classic and Distinctive brands and has supported the design and construction of more than 4,000+ hotels. In addition to his day job, Dave is dedicated to Marriott’s initiative to advance modular construction across the hospitality sector, ensuring high quality, speed-to-market solutions that deliver a strong return on investment. Dave is a graduate of the University of Maryland and began his career with George Hyman / Clark Construction Group working on commercial office, healthcare, and sports complexes.

​Carl Hren, Concord Hospitality

​Carl Hren, EVP of Development for Concord Hospitality, was responsible for the design and construction of the AC by Marriott in Louisville, KY's Nulu neighborhood. All of the guestrooms in the building were modular. Concord continues to investigate other hotel development opportunities that could be constructed using modular construction.

​Irene Lu, Vandurmer Group

​Irene Lu is the Managing Director of Vandurmer Group Inc., a real estate capital markets advisory firm. With over 25 years in commercial real estate lending, underwriting/credit, syndication and brokerage, Irene specializes in construction lending and complex financing transactions across all asset classes.  Her interest in modular construction was piqued when citizenM engaged Irene and her team at CBRE to finance its development portfolio across the United States. Irene is a graduate of Yale, Georgetown University Law Center, The Wharton School, and the University of Pennsylvania and was admitted to the bar in New York and D.C.