With a hotel career that began in 1969 with the management of a small hotel in Durham, NC, Ernest J. Acquaro is one of today's most respected hospitality investment advisors.  His education and professional affiliations are extensive.

After graduating from Cornell University's Hotel School, Mr. Acquaro joined the consulting firm of Laventhol, Krekstein, Horwath & Horwath, conducting market and economic feasibility studies for developers, lenders and financial institutions.  He then received his Masters Degree in Hotel Restaurant and Travel Administration from the University of Massachusetts, where he co-authored a forward-thinking treatise entitled. Some Social Costs and Benefits of Tourism to Rural Communities. The Cape Cod Case.

Mr. Acquaro's impressive career continued with a variety of firms where he was responsible for conducting numerous financial and market analyses in the northeastern United States, Europe and the Middle East.  He also provided nationwide hotel appraisal reviews, due diligence research and expert witness testimony for hotel related litigation.

He was also the first official employee for the noted VMS Hotel Division, joining the company in 1983.  There, Mr. Acquaro was responsible for creating and developing the due diligence, underwriting and asset management programs for the division, from among 7,500 acquisition candidates submitted, due diligence was performed for over 500 hotels, including bids for the chains of Westin, Inter-Continental Hotels and Rock Resorts.  Finally purchasing 54 hotels, this portfolio was valued in excess of $3 billion.

1990-1993 President of Viking Partners, Inc.

Served as an Expert Witness on Hotel Due Diligence for a Major City Pension fund in conjunction with PriceWaterhouse [prior to Coopers] for a $100 plus million litigation case for hotel investment by the pension fund through an advisor.

Also served family offices with regard to banking and due diligence matters.

1994-1997 President and Chief Operating Officer of Fall Creek Partners, Inc

Served as advisors and asset managers in multiple properties including investing as co-investors with Apollo Real Estate Advisors, [prior to AREA formation] and family offices in a new entity Trinity Investment which became other entities post departure.

Investments included Harbor Court Condo and Office Building in Honolulu, Kea Lani Resort Hotel and Villas in Wailea; Embassy Suites, Kaanapali, the Pointe at Poipu, Aloha Tower Marketplace Shopping Center, Queens Court Office Building, L’Auberge de Sedona, Royal Kuhio Condominia; among others in Hawaii, as well as on the Mainland USA.

1997-2001 President Tuscan Partners, LLC

Served as advisors to family offices and for hotel investments.

2001-Currently Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sfortzando, Ltd

Investors along with others in a broad portfolio of real estate and stocks. 2002-Currently Advisor to Wicky & Associates

Serves as advisor to Internationally recognized high profile high net worth investors in evaluation of investments and determination of the appropriate due diligence for their portfolios.

Mr. Acquaro has continued to supervise the acquisition and due diligence processes for hotel, resort, office and residential projects in Hawaii, Arizona and Florida.  He has written over 35 articles on hotel related topics, is a frequent speaker at industry functions, and serves as a resource person for both the private and public sector.