She was recognized among the Top Influential Women in Hospitality by Hotel Management Magazine in 2021.
MONROE, NC, November 21, 2022 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Judith M. Bikulege has been inducted into Marquis Who's Who Biographical Registry. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
For more than five years, Bikulege has been affiliated with Extended Stay America in Charlotte, North Carolina, a premier extended-stay hotel brand that includes more than 760 hotels throughout the country. Joining the organization in 2017 as a senior managing director of real estate, she was subsequently named as the chief investment officer and is presently the senior managing director of real estate. In this capacity, Bikulege is tasked with creating value for the company through its real estate holdings. She works closely with attorneys, negotiates fair pricing of assets and transactional work, and, among other obligations, oversees dispositions and real estate acquisitions. Most recently, she has been focused on collaborating with parties interested in purchasing hotels for alternative use, specifically affordable housing. Throughout her career, Bikulege has notably been instrumental in more than $14 billion of hotel mergers, acquisitions, and dispositions and has significantly contributed to the development, asset management, risk management, and operations of various hotel organizations.
Aside from her commitments with Extended Stay America, Bikulege has served as an independent contractor and hospitality advisory consultant since 2014. She previously garnered recognition as the executive vice president of capital markets for Gencom from 2007 to 2013, an investment firm focusing on luxury hotels, resorts, and residential properties. Among other noteworthy roles, Bikulege was senior vice president of business affairs for Morgans Hotel Group (f/k/a Ian Schrager Hotels) between 2002 and 2007, where she was instrumental in their merger with Hard Rock Hotels Inc. Accumulating more than 40 years in the hospitality industry, Bikulege's earlier years included property-level positions as General Manager, Controller and food and beverage management for several large hotels. Additionally, she had the opportunity to serve as a regional controller before becoming a corporate level partnership controller and account manager.
Grateful for several mentors, including the principal and founder of Gencom, who saw potential in her, Bikulege developed a particular skill for negotiating. In fact, during her years with Gencom, she successfully acquired 42 hotels, substantially increasing Gencom's holdings from when she started with the organization. Looking toward the future, Bikulege aims to serve on various boards and in advisory positions where she can positively influence the industry.
In her downtime, Bikulege enjoys volunteering her time to various worthy causes, including the Castell@College project, part of the AHLA foundation focused on advancing women in the hospitality industry. She serves as a mentor as part of the AHLA Forward Ambassador program and is a member of CHIEF, a private network designed for women executives to strengthen their leadership, magnify their influence and pave the way for women in business.
Bikulege studied at the University of Houston, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She was recognized among the Top Influential Women in Hospitality by Hotel Management Magazine in 2021. That same year, in honor of International Women's Day, Bikulege was highlighted among the 12 Inspirational Women Defining the Future of Hospitality.
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