BlackPearl was founded in 2021 to fuse institutional commercial real estate investing practices with entrepreneurial agility—unlocking outsized returns for our investors. We specialize in sourcing, underwriting, and asset managing our properties with a performance-driven approach.
Our Focus
BlackPearl focuses on hospitality investments across North America. We combine disciplined underwriting with operational expertise, staying actively involved from acquisition through exit. Our team drives value through direct engagement, detailed analysis, and hands-on execution.
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We target opportunistic hotel equity investments with the following profile:
Total Capitalization: $50-$150 MM
Scale: Full Service (Luxury, Upper Upscale, & Upscale)
Branding: Branded or Independent
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We actively seek hotel credit opportunities including:
Senior and Mezzanine Loan Originations
Non-Performing Loan Acquisitions
Loan Servicing
Workouts
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We provide active asset management, combining operational experience with industry relationships to drive results for our investors:
Revenue Management
F&B Evaluation & Partnerships
Expense Controls
Renovations & ROI Projects
Hotel Brand & Management Selection
Our Edge
Our edge lies in our ability to navigate operational complexity with creativity and precision. Through active ownership, we uncover unique investment opportunities, elevate guest experiences, and deliver strong returns for our investors.
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We invest across the capital stack and property lifecycle, adapting to where we see the most compelling risk-adjusted returns.
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We stay actively engaged in operations, working closely with our on-site teams and partners to drive performance and resolve operational hurdles in real time.
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We’re built for decisive action across the full investment lifecycle. From deal execution to day-to-day operations, our structure supports speed, focus, and control.
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We remain steadfast in ensuring incentives are aligned across the capital stack, as it is mandatory that our success is directly tied to our partnerships’ outcomes.
Our Culture
At BlackPearl, culture is the foundation of our performance. We believe that how we operate internally directly impacts the results we deliver externally. This ethos informs every decision we make and drives our commitment to excellence at every level of the firm.
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Our work is defined by rigor and attention to detail. From underwriting to execution, we apply disciplined processes and maintain a high bar for accuracy, consistency, and thoroughness across all aspects of our business.
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Our operating philosophy is grounded in timeliness and transparency. We uphold strong communication standards to support confident, well-timed decisions across the organization.
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Our approach to compensation is rooted in performance and aligned interests. By linking rewards to results, we ensure value is recognized and wealth is distributed meaningfully across the organization.
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We foster a professional environment that values respect, autonomy, and growth. Employee satisfaction is not an afterthought; it is a key component of long-term firm performance and cultural strength.
Leadership
Leadership brings decades of real estate investment experience from some of the world’s leading private equity firms. We leverage institutional roots and entrepreneurial DNA to make nimble, well-informed investment decisions.
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Founder & Managing Partner
Michael leads the growth and investment strategy at BlackPearl, where he drives the firm’s strategic vision and oversees operations across all verticals. He brings over two decades of experience in commercial real estate, having deployed more than $30 billion across both equity and credit positions. His work has included a strong focus on the hospitality sector, with involvement across a range of high-end and experiential assets. Before founding BlackPearl, Michael was a Managing Director at TPG, a global alternative asset manager with $251 billion in AUM. He graduated summa cum laude from Fordham University with a concentration in Economics and Finance. Michael also serves on the board of a leading New York City gallery, reflecting his commitment to the arts. An avid luxury traveler, he draws inspiration from the world’s most exceptional destinations, which shape his perspective on hospitality, design, and placemaking.
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Partner
Jacob oversees originations and portfolio asset management for BlackPearl, blending a background in luxury hospitality and capital markets. Prior to joining BlackPearl, he played a key role in nearly $1 billion of lodging capital markets transactions on Newmark’s national Lodging Capital Markets team. Jacob holds a BA in Economics and an MA in Finance from Claremont McKenna College, where he was a distinguished Robert Day Scholar. He remains an active member of UJA’s Hospitality Group.