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Overview

Throughout Greg’s 25+ year career working in the hospitality industry, he has dedicated himself to helping clients solve the range of legal issues associated with operating a modern hospitality operation – from negotiating management and other operational agreements to advising on the myriad of issues associated with sales distribution and online travel.

Greg is Chair of the firm's national Hospitality, Travel & Tourism practice, which is directed at the variety of matters faced by hospitality and travel industry members, including purchase and sales agreements, management agreements, sales and marketing, distribution, privacy and data security, procurement and technology. 

His clients include owners, operators and franchisors of hotels and resorts, airlines, cruise lines, tour operators and restaurants.

Greg has served as counsel to many of the hospitality industry's local, state and national trade associations and trade groups, including the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) and Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP).

Prior to his career in private practice, Greg served in-house legal and business roles with the Westin Hotel Company/Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Homegrocer.com/Webvan Group and Columbia Hospitality.

Greg publishes Online Travel Update, a weekly digest offering a global perspective of key trends and issues impacting the hospitality and online travel industries. His Online Travel Update posts appear on Foster Garvey’s Duff on Hospitality Law blog and are syndicated by JD Supra. Since 2019, Greg has been recognized among JD Supra’s Top Authors in its annual Readers’ Choice Awards, and in 2021, he was recognized as the content platform’s #1 Author in the Transportation category.

Professional Activities

  • American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), Member
    • Distribution Community of Interest Board
    • General Counsels Committee
  • Foster Garvey, Firm Co-Chair, 2019-2020
  • Garvey Schubert Barer, Firm Chair, 2016-2019
  • Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI), Member
    • Global Distribution Advisory Board
  • Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association (ORLA), Member
  • University of Washington School of Law, Hospitality Law, Part-time Lecturer
  • Washington Lodging Association (WLA), Member

Experience

Experience

  • GSB Represents Evolution Hospitality in Sale

    GSB represented the sellers of Evolution Hospitality in its sale to Aimbridge Hospitality. Aimbridge is the nation’s second largest independent hotel investment and management firm. GSB advised the sellers in all aspects of the transaction, including structure, documentation, buyer due diligence (purchase price included an equity component in buyer), and broad seller due diligence.

  • Integrated celebrity signature restaurants

    Integrated celebrity signature restaurants and/or spas into existing hotel, resort and convention center facilities.

  • Prepared form global group sales and catering contracts

    Prepared form global group sales and catering contracts and supporting materials.

  • Reviewed and negotiated franchise agreements

    Reviewed and negotiated franchise agreements with national franchisors Hilton, Marriott, Intercontinental Hotel Group, Starwood, Carlson, Choice, Jimmy John’s, Black Bear Diner and Quiznos.

  • Reviewed and negotiated global distribution, meta-search, daily deal/private sale and on-line marketing agreements

    Reviewed and negotiated global distribution, meta-search, daily deal/private sale and on-line marketing agreements with Expedia, Priceline, Booking.com, Orbitz, Agoda, Ctrip, Alpharooms, Destinations of the World, Hotelied, Google, TripAdvisor, Kayak, Roomkey, American Express, Gullivers Travel Associates, Travelclick, Gilt/Jetsetter, Rue La La and Travelzoo.

  • Reviewed and negotiated global vendor agreements

    Reviewed and negotiated global vendor agreements for the purchase and/or licensing of a variety of goods and services, including in-room entertainment (PPV, FTG); property-management systems (PMS), point of sale (POS), and central reservation systems (CRS); merchant card and payment processing; application development and hosting; and telecommunications (data and voice).

  • Reviewed and negotiated management contracts

    Reviewed and negotiated management contracts for full service, select service, limited service and extended-stay hotels, condominium hotels, resorts, conference centers, timeshare resort homeowners' association, golf courses and restaurants in Arizona, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, California, Colorado, Montana, Hawaii, New York, Louisiana, Nebraska, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Ohio and Texas.

Blog Posts

Blog Posts

News & Insights

News

Speaking Engagements

Past Appearances

Publications

Admissions

  • Washington, 1994
  • Oregon, 2012

Education

  • J.D., Seattle University School of Law (magna cum laude), 1994
    • University of Puget Sound Law Review, Editor-in-Chief, 1993-1994
  • B.S., Pepperdine University (magna cum laude), 1991

Honors & Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Leisure and Hospitality Law, 2024-present
  • Chambers USA (Nationwide) Leading Individual, Leisure & Hospitality, 2022-present; 2017 
  • Washington Super Lawyer list
  • Seattle Met magazine, “Top Lawyer”
  • JD Supra Readers' Choice Awards, “Top Author”
    • Transportation, 2021-present
    • Airlines/Aviation, 2019-2020
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