In this episode of Dollars and Drivers, Keith Kefgen sits down with seasoned hotel real estate expert Michelle Russo, Founder and CEO of hotelAVE, a leading advisory and asset management firm in hospitality. With more than 35 years of experience working on thousands of hotel, resort, and real estate assets, Michelle shares how strategic thinking, market insight, and deep industry relationships drive value in today’s complex landscape. She reflects on her journey from capital markets to building a trusted consultancy, the importance of negotiating with purpose, and the lessons that have shaped her approach to leadership and long-term success.