About Us

Vinay is a lifelong hotelier with experience in hotel investments, development, operations and brokerage. Post-graduation, he spent a number of years with Hodges Ward Elliott, one of the most successful hotel brokerage/investment banking teams in the United States. Under Mark Elliott and his team, Vinay developed an in-depth understanding of the valuation/transaction components of the hotel industry and the associated capital markets. Vinay further honed his skills overseas while establishing JHM International, in Mumbai, India where helped grow JHM’s investments significantly. Intent on creating something very special based on everything he had learned, he returned to the U.S. to found Mandala Holdings in 2013.

Vinay has a hands-on approach to leading and decision-making, overseeing all activities at Mandala Holdings. He holds a B.S. degree from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration.

Lee’s career in commercial real estate includes experience in office, retail and multifamily assets, with a focus on hospitality. He also worked in hospitality development for Gaylord Entertainment and the $1 billion private equity fund, RLJ Development, where he held the title of vice president. Lee joined Mandala Holdings as CIO in 2014.

At Mandala Holdings, Lee focuses on ensuring acquisition and development projects unfold smoothly and expeditiously. He directs the activities of Mandala Holdings’ attorneys, architects, engineers, contractors and accountants to achieve outcomes that best serve the interests of the platform’s investors and partners. Lee holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Howard Isaacson’s responsibilities include overseeing all asset management activities for Mandala Holdings. Prior to joining Mandala, Mr. Isaacson was the Senior Vice President of Asset Management at the publicly traded REIT RLJ Lodging Trust. At RLJ, he was responsible for all asset management and risk management functions. Prior to RLJ, Howard served as the Vice President of Finance for HEI Hospitality, and also held several positions with MeriStar Hotels & Resorts, Inc. His positions at MeriStar included Executive Vice President of the Doral Golf Division and also served as the Chief Financial Officer of CapStar Hotels, a predecessor via merger with MeriStar.

Howard has over 40 years of experience in the hospitality industry. He earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Elizabethtown College in 1975, and is a Certified Public Accountant. Howard was elected as the International President of the Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals in 1995 and co-authored the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry – Ninth and Eleventh Editions.

John is a highly experienced development, design and construction professional with over 40 years in the industry. He is a licensed Architect who, beginning in 1977, practiced for 23 years - 21 of which were in the field of hospitality design & construction.   His reputation as a service-driven professional with extensive expertise in hotel planning and design led to his recruitment by Gaylord Hotels to direct all architectural efforts in the roll out of the new Gaylord Resort and Convention Center brand.

Over the last 14 years John has continued his career in hospitality development, design and construction, holding senior management and consulting roles with projects valued in excess of $12 billion.  These roles include the Executive Director of Architecture & Planning for Las Vegas Sands Corp, where he led the company’s global planning and design efforts.  John also worked as a consultant for Omni Hotels, where he was a project manager, planner and designer.  John has worked on projects nationally and internationally, in Spain, Macau SAR China, Singapore, the Bahamas, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay.  Now with Mandala Holdings, John is overseeing the architecture and planning for the company’s hotel projects in Miami.

John Tims serves as Vice President of Operations for LIME Fresh Mexican Grill where he oversees daily operations and quality control, menu development, process management, construction and design services, and supply management. He has been intimately involved with the conceptualization and creation of the LIME Fresh brand since the fast casual Tex-Mex restaurant opened its first location in 2004 in Miami Beach, Florida.

John started his career in the food and beverage industry as a baker for Einstein Bagels in Detroit, Michigan. He caught the eye of management, who then tasked him with various managerial goals, including turning around underperforming restaurants. He was quickly promoted to the role of Assistant Manager at the Einstein Bagels in South Beach Miami, followed by being named the youngest General Manager in the system at the age of 21. After leaving Einstein, John joined the conceptualization team for Taste Bakery Café in Miami.

John obtained his degree in Material Science from Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia.