DENVER – October 8th, 2025 – McWhinney, a Colorado-based real estate investor and developer in commercial, multifamily, hospitality, residential, and mixed-use assets, today announced the appointment of Jason Cruce as Executive Vice President of Hospitality Development. Cruce will oversee all aspects of hospitality development, including project staffing, negotiations with hotel brands, evaluation of national market opportunities, design and construction, financing, and transition to asset management.
With more than 20 years of experience in transforming hospitality destinations, Cruce has delivered over $2 billion in mixed-use commercial real estate, 5,000+ boutique, luxury and lifestyle hotel keys, and 20+ restaurants and nightlife venues, alongside retail-fit-outs and corporate office tenant improvements. Notable hospitality projects led by Cruce in the U.S. and internationally include SLS Hotels at Beverly Hills, CA and Baha Mar in the Bahamas, Sahara Las Vegas, Treehouse Silicon Valley, CA and 1 Hotels in West Hollywood, CA, Nashville, TN and Hanalei Bay, HI.
In his new role, Cruce will lead McWhinney’s hospitality development team, spearhead negotiations with hotel brands, and carry projects through the full life cycle—from design and construction to operations. This includes overseeing the selection of exemplary architects, designers and project staff seeking to deliver destinations that meet market expectations. Collaborating with investors and partners, Cruce will strive to advance McWhinney’s brand pillars through each project and help drive the company’s long-term growth strategy.
“Jason’s appointment marks an important step as we continue to grow McWhinney’s hospitality portfolio,” said Will Little, Chief Development Officer at McWhinney. “He knows how to take complex projects from vision to reality, which is central to our mission of creating places people love. With Jason’s leadership, we’re well-positioned to pursue new opportunities and deliver destinations that meet the highest standards of design, innovation and guest experience.”
Cruce joins McWhinney from Starwood Capital Group, where he served as Senior Vice President and Head of Hotel Development. His career also spans leadership roles at Dakota Development/sbe and Hilton Worldwide, as well as founding consulting practices focused on luxury hotel development and global design standards. Cruce will officially assume his new role at McWhinney on Oct. 1, 2025.
“I’m proud to join McWhinney and contribute to the continued growth of its hospitality platform,” said Cruce. “What drew me here is the caliber of the team and its reputation across the commercial real estate industry for thoughtful, long-term vision. This is a place where destinations are created that perform for partners, resonate with guests and strengthen the markets in which they operate. I’m grateful for the opportunity to build on that record and to work alongside Will and our partners to advance a portfolio that sets McWhinney apart.”
For more information on McWhinney’s leadership and hospitality developments, visit: www.mcwhinney.com.
About McWhinney Real Estate
McWhinney is passionate about creating places people love. Guided by its values – respect, integrity, perseverance, and legacy – the company cultivates communities with a unique sense of place, focusing on value-generation, sustainability, and connectivity. To date, the full-service real estate investment, development, and management firm has planned and developed over 6,000 acres of master-planned communities and 13 million square feet of mixed-use, industrial, residential, multifamily, hospitality, and office properties.
McWhinney’s long-standing history began with a Colorado homestead over 150 years ago, culminating in the creation of the company in 1991 and continuing today with a diversified real estate development vision shaping the landscape of communities concentrated in Colorado’s Front Range and the Western U.S.
Recent McWhinney company and project accolades include both ULI’s America and ULI Global “Award for Excellence,” Colorado Business Committee for the Arts’ “Business for the Arts” award, Broomfield Council of the Arts & Humanities’ “Business of the Year” award, the Associated Builders and Contractors Rocky Mountain Chapter’s “Project of the Year” and “Excellence in Construction” awards and the National Association of Home Builders “Platinum Award – On-the-Boards.” McWhinney’s DEI Committee has also been recognized with an “Award of Achievement” by NAIOP Colorado. With sustainability at its core, McWhinney’s Centerra community has been certified as Colorado’s first National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat.
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