(Mark Your Calendars: RealShare HOTELS 2011, September 15 in New York City)

WASHINGTON, DC-Savills has acquired Humboldt Hospitality, a boutique hospitality advisory firm launched in May 2010. The acquisition--primarily a way to bring on Humboldt’s principals Marc Magazine, Tom Baker and Dave Durbin--will strengthen Savills’ hospitality platform, Magazine tells GlobeSt.com. “Savills does have a hospitality presence but it is largely in New York and on the capital market side,” he says. “Now it will expand into the advisory and transactional space.” The trio will be leaving Humboldt’s McLean, VA headquarters to work out of Savills’ District office shortly, Magazine says.

They will focus on investment transactions, overseas investments and asset management, which will include such services as the renovation, repositioning and rebranding of troubled lodging assets. Magazine, Baker and Durbin are joining as managing directors.

Before forming Humboldt, Magazine was a senior vice president in the CB Richard Ellis lodging group in Washington, where as one of his last transactions he helped close the Watergate Hotel sale. Prior to forming Humboldt, Durbin and Baker led the executive management team at Crestline Hotels & Resorts, as president and chief investment officer, respectively.

Humboldt had a national reach, despite its Mid-Atlantic roots, Magazine says--and the three executives plan to bring that same scope to Savills. “Right now is an interesting time for hotels,” he says, “both in the DC area and nationally.”