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Public information in Latin American and Caribbean markets is oftentimes scarce, incomplete, untimely or some combination of the three, not lending itself to the ideal support of sound business decisions. As the Director of Latin American Operations and Emerging Markets Research, Dino is responsible for breaking down this information barrier and maintaining a comprehensive understanding of the unique and rapidly changing environment surrounding the gaming and hospitality industries in this region; as well as monitoring the dynamics of the industries themselves. To this end, he routinely taps an extensive network of contacts, keeping his finger on the pulse of regional markets by constantly dissecting areas such as competitive environment; consumer/supply trends; changes in relevant legal and taxation issues; financing alternatives; private-public partnership opportunities; country risk profiles; comparative costs of doing business; and even potential staffing issues which could arise for a new operation- guaranteeing our clients on-time intelligence that will allow them to compete effectively in these markets.
Throughout his tenure with The Innovation Group, Dino has provided comprehensive advisory services to public and private sector clients across the U.S, and in Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and the Pacific Rim; advising lenders, operators, attorneys, developers and owners concerning a variety of strategic and financial issues. Equally as adept at financial modeling and strategic analysis as he is with advanced research and statistical methods, Dino ensures that our clients receive a grounded and holistic analysis utilizing the most up-to-date and pertinent market information.
Dino has been engaged for a broad variety of analytic/advisory services across the region. For instance, he was recently responsible for providing primary advisory services and feasibility analyses on various components of a proposed $4 billion resort project in the Caribbean. In Mexico, he performed an enterprise valuation of a casino-resort company; and, for major U.S. and international casino operators, he examined the feasibility of installing Class II gaming operations in no less than 20 major markets across the country. In Costa Rica, Dino completed strategic analyses for several existing hotels as well as a feasibility study/financial analysis for a proposed mixed-use casino resort. Dino performed acquisition due diligence on a US$60 million Casino-Hotel asset in Panama City, Panama- ultimately supporting the client's ability to obtain financing- and identified strategic methods of significantly increasing property revenue streams post-acquisition. In Chile, Dino recommended size, scope, and positioning for leisure developments that would optimally capitalize on the timing of increased tourism traffic brought about by the presence of new gaming facilities; he also performed in-depth gaming market assessments for multiple clients throughout the country.
Dino's recent research pursuits include assessing the viability of incorporating alternative risk transfer methods as cost-reducing, higher-coverage risk management tools for hospitality firms when traditional insurance markets harden; a survey of the technological and strategic state of casino player tracking systems with an assessment of emerging technologies in this area; and an ongoing bi-monthly analysis column for the Cámara Hoteles Costarricenses- examining the role of tourism sector development as a catalyst to and driver of economic growth and urban renewal in third-world cities.
Dino holds a B.S. from the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration where he focused on Finance, Development, and Quantitative Analysis; and, is Costa Rica's Country Director for the Cornell Hotel Society. | 