REFM or BIWS for Asset Level Hotel Modeling

I know this has been beaten to death but I searched and could use input still. I work in a finance role in the hospitality industry, but i am looking to move into an acquisitions/Asset Management/brokerage role within a year or so.

I'm looking into these two programs to get a modeling foundation. It appears that BIWS is more REIT oriented while REFM is more asset level focused. The latter is more what i'm after, but the REIT stuff obviously wouldn't hurt to learn. I am however drawn to the hotel model included in BIWS. Does REFM cover anything hotel specific? even if it doesn't I still think I could learn plenty from other asset types (i'm well aware hotels are a different beast but still). Any ideas on which you think would be more beneficial to me?

Also, on a different note.. does anyone know if I can run these two on a surface pro 3?

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Best Response

You can run the models on a surface Pro 3 ( I have one for work and my model which is VBA heavy runs well on the i5 (my coworker has the i3 and it also works)).

Regarding the models - I am a fan of REFM's, but really you won't go wrong either way. Instead of using it to learn it be sure to REBUILD IT. My mentor's fine words: "when you are working with an excel model think of it as sitting next to Ms. Universe at the bar - instead of "hitting and quitting it" figure out what makes her beautiful, see what makes her turn"

True story.

My advice: get either model, stay past closing time at work, throw a lip in, and rebuild that shit

 

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