# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0001295810
**File Stem:** 0001193125-25-283930
**Filing Date:** 2025-11
**Character Count:** 11458
**Document Hash:** 5533743a96d3696ad11fd2aaf1289bac
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001193125-25-283930.hdr.sgml**: 20251117

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001193125-25-283930

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 8-K

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 15

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20251115

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Financial Statements and Exhibits

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20251117

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20251117

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc.
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001295810
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** HOTELS & MOTELS [7011]
- **ORGANIZATION NAME:** 05 Real Estate & Construction
- **EIN:** 201296886
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** MD
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 8-K
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 001-32319
- **FILM NUMBER:** 251489329

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 15 ENTERPRISE
- **STREET 2:** SUITE 200
- **CITY:** ALISO VIEJO
- **STATE:** CA
- **ZIP:** 92656
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** (949) 330-4000

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 15 ENTERPRISE
- **STREET 2:** SUITE 200
- **CITY:** ALISO VIEJO
- **STATE:** CA
- **ZIP:** 92656

?xml version='1.0' encoding='ASCII'? 8-K

### UNITED STATES

### SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

#### Washington, D.C. 20549

### FORM 8-K

#### CURRENT REPORT

#### PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

#### OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

#### Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 15, 2025

## Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc.

#### (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Maryland** | **001-32319** | **20-1296886** |
| **(State or Other Jurisdiction of**<br> **Incorporation or Organization)** | **(Commission**<br> **File Number)** | **(I.R.S. Employer**<br> **Identification Number)** |
| **15 Enterprise, Suite 200**<br> **Aliso Viejo, California** | **15 Enterprise, Suite 200**<br> **Aliso Viejo, California** | **92656** |
| **(Address of Principal Executive Offices)** | **(Address of Principal Executive Offices)** | **(Zip Code)** |

---

(949) 330-4000

#### (Registrant's telephone number including area code)

#### N/A

#### (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Title of Each Class** | **Trading Symbol(s)** | **Name of Each Exchange**<br> **on Which Registered** |
| Common Stock, $0.01 par value | SHO | New York Stock Exchange |
| Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value | SHO.PRH | New York Stock Exchange |
| Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value | SHO.PRI | New York Stock Exchange |

---

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by checkmark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Item 5.02.** | **Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.**  |

---

On November 17, 2025, Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. (the "Company") announced that the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") elected Michael Barnello, aged 60, as a member of the Board, effective November 15, 2025. Mr. Barnello will serve as a director of the Board with a term expiring at the 2026 annual meeting of stockholders and until his successor has been duly elected and qualified. The Board has affirmatively determined that Mr. Barnello is an independent director pursuant to the NYSE's listing standards. With this addition, the Company's Board will be comprised of nine members. A copy of the Company's press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Mr. Barnello is a Founder and Managing Partner at Badlands Hotel Capital, a hospitality investment and asset management company. Formerly, Michael was President and Chief Executive Officer of LaSalle Hotel Properties (NYSE: LHO) where he had been with the company since its IPO in 1998. LaSalle Hotel Properties was a leading real estate investment trust that owned 41 properties, made up of upscale, full-service hotels, totaling approximately 10,400 guest rooms in 11 markets in seven states and the District of Columbia. Prior to 1998, Mr. Barnello served as Senior Vice President of LaSalle Partners (which became Jones Lang LaSalle), a commercial real estate and investment company. Before joining LaSalle in 1995, Mr. Barnello was Vice President with Strategic Realty Advisors, formerly known as VMS Realty Partners. He received a BS in Hotel Administration from Cornell University.

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Item 9.01.** | **Financial Statements and Exhibits.**  |

---

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(d) The following exhibits are furnished herewith:

#### EXHIBIT INDEX

---

| | |
|:---|:---|
| **Exhibit<br>No.** | **Description** |
| 99.1 | [Press Release, dated November 17, 2025.](d846096dex991.htm) |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |

---

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#### SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

---

| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. | Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. |
| Date: November 17, 2025 | By: | /s/ Aaron R. Reyes |
|  |  | **Aaron R. Reyes** |
|  |  | **(Principal Financial Officer and Duly Authorized Officer)** |

---

## Exhibit 99.1

**Exhibit 99.1**![LOGO](g846096g1115073854657.jpg)

**SUNSTONE HOTEL INVESTORS ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS** 

**Aliso Viejo, Calif. (November 17, 2025) –** Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. (the "Company" or "Sunstone") (NYSE: SHO) today announced the appointment of Michael Barnello to the Company's Board of Directors. The appointment is effective as of November 15, 2025 and Sunstone will nominate Mr. Barnello to stand for election to the Company's Board of Directors at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Inclusive of this appointment, the Company's Board will now be comprised of nine directors.

"We are pleased to welcome Mike to Sunstone's Board" commented Douglas M. Pasquale, Chairman of the Board. "Mike's extensive lodging industry expertise provides additional depth and experience to our Board and will enhance the Company's commitment to maximize shareholder value." Bryan A. Giglia, Chief Executive Officer, added "I look forward to working with Mike and benefitting from his unique perspective and success in the sector."

"We appreciate the constructive engagement we have had with Sunstone's Board of Directors and management team. We are excited about Mr. Barnello's addition to the Board and are confident he will be additive to Sunstone's ongoing efforts towards realizing value for its shareholders," stated Michael Ching of Tarsadia Capital.

**About Michael Barnello** 

Mr. Barnello is a Founder and Managing Partner at Badlands Hotel Capital, a hospitality investment and asset management company. Formerly, Michael was President and Chief Executive Officer of LaSalle Hotel Properties (NYSE: LHO) where he had been with the company since its IPO in 1998. LaSalle Hotel Properties was a leading real estate investment trust that owned 41 properties, made up of upscale, full-service hotels, totaling approximately 10,400 guest rooms in 11 markets in seven states and the District of Columbia. Prior to 1998, Mr. Barnello served as Senior Vice President of LaSalle Partners (which became Jones Lang LaSalle), a commercial real estate and investment company. Before joining LaSalle in 1995, Mr. Barnello was Vice President with Strategic Realty Advisors, formerly known as VMS Realty Partners. He received a BS in Hotel Administration from Cornell University.

**About Sunstone Hotel Investors** 

Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc. is a lodging real estate investment trust ("REIT"). Sunstone's strategy is to create long-term stakeholder value through the acquisition, active ownership, and disposition of well-located hotel and resort real estate. For further information, please visit Sunstone's website at <u>www.sunstonehotels.com</u>.

**About Tarsadia Capital** 

Tarsadia Capital, LLC is the New York-based investment management company of the Tarsadia Group, a single family office. Tarsadia Capital has a flexible and long-duration investment mandate that focuses on equities and commodities globally. The Tarsadia Group and its principals have a long and successful history of investing in hotels and operating hospitality assets over the past 40 years.

**For Additional Information** 

Aaron Reyes

Chief Financial Officer

Sunstone Hotel Investors, Inc.

(949) 382-3018

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**Forward-Looking Statements** 

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws and regulations. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "predict," "project," "should," "will" and other similar terms and phrases, including opinions, references to assumptions and forecasts of future results. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to differ materially from those anticipated at the time the forward-looking statements are made. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that the expectations will be attained or that any deviation will not be material. All forward-looking information provided herein is as of the date of this release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the Company's expectations.

Additional risks and uncertainties that could affect the Company's business and financial results are included in reports filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these reports are available on our website at www.sunstonehotels.com and through the SEC's Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System ("EDGAR") at www.sec.gov.