BU School of Hospitality Administration Announces Passing of Ray Bennett, Advisory Board Member and President, U.S. & Canada, Franchising and Managed by Marriott Select Brands for Marriott International, Inc.

Ray Bennett

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 9, 2022

(May 9, 2022) Boston, MA – Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration (BU SHA) is deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Ray Bennett, BU SHA Advisory Board Member and President, U.S. and Canada, Franchising, and Managed by Marriott Select Brands for Marriott International Inc.  

Ray Bennett was appointed to the BU SHA Advisory Board in the fall of 2021. In just a few short months, he made an important impact on the Board in addition to our students, faculty, and staff. Ray shared his career and life journey as well as words of inspiration and advice in this Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series in November 2021. (Recording available here.) 

“From the very first time I met Ray Bennett, he made a remarkable impression as someone who connects in a meaningful way with all those who cross his path. You feel instantly as if you have known him your entire life,” said Arun Upneja, Dean of Boston University School of Hospitality Administration. “I admired his talents as an executive which were on par with his heartfelt commitment to his work, family, and supporting future generations, from school-age children in his local community to rising leaders in the Hospitality industry at large. I, along with all those who were touched by his presence, feel fortunate to have known such an outstanding individual. On behalf of the BU SHA Advisory Board, faculty, staff, and students, we extend our condolences.” 

An advocate for increasing access and opportunities for people from minority groups, Ray recently was the keynote speaker and sponsor for the inaugural in-person P.O.C. Ph.D. Pathway in Hospitality & Tourism Conference in April 2022 at BU School of Hospitality Administration. Attended by high-performing students from underrepresented groups (Black, Hispanic, and Native American) and faculty from around the country, the mission of the P.O.C Ph.D. Pathway Program is to introduce the idea of an academic career in hospitality. This nationwide initiative was organized by a consortium of deans and directors of university hospitality programs and HBCUs nationwide to address the acute shortage of underrepresented minority faculty in hospitality programs. The conference served as a launching pad for undergraduate and graduate students to learn from people of similar demographic backgrounds, meet potential mentors, and network with hospitality academics and administrators, particularly Ph.D. program directors and deans of hospitality programs.  

BU SHA is grateful for Ray Bennett’s impactful and enduring contribution to this program and our school. 

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About Boston University School of Hospitality Administration: Established in 1981 and now celebrating 40 years of Innovating the Business of Hospitality, Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration (SHA) offers students a combination of rigorous academics, liberal arts curriculum, and international experiences for the pursuit of success in lodging, restaurants, food service, and other avenues of the hospitality industry. SHA has a unique relationship with the city of Boston, where the area’s hotels and restaurants provide students with numerous opportunities for internships to satisfy work experience requirements for their degrees. For more information about the powerful SHA undergraduate program, visit Boston University School of Hospitality Administration Undergraduate Program | School of Hospitality Administration and to learn more about the internationally recognized MMH program, visit Master of Management in Hospitality (MMH) Degree | BU SHA .

About Boston University: Founded in 1839, Boston University is an internationally recognized institution of higher education and research.  With more than 34,000 students, it is the fourth-largest independent university in the United States. BU consists of 17 schools and colleges and the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences, along with a number of multi-disciplinary centers and institutes integral to the University’s research and teaching mission. In 2012, BU joined the Association of American Universities (AAU), a consortium of 62 leading research universities in the United States and Canada. For more information, visit About BU | Boston University

 

MEDIA CONTACTS: 

Dean Arun Upneja
Email: aupneja@bu.edu
Office: 617-358-6744

Mara Littman, Director of Corporate and Public Relations
Email: mlittman@bu.edu
Office: 617-353-4496