Boston University School of Hospitality names Debby Soo, CEO of OpenTable, as 2026 Hospitality ICON Award honoree and spotlights Hospitality AI at the Hospitality Leadership Summit on April 10, 2026

Boston University School of Hospitality Administration (BU SHA) is pleased to announce that the 2026 Hospitality ICON Award will be presented to Debby Soo, CEO of OpenTable, at the School’s annual Hospitality Leadership Summit, Friday, April 10, 2026.

The full-day Summit will take place at Boston University’s Wightman Mansion, 43 Hawes Street, Boston. Registration, sponsorship information, and the Summit agenda are available on the BU SHA website.

Event Details

  • Date: Friday, April 10, 2026, 9 AM – 6 PM
  • Location: Wightman Mansion, 43 Hawes Street, Boston, MA
  • Tickets & registration: Purchase tickets and view sponsorship opportunities at edu/hospitality/events/summit

The Hospitality Leadership Summit brings together forward-thinking leaders, from journalists and entrepreneurs to owners and operators, who will share innovative ideas and explore cultural shifts shaping the present and future of hospitality with students, faculty, and the broader hospitality community. This year’s Summit centers on Hospitality AI and poses the timely and consequential question: In today’s transformative era of widespread artificial intelligence, how can the hospitality industry embrace AI’s benefits while preserving the unique human experiences that define its value?

This year’s Hospitality ICON Award celebrates a leader who believes technology can help foster human connection. Debby Soo will be honored for her leadership at OpenTable, which has accelerated its adoption and development of cutting-edge technologies to support the dining ecosystem of restaurants and diners. Under her guidance, OpenTable is helping future-proof restaurants and the industry at-large, while empowering diners to adapt to the changing discovery landscape.   

“It’s an honor to be recognized as this year’s Hospitality ICON Award recipient and a privilege to serve restaurants and the hospitality industry,” said Debby Soo, CEO of OpenTable. “Hospitality runs on heart—it drives chefs and restaurateurs to share their craft despite the industry’s many challenges. Restaurants are the heartbeat of our communities, creating spaces where meaningful human connections happen every day. That’s why, at OpenTable, we’re energized to deliver new tools and AI solutions that help these businesses thrive—bringing more diners through their doors and giving operators the freedom to focus on creating magic around the table.”

“We are delighted to present the Hospitality ICON Award to Debby Soo,” said Arun Upneja, Ph.D., Dean of Boston University School of Hospitality, who will join Soo for a fireside chat during the Summit. “Debby’s work sits at the intersection of technology, commerce, and human-centered product design. Her perspective is especially relevant as our Summit examines how AI can be harnessed to innovate experiences while safeguarding hospitality’s essential human touch. Her leadership will be an important lesson for our students and industry partners alike.”

Summit program highlights include:

Debby Soo, CEO of OpenTable
Debby Soo brings expertise in product-first commercialization, strategic partnerships, and international growth. Prior to OpenTable, she spent 10+ years building KAYAK’s travel commercial team, establishing the APAC business, and then overseeing global business development for both KAYAK and OpenTable. She started her career at Citi as an investment banking analyst for the technology sector before joining Google’s Strategic Partnership Group where she focused on global content acquisition and partnerships for Google Maps. Debby is a graduate of Stanford University and has an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management.

Co-Chairs of the 2026 Hospitality Leadership Summit:

  • Mara Littman, Executive Director of Strategic Operations & Corporate Relations
  • Eleni Granas, Clinical Assistant Professor of Hospitality and Events Management; Director of Event Curriculum & Planning
  • Eli Feldman, Adjunct Professor of Restaurant Innovation and owner of Shy Bird


Past School of Hospitality ICON awardees include Martha Sheridan, President and CEO of Meet Boston, Padma Lakshmi, an Emmy-nominated producer, television host, food expert, and a New York Times best-selling author, as well as one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People (2023); Niki Leondakis, CEO of CorePower Yoga; the co-founders of Airbnb Nathan Blecharczyk, Brian Chesky, and Joe Gebbia; restaurant pioneer Danny Meyer, Founder and CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group and Shake Shack; and Richard L. Friedman, President and CEO of Carpenter & Company Inc., credited, among a long list of accolades, for reshaping the Boston skyline with The Four Seasons Hotel & Private Residences at One Dalton. For a list of Hospitality ICON awardees, visit: ICON Award Winners.

2026 Hospitality Leadership Summit Sponsors*

BU School of Hospitality Administration is grateful for the generous support from:

  • Platinum Level: Hotel Commonwealth, Kataram Studios
  • Gold Level: Aramark, bartaco, Columbus Hospitality Group, Davio’s, PEAK Event Services, Restaurant Associates, Seaport Hotel, Sonesta International Hotels, TPNI, Tripleseat, Xenia Greek Hospitality, and WildLeaf Design
  • Silver Level: Meet Boston
  • Supporter Level: Entertainment Specialists, Hyatt Regency Boston/Cambridge, Massachusetts Restaurants United (MRU), Uncommon Hospitality

*Sponsor List is current as of 3/24/26

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