Boston University School of Hospitality announces the 2026 Hospitality Real Estate Symposium featuring the inaugural Global Hospitality Real Estate Competition
Boston University School of Hospitality Administration (BU SHA), is proud to announce the 2026 Hospitality Real Estate Symposium and the finals of the Global Hospitality Real Estate Competition on April 21 and 22, 2026 at the Duan Family Center for Computing & Data Sciences on the BU campus.
Event Details:
Date: Wednesday, April 21-22, 2026
Global Hospitality Real Estate Competition Finals: Tues., April 21, 8:30 am -12:00 pm
Hospitality Real Estate Symposium: Wed., April 22, 8:00 am – 3:30 pm
Location: Duan Family Center for Computing & Data Sciences at Boston University, 17th Floor, 665 Commonwealth Ave., Boston
Registration and Sponsorship Opportunities: Hospitality Real Estate Symposium
The Hospitality Real Estate Symposium on April 22, 2026 invites industry leaders, visionaries, innovators, and students to explore the future of hospitality and commercial real estate. This forward-focused conference will delve into the trends, strategies, and technologies shaping the next era of investments, development, and redevelopment. Topics will include key megatrends shaping the future of the industry, insights into the current state of real estate transactions, and creative approaches to raising capital, forming partnerships, and getting deals across the finish line.
Featured Speakers:
- Conner White, Vice Chair & Chief Investment Officer of White Lodging, in conversation with BU SHA Dean Arun Upneja, Ph.D.
- Adi Bhoopathy, Managing Principal of Noble Investments, Bruce Percelay, Chairman & Founder of The Mount Vernon Company, Ian Weissman, Senior Vice President Corporate Strategy of Park Hotels & Resorts, and Tiffany Daniele, Chief Financial Officer, Union Square Hospitality Group, moderated by Rachel Roginsky, Founder & Principal, Pinnacle Advisory Group.
For the full agenda, speaker line-up, and information, visit the Hospitality Real Estate Symposium webpage.
On April 21, leading up to the Hospitality Real Estate Symposium, BU SHA presents the Global Hospitality Real Estate Competition, founded with the generous support of Ian Carter, Chairman, Watches of Switzerland Group PLC; Chairman, Eataly; and Chair of the Dean’s Advisory Board at BU SHA.
This year, BU SHA is delighted to partner with White Lodging and Conner White, its Vice Chair & Chief Investment Officer, to take the competition global, where student teams from hospitality and real estate programs worldwide will present development and financial plans for a vacant site in Fort Worth, TX. With $25,000 in cash prizes graciously sponsored by Conner White and White Lodging, and over $1,000,000 in scholarships to BU SHA’s MSHRE program, the competition aims to foster innovation and creativity among the next generation of leaders. Finalists will present their proposals to judges and attendees, culminating in an awards ceremony at the conclusion of the Symposium on April 22, 2026.
“Today’s hospitality real estate leaders face a combination of short-term operational and financial headwinds along with long-term strategic shifts driven by the confluence of technological innovation, shifting consumer expectations, and evolving investment strategies,” said Arun Upneja, Ph.D., Dean of Boston University School of Hospitality Administration “The Hospitality Real Estate Symposium combined with the Global Hospitality Real Estate Competition, provides a platform to explore these operational and pivotal trends and to demonstrate our commitment to preparing students to lead the future of the industry.”
Kaushik Vardharajan, Associate Professor of the Practice and Director of the Real Estate Program, added, “Our goal at BU SHA is to provide students with learning experiences that mirror the complexities and challenges of the real world. The Global Hospitality Real Estate Competition is a prime example, giving students around the world the opportunity to work on a high-impact project while being mentored by industry leaders. This competition challenges students to apply critical and creative thinking and positions them for success in an increasingly complex field.”
Global Hospitality Real Estate Competition Participating Teams:
The international competition attracted 29 teams from 23 educational institutions across 9 countries, including: Auburn University; BHMS, Switzerland; Boston Architectural College; Boston University; Columbia University; EAE Business School, Spain; ESSEC Business School, France; Georgetown University Steers Center for Global Real Assets; Indian Institute of Management, India; Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Indonesia; Institute of Hotel Management, India; J.W. Marriott, Jr. Institute, University of Utah; Les Roches, Switzerland; Michigan State University; National University of Singapore; New York University; Oklahoma State University; Pennsylvania State University; Texas A&M University; University of Denver; University of Nairobi, Kenya; University of Texas Rio Grande Valley; University of Virginia’s College at Wise
2026 Hospitality Real Estate Symposium Sponsors*
Gold Level: Hilton, Pyramid Global Hospitality
Silver Level: Berkadia, Sherin & Lodgen, Pretium, Park Hotels & Resorts, Swan and Dolphin Orlando, DiamondRock Hospitality Company
Supporter Level: Boylston Properties, Hunter Advisors, Welcome Group, Thayer Ventures, LW Hospitality Advisors, Fairmont Washington D.C., Georgetown, CHMWarnick, The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee, Eastdil Secured, Rebel Hospitality, Stonebridge Companies
*List is current as of 3/18/26.
About Boston University School of Hospitality
For more than 40 years, Boston University’s School of Hospitality has been cultivating the next generation of leaders of the multibillion-dollar hospitality industry. The Boston University School of Hospitality, in collaboration with hospitality industry leaders, is redefining hospitality as Experience Innovation. Our focus is on optimizing human interaction by innovating experiences that are employee, customer, investor, and business driven. Boston University School of Hospitality offers a range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs (several of which are STEM-designated). From experience management to hospitality real estate and beyond, our academic programs challenge students to become Experience Innovators for hotels, restaurants, travel and tourism, healthcare enterprises, retail and luxury brands, sports and entertainment venues, and any organization where hospitality can be strategically applied to help establish lasting and meaningful relationships. Learn more about Boston University’s School of Hospitality and Experience Innovation by visiting bu.edu/hospitality.