[BU Today] Dean Arun Upneja to Step Down After 13 Years at SHA
Arun Upneja, dean of Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration, will step down on July 31 after 13 years leading the school. He will take a one-year sabbatical before returning to SHA’s faculty. Tanya Zlateva, dean of BU’s Metropolitan College, will serve as interim dean starting August 1. Under Upneja’s leadership, SHA expanded its international […]
BU SHA Research Spotlight: New Study Identifies Carbon Price Threshold for Renewable Energy Growth
Apostolos Ampountolas, Associate Professor at Boston University School of Hospitality Administration, and Yagmur Saglam have published new research in Research in International Business and Finance examining how carbon pricing and green finance work together to accelerate renewable energy adoption across the European Union. Analyzing 24 years of EU-27 data (2000–2023), the study finds that green […]
[BU Today] SHA Students Shine in BU’s Innovation Competitions
Students from the Boston University School of Hospitality Administration are among the innovators contributing to a vibrant culture of entrepreneurship across campus, highlighted during Innovators’ Night 2026 and a series of university-wide innovation competitions. At this year’s events, including the $50K Hospitality Innovation Competition held during the Hospitality Leadership Summit, SHA students showcased creative, industry-focused […]
[Expedite] Beli CEO Highlights Data-Driven Dining at Hospitality Leadership Summit
The Boston University School of Hospitality Administration recently hosted its annual Hospitality Leadership Summit, bringing together industry leaders to explore innovation shaping the future of hospitality. During the event, Judy Thelen, Co-Founder and CEO of Beli, was featured in a live podcast conversation, where she shared insights into the company’s unique approach to restaurant discovery […]
[Reader’s Digest] Why Hotel Sheets Are Tucked So Tightly
Alec Dalton, adjunct professor at Boston University School of Hospitality Administration, is featured in a recent Reader’s Digest article explaining a small but memorable detail of the hotel experience – why sheets are tucked so tightly. Drawing on his expertise in service operations and guest experience, Dalton explains that tightly tucked sheets are not just […]
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 […]
[New Publication] Understanding Lodging REIT Vulnerability Through Event Study Analysis
Apostolos Ampountolas, Ph.D., has published “Market Volatility and Lodging REIT Performance: An Event Study Analysis” in Tourism Analysis. The study examines how the COVID-19 pandemic affected 18 publicly traded lodging REITs using an event study approach and the Fama–French five-factor model. Results show significant negative cumulative abnormal returns following the World Health Organization’s pandemic declaration, […]
BU School of Hospitality Administration presents $50k Hospitality Innovation and $20k Student Wellbeing Competitions
Boston University School of Hospitality Administration (BU SHA) is proud to announce the $50k Hospitality Innovation and $20k Student Wellbeing competitions. The competitions offer Boston University undergraduate and graduate students, as well as 2025 BU alumni, the chance to tackle real-world challenges and create solutions for them. Competing teams can apply, starting with an idea, and will then work with advisors and mentors to further refine their […]
Top-Tier IJHM Publishes Dr. Bai Yunmei’s Add-on Pricing Research
Bai Yunmei, Ph.D, has published a new article in the International Journal of Hospitality Management titled “Understanding Transaction Value in Add-on Pricing – How Base Room Rate, Attribute Type, and Price Framing Shape Consumer Booking Intention.” The study explains how base room rates, add-on attributes, and price framing shape consumer booking intentions. Key insights show […]
[The Boston Globe] 43 cancellations reported at Logan Airport on Friday
Makarand Mody, Associate Professor of Hospitality Marketing at the Boston University School of Hospitality Administration, notes that widespread flight cancellations at Logan Airport have ripple effects across the hospitality sector, impacting hotel stays, car rentals, and restaurant business throughout the region. Link to the news