Real Estate Competition | School of Hospitality Administration

Global Hospitality Real Estate Competition

Founded and hosted by the Boston University School of Hospitality Administration (SHA), the Global Hospitality Real Estate Competition challenges students to act as real estate developers and design a master plan for a vacant site. Teams create innovative, financially viable proposals that embrace sustainability and address community needs.

Successful teams will demonstrate:

A strong grasp of real estate fundamentals
Deep understanding of the chosen market
Creativity in their vision for the site
Advanced quantitative and financial modeling skills

With $25,000 in cash prizes and over $1 million in scholarships available, students from hospitality and real estate programs worldwide compete in both undergraduate and graduate divisions. The competition not only showcases student creativity and expertise but also highlights SHA’s distinctive approach to hospitality, real estate, and innovation.

Finalists present their projects to an industry panel during the Hospitality Real Estate Symposium, followed by an awards ceremony celebrating the winning teams. By connecting students, faculty, and industry leaders, SHA aims to inspire the next generation, shaping the future of hospitality real estate.

We will start accepting applications for the 2027 Edition in September 2026. If you are interested in learning more about this competition or would like to get involved, please complete the competition interest form, and we’ll reach out to you.

The timeline for the Global Hospitality Real Estate Competition is as follows:

Application Period – September through January 2027
Case Document Released – January 2027
Stage 1 Submissions – February 2027
Semi-Final Submissions – March 2027
Finals – April 2027: In Boston (for US schools) & Online (for international schools) at the Hospitality Real Estate Symposium

Please note: Each participating school selects representatives for the Competition.

Express interest by contacting Kaushik Vardharajan, Director of the Real Estate Program, at kaushikv@bu.edu with any questions.