Faculty In The Press
[The Washington Post] Makarand Mody Weighs In on the Great Vacation Rental Debate
Splitting the cost of a shared vacation rental is a familiar source of tension among friends and family. Should everyone pay the same amount per person, or should the bill be divided by room? The Washington Post recently explored this question, bringing in experts from hospitality, economics, and personal finance... More
[WalletHub] Apostolos Ampountolas on “Guaranteed Approval” Credit Cards
Apostolos Ampountolas, Assistant Professor of Hospitality Finance and Chair of Graduate Programs at Boston University School of Hospitality Administration, recently shared expert insights on the realities behind “guaranteed approval” credit cards and consumer financial decision-making. Ampountolas explains that truly guaranteed approval credit cards are largely a misconception, as financial institutions must... More
[New Publication] Dr. Shashan Bao Explores Leader Loneliness and Organizational Power Distance
Dr. Shashan Bao from Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration, in collaboration with Phillip M. Jolly, has published a new study in Group & Organization Management exploring an often-overlooked issue in leadership—loneliness. Titled “The Lonely Leader: How Organizational Power Distance and Need to Belong Shape Leader Loneliness,” the research reveals that... More
[Boston Magazine] Should Actual Bostonians Ever Go to Cheers, Faneuil Hall, or Mike’s Pastry?
Leora Lanz, Associate Professor of Marketing at Boston University School of Hospitality Administration, is featured in a recent Boston Magazine article exploring whether locals should visit iconic tourist spots like Cheers Beacon Hill, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, and Mike's Pastry. Lanz explains that while Bostonians may dismiss these locations as overly touristy, More
[BU Today] Building the Future of Hospitality Real Estate
Kaushik Vardharajan, Associate Professor of the Practice at Boston University School of Hospitality Administration, was featured in a recent BU Today article highlighting the School’s innovative Master of Science in Hospitality Real Estate program. The program prepares students to understand the financial, development, and investment decisions behind hospitality properties. As director... More
[The Brink] How Should Workers Respond to Rude Customers? Dr. Sunny Kim Weighs In
Sunny Kim, Assistant Professor at the Boston University School of Hospitality Administration, recently shared expert insights in The Brink article examining how service workers can effectively respond to rude customers. The article is grounded in her research, which served as the foundation for the study titled “Sleepless after sabotage: the... More
[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... More
[Boston Globe] Boston Real Estate Trend: Office Buildings Poised for Hotel Conversions
Kaushik Vardharajan, associate professor and director of real estate programs at Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration, was recently quoted in The Boston Globe discussing the growing trend of converting underutilized downtown office buildings into hotels. As Boston’s office market continues to face elevated vacancy rates, developers are exploring hospitality conversions... More
SHA Professor Makarand Mody Receives 2026 Shipley Academic Innovation Award
Boston University has announced the recipients of the 2026 Shipley Academic Innovation Awards, which recognize faculty-led initiatives that leverage artificial intelligence to reimagine teaching and learning. Among this year’s honorees is SHA Professor Makarand Mody, recognized for Hospitality as Experience Innovation in the Age of AI: Integrating Generative AI into... More
INNOVATING THE FUTURE OF FOOD: A Conversation with Dr. Injoon Huh, Dr. Wonil Koo, and Mr. Dongyeob Lim
Boston University’s School of Hospitality Administration is spotlighting innovations that transform how food and hospitality intersect with technology, sustainability, and global markets. Through its focus on Experience Innovation, SHA connects academic expertise with real-world industry challenges to improve customer experiences, operational efficiency, and long-term value. In this context, Sean Jung... More