Hospitalty Real Estate Symposium

Join us for the 2025 Hospitality Real Estate Symposium, a premier one-day event hosted by Boston University School of Hospitality Administration, where industry leaders, visionaries, innovators, and students gather 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.

Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at 9 AM to 7 PM
Location: Boston University Center for Computing & Data Sciences, 17th Floor
665 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215

Key Themes:

  • C-Suite Check-in: Candid conversations around key future megatrends that CEOs are focused on and their prognosis on what lies ahead for our industry.
  • Investment Strategies for Tomorrow: Gain insights into emerging opportunities in real estate, from capital markets to innovative funding models.
  • Reimagining Development and Redevelopment: Discover creative approaches to repositioning properties for modern demands, including sustainability and adaptive reuse.
  • The Tech Revolution in Real Estate: Explore cutting-edge technology transforming every aspect of the real estate lifecycle and companies driving innovation in this space.

Network with industry experts and passionate students, gain new perspectives, and be at the forefront of this dynamic industry.

For more information, contact Kaushik Vardharajan, Associate Professor of the Practice and Director, Real Estate Program.

Hospitality Real Estate Competition

The Hospitality Real Estate Competition invites participation from teams at hospitality schools across the country and eventually across the world. This competition challenges teams of both undergraduate and graduate students to act as real estate developers and create a masterplan for a specific development that is innovative, financially viable, embraces elements of sustainability, and incorporates the needs of the community. Finalists will present during the 2025 Hospitality Real Estate Symposium.

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Event FAQ

Event Agenda

8:00 am – 9:00 am: Registration
9:00 am – 9:10 am: Opening Remarks by Dean Arun Upneja and Kaushik Vardharajan, Associate Professor of the Practice and Director, Real Estate Program
9:10 am – 9:55 am: Seamless, Not Soulless — Driving Experience Innovation in Hospitality panel moderated by Bashar Wali, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Practice Hospitality

  • Sarah Eustis, Founder and CEO, Main Street Hospitality Group
  • Rob Blood, Founder & Chairman, Lark
  • Kate Saenko, Professor of Computer Science & Director, Computer Vision and Learning Group at Boston University

10:00 am – 10:40 am: The Real Estate Development Landscape panel moderated by Rachel Roginsky, Principal/Owner, Pinnacle Advisory Group

  • Victoria Maguire, Senior Director of Development, WS Development
  • Tom O’Brien, Founding Partner and Chief Executive Officer, The HYM Investment Group, LLC
  • Ama Romaine, Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Progress Residential
  • Jordan Warshaw, President, The Noannet Group

10:40 am – 11:10 am: Networking Break
11:10 am – 12:10 pm: Real Estate Competition – Undergraduate Case Presentations by finalists
12:10 pm – 1:15 pm: Lunch
1:15 pm – 2:15 pm: Real Estate Competition – Graduate Case Presentations by finalists
2:15 pm – 2:45 pm: Leadership Lessons from the Front Lines with Nic Sanchez, former Navy SEAL
2:50 pm – 3:30 pm: Show Me The Money – Capital & Dealmaking moderated by Jonathan Jaeger, Senior Managing Director, LW Hospitality Advisors

  • Diem Larsen, Senior Vice President of Corporate Finance and Analytics, Park Hotels & Resorts Inc.
  • Jim Luchars, Senior Advisor, Stonebridge Companies
  • Caroline Mahl Patel, Managing Director, Head of Portfolio Management & Underwriting – Specialty Real Estate Finance, Wells Fargo
  • Mark Owens, Vice Chair & Leader of Hospitality Practice Group, Colliers International

3:30 pm – 4:00 pm: Networking Break
4:00 pm – 4:45 pm: What Lies Ahead for the Hospitality Industry panel moderated by Kristie Dickinson, Managing Director/EVP, CHMWarnick

  • John Basting, SVP of Investments & Asset Management, Cain International
  • Warren Fields, President & CEO, Pyramid Hotel Group
  • Scott Hochman, Senior Director and Portfolio Manager, MetLife Investment Management
  • Julienne Smith, Chief Development Officer of Americas, IHG Hotels & Resorts

4:45 pm – 5:30 pm: The Corner Office Conversation with Dean Arun Upneja and John Murray, President & CEO, Sonesta

5:30 pm – 7:00 pm: Cocktail Reception & Awards Ceremony

Speakers

Sponsorships

BU SHA is grateful for the generous support from our sponsors who make this event possible. Interested in becoming a sponsor? Contact Mara Littman, Director of Corporate and Public Relations at mlittman@bu.edu.

Gold Sponsor:

Silver Sponsor:

         

       

         

Supporter:

CHMWarnick
HEI Hotels
Hunter Hotel Advisors
LW Hospitality Advisors
Stonebridge Companies

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Current as of 4.1.25

Unlock Opportunities in Hospitality Real Estate

For those interested in furthering their knowledge, explore our one-year Master of Science in Hospitality Real Estate program and discover how you can contribute to shaping the future of this vibrant industry. 

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