Boston University School of Hospitality Administration

Hospitality travels to Kenya! A group of SHA students just returned from this two-week, impactful service-learning program focused on global hospitality, tourism, sustainability, and cultural exchange. Read more about their memorable experiences in BU Today: http://spr.ly/6181B8FSqf

We are thrilled to announce the successful completion of Boston University School of Hospitality Administration's 2026 Global Hospitality Real Estate Competition!

This year's competition went global, bringing together 32 teams representing 25 institutions from 9 countries and 4 continents. Competing for $25,000 in cash prizes and over $1,000,000 in scholarships to our world-class STEM-designated Master of Science in Hospitality Real Estate program, teams were tasked to create a detailed development plan and financial analysis for a 3.5-acre vacant site at the historic Stockyards in Fort Worth, TX, owned by White Lodging.

Join us in congratulating the winners!

Undergraduate Track
1st Place: J.W. Marriott, Jr. Institute – University of Utah
2nd Place: Auburn University
3rd Place: Michigan State University
4th Place: National University of Singapore

Graduate Track
1st Place: Columbia University
2nd Place: J.W. Marriott, Jr. Institute – University of Utah
3rd Place: Boston University
4th Place: ESSEC Business School (IMHI)

We are grateful for the generous support from:

Conner White, Vice Chair & Chief Investment Officer of White Lodging, for so enthusiastically supporting this year’s competition and for offering us their Fort Worth site as the subject site for the competition.

Ryan Meliker from LARC and Duane Vinson from CoStar for graciously offering the teams access to their databases and cutting-edge research.

Ian Carter, Chairman, Watches of Switzerland, without whose support this competition would not have become a reality.

We will start accepting applications for the 2027 Hospitality Real Estate Competition in September 2026. If you are interested in learning more about this competition or would like to get involved, please visit the Hospitality Real Estate Competition webpage: http://spr.ly/6180BBxqrw

Join us in celebrating our Class of 2026 graduates!
The SHA Convocation is today! Friday, May 15 at 1:00 PM.

The ceremony can be livestreamed. Visit the Convocation webpage for the livestream link: http://spr.ly/6181BBxisv

Announcing the award-winning Class of 2026!
Valedictorian: Adelheide Atkins, BS Hospitality Administration
Salutatorian: Jason Selkin: BS Hospitality Administration, concentration in Marketing

Dean's Leadership & Service - Undergraduate
Emmanuel Barris, BS Hospitality Administration, Concentration in RE
Mira Ramnarace, BS Hospitality Administration, Concentration in Events

Dean's Leadership & Service - Graduate
Isha Patel, MSHM

Graduate Academic Excellence: Anne Utzschneider, MMH

Undergraduate Marshals
Logan Kay, BS Hospitality Administration
Delaney Janks, BS Hospitality Administration, Concentration in Events

Graduate Marshals
Sarmad Khawaja, MMH
Jenna McMahon, MMH

Congratulations to all Graduates!

Dear SHA Class of 2026: The stage is set for you! Tomorrow, Friday, May 15 is Convocation. Please read the "Know Before You Go" Guide.

We look forward to joining with your family and friends in applauding your accomplishments!

Calling BU SHA alums (including our newest grads!): Join us in NYC for the annual real estate and SHA networking event on Monday, June 1, beginning with a real estate-focused networking breakfast held in conjunction with the annual NYU Investment Forum and culminating with an elegant evening reception at the legendary The Algonquin Hotel Times Square, Autograph Collection, hosted by Willis Loughhead (CGS’91, COM’93), general manager.

The breakfast—intended for professionals working in real estate—will be hosted by Dean Arun Upneja and Kaushik Vardharajan, ISHC, director of SHA Real Estate Programs and associate professor of the practice. The evening reception welcomes all SHA alumni.

Reconnect, meet new colleagues, and enjoy meaningful conversation in two iconic New York settings. We hope to see you there!

Registration deadline: Monday, May 25.
Link in bio: http://spr.ly/6183BBtqoR

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Hospitality Real Estate Symposium.

The panels presented candid perspectives from owners, developers, hotel brands, brokers, and capital partners on what is (and is not) getting done in today’s market, where they see risk and upside, and the need for the hospitality industry to innovate better and faster.

Another key theme was the tech revolution in real estate—how data, AI, automation, and new platforms are transforming everything.

Recordings of the talks will be posted on YouTube soon. See link in bio.

BU student Bayley Fox turns BU School of Hospitality classroom lessons into real-world service at Fenway’s MIDA, where her professor-mentor gives her the inside track on restaurant life. Watch how shifts as a server, bartender, and maitre’d sharpen her skills, spark a love of wine, and shape her plan to pursue restaurant management (and sommelier training). Fox says the class taught by SHA adjunct faculty member and BU alum Seth Ge**er (SHA’12, Questrom’21) immediately became a favorite.