Los Angeles – The International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) in partnership with The Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) presented Ben Weprin, Founder and CEO of AJ Capital Partners and creator of several hospitality brands such as Graduate Hotels, Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts, Field & Stream Lodge Co., with the 2025 Pioneer Award. The Award each year recognizes an individual who is considered a pioneer in their field by making an outstanding contribution, achievement, or improvement in the hospitality industry.
Kristie Dickinson, ISHC Chair and Managing Director/EVP of CHMWarnick, presented Weprin with the award during the conference plenary session. Dickinson later commented,
Ben is a visionary brand builder, storyteller, and investor in the hospitality space. He has a solid track record in uncovering success in niche markets that others may have overlooked, developing brands such as Graduate Hotels in university markets, among others, which have redefined product types through highly experiential offerings. Ben is relentless in his pursuit of transformative hospitality investments, ensuring that historic and culturally significant properties are revitalized to foster vibrant, community-driven experiences. He is one of ISHC’s youngest recipients of the Pioneer Award, if not the youngest, and it was an honor to present Ben with this award and interview him at the ALIS Conference.
Hospitality has captivated me since the start of my real estate career. It’s an industry where everything feels tangible – the human connection, thoughtful design, authenticity, and placemaking that transforms spaces into unforgettable destinations, Weprin notes. At AJ Capital, we’ve had the privilege of crafting distinctive brands and timeless independent hotels, including our most recent project, Coral Sands Inn & Cottages in Harbour Island. The visionaries on this list, icons like Ian Schrager and Barry Sternlicht, whom I’m fortunate to call mentors and friends, have been a constant source of inspiration throughout my journey, and I am honored to stand aside them.
Established in 1996, ISHC Pioneer Award winners are selected on a basis of three criteria: active involvement in the hospitality industry; contribution to the industry; and personal/organizational attributes and qualities adhering to professional standards recognized and respected by industry peers.
Ben’s vision for Graduate Hotels exemplifies the pioneering spirit that the award represents in addition to solidifying the important influence experience-based properties have had on the overall hotel industry. Curating a collection of hotels with local significance and national impact is a noteworthy and feat that will serve as inspiration for future hotel trailblazers. Jeff Higley, President of The BHN Group
Past recipients of the Pioneer Award include:
Tracy Prigmore (2024)
Alejandro Zozaya (2023)
Peggy Berg (2022)
Marilyn Carlson Nelson (2020)
Jack DeBoer (2019)
Wing T. Chao (2018)
Ian Schrager (2017)
Lyndall DeMarco (2016)
Stephen Kaufer (2015)
Michael Bedner (2014)
Steve Rushmore (2013)
Chip Conley (2012)
Kathleen Taylor (2011)
Leland C. Pillsbury (2010)
J.W. Marriott (2009)
Jean Gabriel Peres (2008)
Stanley Selengut (2008)
Jean-Claude Baumgarten (2007)
James E. Burba (2007)
Stelios Haji-Ioannou (2006)
H.P. Rama (2006)
Costakis Loizou (2005)
Barry Sternlicht (2005)
Christel DeHaan (2004)
Regis Bulot (2004)
Bill Kimpton (2002)
Jonathan M. Tisch (2001)
Michael A. Leven (2000)
Jack Vaughn (1999)
George Johnson (1998)
Randell A. Smith (1997)
About the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS)
Produced by Northstar Travel Group in association with the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and The BHN Group by Northstar, the two-and-a-half-day ALIS event features an extensive array of seminars and panels hosted by leading experts and investors discussing important trends and identifying new opportunities. The conference attracts the lodging industry’s leading hotel executives, investors, lenders, developers, and professional advisory community. ALIS 2025 took place January 28-30, 2025, at the JW Marriott/Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles L.A. LIVE. Visit the ALIS website, ALISconference.com, for additional information.
About Northstar Travel Group (www.northstartravelgroup.com)
Northstar Travel Group is the leading B-to-B media company providing information and marketing solutions for the global travel industry. The company owns 14 media brands connecting 1.4m industry professionals through a comprehensive portfolio of digital, social, print and more than 100 events in 13 countries. Northstar Travel Group is owned by EagleTree Capital. Northstar Travel Group is based in Rutherford, NJ, and more information is available at northstartravelgroup.com.
About The BHN Group
The BHN Group is the worldwide leader in developing and organizing conferences for the hotel and tourism investment community. With over three decades of experience, more than 190 events completed to-date, and in excess of 130,000 international delegates, these conferences have become “must attend” events for industry leaders who come together to network, conduct business, and to learn about the latest trends. The current slate of events include: the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS) in Los Angeles; ALIS Law in Los Angeles; ALIS DESIGN+ in Los Angeles, the ALIS Summer Update series held in various U.S. cities; ALIS CALA in Miami; Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific (HICAP) in Singapore; HICAP UPDATE in Hong Kong, and HICAP Australia New Zealand (HICAP ANZ) in Sydney. The BHN Group also publishes Hotel Investment Today, a digital media outlet focused on the ROI of hotel investment. The BHN Group’s website is the gateway for information about the annual conferences it produces, as well as a direct link to important players in the hospitality investment world.
About ISHC
The International Society of Hospitality Consultants is truly The Leading Global Resource for Hospitality Expertise, represented by over 250 of the industry’s most respected professionals from across six continents. Collectively, ISHC members provide expert services in over 50 functional areas and have specialized skills in virtually every segment of the hospitality industry. ISHC is dedicated to promoting the highest quality of professional consulting standards and practices for the hospitality industry. Candidates undergo a rigorous screening process, ensuring that all ISHC members have a reputation of integrity and are qualified by their experience, training, and knowledge to develop and express sound judgment on industry issues. Additional information about the organization and membership process, along with a directory of ISHC members, is available on the ISHC website at ishc.com.
Jennifer CastellarinDirector of Membership & Marketing+1 413 563 6449ISHC
