Graduate Hotels

Graduate Hotels
TypePrivate
IndustryHospitality
Founded2014; 12 years ago (2014)
FounderBen Weprin
Headquarters
Nashville, Tennessee
,
United States
Number of locations
35
Area served
United States
England
ParentHilton Worldwide
Websitegraduatehotels.com

Graduate Hotels is a collection of hotels located in college towns, primarily in the United States, launched in 2014 by Nashville-based real estate company AJ Capital Partners. In 2024, the brand was acquired by Hilton Worldwide with AJ Capital Partners retaining real estate assets. There are currently 33 operating hotels in the United States and two in England.

History

The Graduate Providence originally opened in 1922 as the Providence Biltmore

Graduate Hotels was founded in 2014 by Nashville-based real estate investor Ben Weprin and his firm, AJ Capital Partners. The company launched the Graduate Hotels brand by acquiring and remodeling hotels in university-anchored towns across the country. The first hotel opened in Athens, Georgia in 2014, centered around the University of Georgia.

Hilton Worldwide agreed to acquire Graduate Hotels in March 2024, after which the brand was renamed Graduate by Hilton. AJ Capital Partners retains real estate ownership of the existing Graduate properties under long-term franchise agreements with Hilton.

References

  1. ↑ "This college town boutique hotel chain is the anti-Airbnb". CNBC. February 20, 2018. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Graduate Hotels graduates into a bigger chain". USA Today. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Visiting Colleges? The Era of Staying in a Sad Hotel Is Over". Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  4. ↑ Felice, Selene San. "Loews Annapolis reopens as Graduate Annapolis following remodel". capitalgazette.com. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  5. ↑ Brown, Abram. "The Revivalist: Young Hotelier Ben Weprin Has An Eye For An Aged Luxury Gem". Forbes. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  6. ↑ Rosman, Katherine (July 14, 2018). "The Education of a Brotelier". The New York Times. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Boutique Group Graduate Hotels Finds Its Niche in University Towns". Skift. May 30, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  8. ↑ Clark, Patrick (March 14, 2024). "Hilton Agrees to Buy Graduate Hotels Brand for $210 Million". Bloomberg. Retrieved March 14, 2024.