Graduate Hotels
Ben Weprin spent 13 years in commercial real estate before a renovation project changed his perspective on hospitality. While renovating a dilapidated Days Inn in Chicago, he realized that hotels could tell compelling stories about their communities—just like consumer products do through branding. This insight led him to launch Graduate Hotels in 2014, a concept built on celebrating the unique character and heritage of college towns.
Each Graduate Hotels property was intentionally designed to reflect its college town's identity. Lobbies featured photos of famous alumni, life-sized sports mascots, and décor celebrating local culture. This storytelling approach differentiated Graduate from generic hotel chains and created properties with authentic local character that resonated with guests.
The Covid-19 lockdowns threatened to bankrupt the chain, but Weprin found a path forward by selling Graduate Hotels to Hilton. This partnership proved transformative, providing the capital and distribution network needed to scale the concept.
Today, Graduate Hotels operates 35+ properties across the United States, with dozens more in development. The successful Hilton acquisition validated Weprin's original vision of creating story-driven hospitality experiences and positioned the chain for significant expansion.
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