Ben Weprin
{{Short description|American businessman}}
Ben Weprin (June 28, 1978) is the founder and CEO of AJ Capital Partners,{{cite news |title=New Icons |date=November 2016 |work=Hospitality Design Magazine}} a private real estate investment company based in Nashville.{{cite news |title=How AJ Capital is Developing a Unique Value Proposition |first=Evan |last=Grossman |date=June 8, 2015 |work=Lodging |url=http://lodgingmagazine.com/how-aj-capital-is-developing-a-unique-value-proposition/}}{{cite news |title=The revivalist: A young hotelier with an eye for an aged luxury gem |first=Adam |last=Brown |date=January 4, 2016 |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/abrambrown/2016/01/04/the-revivalist-a-young-hotelier-with-an-eye-for-an-aged-luxury-gem/#7edf0f4056c5 }}{{cite news |title=Ben Weprin is behind some of Chicago's most stylish hotels. Here's his latest obsession.|first=Alby |last=Gallun |date=October 24, 2015 |work=Chicago Business |url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20151024/ISSUE01/310249991/ben-weprin-is-behind-some-of-chicagos-most-stylish-hotels-heres-his-latest-obsession|accessdate=May 3, 2020}} Weprin and AJ Capital founded Graduate Hotels in 2014, later selling it to Hilton Worldwide in 2024.{{Cite web |last=Karmin |first=Craig |date=March 14, 2024 |title=Hilton Bets on College Towns With $210 Million Deal |url=https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/commercial/hilton-hotels-college-towns-expansion-74ca6e60}}
Early life and education
Weprin was born and raised in Oakwood, Ohio, a Dayton, Ohio suburb. He graduated from the University of Tennessee. Mr. Weprin completed his MBA at Kellogg School of Management.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/16/graduate-hotels-ben-weprin-rivals-hotel-giants-in-college-towns.html|title=This college town boutique hotel chain is the anti-Airbnb|accessdate=May 3, 2020|date=February 20, 2018|publisher=CNBC|author=Hochman, David}}
Career
In 2008, Weprin founded AJ Capital Partners. In Chicago, he restored the Hotel Lincoln, Chicago Athletic Association, Soho House and Thompson Chicago. The current portfolio includes projects throughout Nashville, as well as Chicago Athletic Association in Chicago, The Pontchartrain Hotel in New Orleans, Memoir Residential in Portland, OR, New Orleans, LA, and Nashville, TN, among others.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/abrambrown/2016/01/04/the-revivalist-a-young-hotelier-with-an-eye-for-an-aged-luxury-gem/|title=The Revivalist: Young Hotelier Ben Weprin Has An Eye For An Aged Luxury Gem|last=Brown|first=Abram|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=2019-10-14}} He founded Graduate Hotels in 2014,{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/roadwarriorvoices/2018/01/04/graduate-hotels-graduates-bigger-chain/1002913001/|title=Graduate Hotels graduates into a bigger chain|website=USA Today|access-date=2019-10-15}} Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts in 2021,{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=LODGING |date=2022-03-28 |title=Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts Launches New Golf-Inspired Hotels |url=https://lodgingmagazine.com/marine-lawn-hotels-resorts-launches-new-golf-inspired-hotels/ |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=LODGING Magazine |language=en-US}} and Memoir Residential in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Kalinoski |first=Gali |title=AJ Capital Partners Unveils Memoir Residential Platform |url=https://www.multihousingnews.com/aj-capital-partners-unveils-memoir-residential-platform/}} In 2023, AJ Capital announced a partnership with Starwood Capital Partners to create Field & Stream Lodge Co., which will roll out properties in 2025.{{Cite web |last=Karmin |first=Craig |title=Starwood CEO Barry Sternlicht’s New Hotel Brand Bets on Outdoor Recreation |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/starwood-ceo-barry-sternlichts-new-hotel-brand-bets-on-outdoor-recreation-11675120366}} Additional active projects include The Armory in San Francisco; Wedgewood Village in Nashville, TN; Belle Meade Plaza in Nashville, TN; as well as the Rusacks St. Andrews overlooking the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland, which opened in July 2021 and is part of Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts.{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/business/luxury-st-andrews-hotel-rusacks-set-for-revamp-after-sale-to-american-firm-1-5048501|title=Luxury St Andrews hotel Rusacks set for revamp after sale to American firm|website=www.scotsman.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-12}}
Awards
- Inc. (magazine) 2017 Design Awards, Best Interior Design - Graduate Hotels{{cite news |title=This College-Town Hotel Chain is Putting Airbandb on Notice |first=Margaret |last=Rhodes |date=May 17, 2017 |work=Inc. Magazine |url=https://www.inc.com/magazine/201706/margaret-rhodes/graduate-hotels-design-awards-2017.html}}
- Fast Company The Most Innovative Companies of 2016 – AJ Capital Partners{{cite news |title=Relive The Glory Of Your College Years With School-Themed $500M Boutique Hotel Chain |first=Mark |last=Wilson |date=September 2, 2014 |work=Fast Company |url=http://www.fastcodesign.com/3034944/wanderlust/relive-the-glory-of-your-college-years-with-school-themed-500m-boutique-hotel-cha}}
- Urban Land Institute Chicago’s Catalytic Redevelopment – Chicago Athletic Association{{cite news |title=Twelve projects and programs, 1 young visionary named winners of ULI Chicago's 2016 Vision Awards |date=June 3, 2016 |work=REJournals.com |url=http://www.rejournals.com/2016/06/03/twelve-projects-and-programs-1-young-visionary-named-winners-of-uli-chicagos-2016-vision-awards/ |access-date=November 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103234721/http://www.rejournals.com/2016/06/03/twelve-projects-and-programs-1-young-visionary-named-winners-of-uli-chicagos-2016-vision-awards/ |archive-date=November 3, 2016 |url-status=dead }}
- James Beard Foundation Outstanding Restaurant Design Finalist – Cherry Circle Room – Chicago Athletic Association{{cite news |title=Take a Look Inside the 2016 James Beard Award Nominees for Restaurant Design |first=Brian |last=Stone |date=April 1, 2016 |work=Architectural Digest |url=http://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/2016-james-beard-award-nominees-for-restaurant-design}}
- James Beard Foundation Outstanding Restaurant Design Finalist – Cindy’s – Chicago Athletic Association{{cite news |title=Take a Look Inside the 2016 James Beard Award Nominees for Restaurant Design |first=Brian |last=Stone |date=April 1, 2016 |work=Architectural Digest |url=http://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/2016-james-beard-award-nominees-for-restaurant-design}}
- National Trust for Historic Preservation Driehaus Preservation Award – Chicago Athletic Association{{cite news |title=3 Structures To Get Landmark Awards |date=September 11, 2015 |work=NBCChicago.com |url=http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/3-Chicago-Structures-to-Get-Landmark-Awards-326601441.html}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- [http://www.ajcpt.com www.ajcpt.com]
- [http://www.graduatehotels.com www.graduatehotels.com]
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Category:American chief executives
Category:Businesspeople from Dayton, Ohio