Corner Office Conversation with Conner White, Vice Chair & CIO of White Lodging | BU RE Symposium

In this conversation, Dean Arun Upneja of Boston University School of Hospitality Administration sits down with Conner White, Vice Chair & Chief Investment Officer of White Lodging, to discuss leadership, family business, and disciplined investing. White reflects on growing up in the industry, the values-driven leadership he learned from his father, and the deliberate decision to keep White Lodging a multi-generational, family-controlled company. He shares the framework behind underwriting a new deal, "market, market, market", the shift from ground-up development toward value-add acquisitions, the power of market density, and why food and beverage and an experiential, human-connection-focused culture sit at the core of the White Lodging model. He also reflects on judging this year's student competition for a site owned by White Lodging itself. Filmed at the 2026 Hospitality Real Estate Symposium, a premier gathering of industry leaders, innovators, and students exploring the future of hospitality and commercial real estate. Held on April 21–22, 2026, at Boston University's stunning Duan Family Center for Computing & Data Sciences, this forward-thinking event featured keynote panels, networking opportunities, and the final presentations of the global Hospitality Real Estate Competition. To learn more, visit https://www.bu.edu/hospitality/events...