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Host Hotels' Risoleo to headline Bharat Shah Series

Host Hotels CEO Jim Risoleo at the Bharat Shah Leadership Series

James Risoleo, president and CEO of Host Hotels & Resorts, will headline the Bharat Shah Leadership Speaker Series at The Hunter Hotel Investment Conference on March 20.

Vishnu Rageev R.
By Vishnu Rageev R.Feb 27, 2025
Vishnu Rageev R.

Vishnu Rageev R is a journalist with more than 15 years of experience in business journalism. Before joining Asian Media Group in 2022, he worked with BW Businessworld, IMAGES Group, exchange4media Group, DC Books, and Dhanam Publications in India. His coverage includes industry analysis, market trends and corporate developments, focusing on retail, real estate and hospitality. As a senior journalist with Asian Hospitality, he covers the U.S. hospitality industry. He is from Kerala, a state in South India.

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Jim Risoleo to Exchange Hospitality Insights at Bharat Shah Leadership Series

James Risoleo, president and CEO of Host Hotels & Resorts, will join Mit Shah, CEO of Noble Investment Group, for the Bharat Shah Leadership Speaker Series at The Hunter Hotel Investment Conference on March 20. The series, honoring Bharat Shah, is presented in partnership with Noble Investment Group and Georgia State University's Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality Administration.

The annual leadership series provides a platform for leaders to share stories of faith and perseverance in pursuing the American dream, Hunter said in a statement.

“Jim and I have shared a deep bond and friendship throughout my career, during which I’ve had the privilege of witnessing his dynamic vision, unwavering leadership, and remarkable generosity,” said Shah. “His ability to propel Host Hotels & Resorts to extraordinary success is a testament to his strategic brilliance and deep expertise. More than that, Jim embodies the essence of servant leadership, always championing our industry and inspiring those around him to reach new heights.”

Risoleo joined Host, an S&P 500 lodging REIT and luxury hotel owner, in 1996 and became president and CEO in 2017, the statement said. He has more than 35 years of experience in finance and real estate, including roles at Interstate Hotels Corp. and Westinghouse Electric Corp. He holds a business degree and a juris doctor from Duquesne University and is a member of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania bars. He also serves on boards of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, Nareit, and the U.S. Travel Association’s CEO Roundtable.

Previous Bharat Shah Leadership Speakers include the late Arne Sorenson, president and CEO of Marriott International; Chris Nassetta, president and CEO of Hilton; Mark Hoplamazian, president and CEO of Hyatt Hotels Corporation; the late Mark Elliott, president of Hodges Ward Elliott; Vince Carter and Grant Hill, NBA and NCAA basketball legends, business leaders, and philanthropists; Sara Blakely, founder and executive chairwoman of SPANX; Jesse Itzler, New York Times best-selling author and entrepreneur; and Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.

Leslie Hale, president and CEO of RLJ Lodging Trust, was featured in 2024.

“Each year, Mit invites us into the living rooms of our country’s most influential leaders, allowing us to witness the personal and professional journeys that have defined them,” said Lee Hunter, chairman of the Hunter Hotel Conference. “Jim’s story, his insights, and the leadership lessons he has cultivated throughout his remarkable career will leave an indelible impact on our students and conference attendees, inspiring them to carve out their own paths to success.”

Indian American hoteliers, including Shah, Mitch Patel, president and CEO of Vision Hospitality, and Al Patel, president of Baywood Hotels, were speakers at the 2024 Hunter Conference.

ai patelamerican dreamamerican hotel & lodging associationbaywood hotelsbharat shahbharat shah leadership speaker seriescecil b. day school of hospitality administrationhospitality conferences in u.s.hospitality leadershost hospitalityhost hotels & resortshunter hotel investment conferenceinterstate hotels corp.james risoleolee hunterleslie halemit shahmitch patelnoble investment grouprlj lodging trustu.s. hotel industryu.s. hoteliersvision hospitality groupwestinghouse electric corp.hunter hotel conferencehospitality leadershiphotel investment insightbharat shah leadership series

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