Jim Risoleo, president and CEO of Host Hotels & Resorts, to headline Bharat Shah Leadership Speaker Series at 36th Hunter Hotel Investment Conference

Atlanta, Georgia (February 12, 2025) — The Hunter Hotel Investment Conference (HUNTER), in partnership with Noble Investment Group (Noble) and the Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality Administration at Georgia State University, is proud to announce that James "Jim" F. Risoleo, president and chief executive officer of Host Hotels & Resorts (Host), will headline the Bharat Shah Leadership Speaker Series at this year’s conference. Host, an S&P 500 company, is the largest lodging real estate investment trust (REIT) and one of the world’s foremost owners of luxury and upper-upscale hotels.

Honoring visionary leadership and the American dream
The Bharat Shah Leadership Speaker Series, established in honor of Dr. Bharat Shah—whose immigrant journey exemplifies the transformative power of education—has become a hallmark of the conference. This series provides a platform to share the inspiring stories of visionary leaders who have demonstrated faith and perseverance in their pursuit of the American dream. Moderated by Mit Shah, founder and CEO of Noble, the series highlights icons who have profoundly shaped their industries and communities.

“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 very essence of servant leadership, always championing our industry and inspiring those around him to reach new heights.”

A legacy of leadership and excellence
Joining Host Hotels & Resorts in 1996, Risoleo has been instrumental in shaping the company’s trajectory. Since assuming the role of president and CEO in 2017, he has driven Host to the forefront of the global hospitality sector, solidifying its position as the world’s largest lodging REIT. With more than 35 years of finance and real estate expertise, including key roles at Interstate Hotels Corporation and Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Risoleo has consistently demonstrated the vision, perseverance and leadership that the Bharat Shah Leadership Speaker Series celebrates.

A graduate of Duquesne University with both a business degree and a juris doctor from its School of Law, Risoleo is a member of the bar for the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Beyond his leadership at Host, he actively contributes to the advancement of the industry through his roles with AHLA, Nareit, U.S. Travel Association’s CEO Roundtable and other influential industry and civic forums.

A distinguished lineup of industry icons
As part of the Bharat Shah Leadership Speaker Series, Risoleo joins an esteemed group of past speakers, including 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, world-renowned NBA and NCAA basketball legends, business leaders and philanthropists; Sara Blakely, founder and executive chairwoman of SPANX, and Jesse Itzler, New York Times best-selling author and entrepreneur; Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts; and most recently, Leslie Hale, president and CEO of RLJ Lodging Trust.

“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 Investment 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.”

Join us at HUNTER 2025
Jim Risoleo will take center stage in conversation with Mit Shah at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. For more details on the conference or to register, visit www.hunterconference.com.

About Hunter Hotel Investment Conference

The Hunter Hotel Investment Conference is an education and networking-focused event for hotel owners, developers, and investors. The 36th Hunter Hotel Investment Conference runs from March 18-20, 2025, at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. Long recognized as one of the top national hotel conferences, HUNTER aims to provide accurate industry performance and trend information alongside networking and educational opportunities. The conference is presented by Hunter Hotel Advisors, the nation’s leading investment advisory firm focused exclusively on the hotel industry, and the Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality Administration at Georgia State University. For additional information on the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference, please visit www.hunterconference.com.

About Noble Investment Group

Noble is a leading investment manager in the real estate travel and hospitality sector. With a track record spanning three decades, Noble has invested $6.0 billion in communities throughout the country, adding value across cycles and supporting the significant creation of jobs. PERE has named Noble one of the Top 200 Global Investment Managers, and the firm has been recognized as one of the Best Places to Work by Pensions & Investments and the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

As a fiduciary to institutional investors, including foremost pensions plans, endowments, foundations, wealth management firms, and insurance companies, Noble's endeavors help to preserve and grow our limited partners' capital, which assists in providing retirement benefits for our country's teachers, law enforcement, firefighters, other pensioners, and financial resources for students to attend college. For more information, please visit www.nobleinvestment.com.

About Georgia State University

The Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality Administration within the J. Mack Robinson College of Business is a co-founder of the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference. Georgia State University provides its world-class faculty and more than 52,000 students from over 130 nations and territories with unsurpassed connections to opportunities in one of the 21st century’s great global cities. A national leader in graduating students from diverse backgrounds, including more than 3,000 international students, more African American students graduate each year from Georgia State than any other public or nonprofit higher education institution in the United States. Georgia State is the #1 public or nonprofit university in Georgia to confer undergraduate and graduate degrees to African Americans, Asians, and Latinos. It is ranked the #2 most innovative and #1 public university for its strong commitment to undergraduate teaching.