Paul Wise Speaker Series - Ben Seidel

Ben Seidel, Founder, President and CEO of Maryland-based Real Hospitality Group managing over 100 hotels throughout the US and China serving as an approved operator for Marriott International, Hyatt Corporation, Hilton Worldwide, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Singapore based Far East Hospitality and Aspect Hotels. In only its 10^th year since the founding of the company, RHG became the 12^th largest independent hotel operating company in the US.

Mr. Seidel serves as the president of Marriott’s Franchise Advisory Council as well as an advisor on the Bonvoy loyalty and distribution boards, also a member of the IHG Owner’s Advisory Council.

He serves the greater industry as a member of the executive committee of the board for both the American Hotel and Lodging Association and the Maryland Lodging Association and serves as a steering committee member of NYC & Co, one of the nation’s top destination marketing organizations for the city of New York. He received his Doctor of Business Administration and Hospitality Management Honorarium from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in May of this year.

In March of this year, Maryland Wes Moore appointed Ben to a 3-year term to serve as a commissioner for the Tourism Development Board for the State of Maryland. Moreover, in May of this year, Ben will be a member of the Society of Fellows for the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, New York. Mr. Seidel is a founding member of the Hospitality Management degree program at the University of West Virginia and teaches regularly there. Additionally, he serves as guest speaker supporting the Master’s degree program in Hospitality Asset Management at the Florida International University in Miami.

Real Hospitality Group is based in Ocean City Maryland, New York City, San Diego and in 2020 opened RHG Asia in the International Commerce Tower in downtown Shanghai, China.