2025

UVA REAL ESTATE CONFERENCE

Agenda
Speakers
Logistics
Sponsors

EARLY-BIRD REGISTRATION THROUGH SEPT. 5

Friday, Nov. 14 | 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Join the White Ruffin Byron Center for Real Estate and the broader UVA real estate community at our highly anticipated annual conference for a day filled with inspiration and insights on the landscape of commercial real estate. We are delighted to announce the 2025 UVA Real Estate Conference will take place on Central Grounds, at both Old Cabell Hall Auditorium and the McIntire School of Commerce's newly opened Cobb & Shumway Halls nearby.

Thursday, Nov. 13 | 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Kick off your 2025 conference experience, and connect with fellow attendees at our welcome reception at The Forum Hotel. Check in early, and pick up your materials for the next day. Please indicate during registration if you'll attend this reception.

Ticket Type	Early Bird	Full Rate
UVA Alumni & General Admission	$325	$450
UVA Young Alumni*	$175	$225
Nonprofit Professionals	$175	$225
UVA Students	Free
UVA Faculty & Staff	Free

*Young alumni are from the graduating Classes of 2020 to 2025.

Email centerforrealestate@virginia.edu with questions or for assistance with registration.

Agenda at a Glance

Friday, November 14, 2025

Old Cabell Hall Auditorium

8:30—9:30 a.m.	Welcome Breakfast (Rouss Hall Lawn Level)
9:45—10 a.m.	Opening Remarks
10—11:30 a.m.	Keynote Talks & Fireside Chat
11:30—11:45 a.m.	Center Awards Presentation

McIntire School of Commerce

Noon—1:15 p.m.	Networking Luncheon
12:15—1:15 p.m.	Student Luncheon featuring Careers in Real Estate Panel
1:30—2:30 p.m.	Breakout Sessions TBA - Round 1
2:30—2:45 p.m.	Afternoon Coffee Break
2:45—3:45 p.m.	Breakout Sessions TBA - Round 2
4—5:30 p.m.	Celebratory Closing Reception

Featured Speakers

Keep an eye on this page for additional speakers in the months ahead.

Chris Nassetta (McIntire '84)

President & Chief Executive Officer, Hilton

Christopher J. Nassetta is President and Chief Executive Officer for Hilton. He joined the company in 2007. Previously, Mr. Nassetta was President and Chief Executive Officer of Host Hotels & Resorts Inc., a position he held since 2000. He joined Host Hotels & Resorts Inc. in 1995 as Executive Vice President and was elected Chief Operating Officer in 1997.

Before joining Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc., Mr. Nassetta co-founded Bailey Capital Corporation in 1991, where he was responsible for the operations of the real estate investment and advisory firm. Prior to founding Bailey Capital Corporation, he spent seven years at The Oliver Carr Company, ultimately serving as Chief Development Officer. In this role, he was responsible for all development and related activities for one of the largest commercial real estate companies in the mid-Atlantic region.

Mr. Nassetta graduated from the University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce with a degree in finance. He currently serves on the McIntire School of Commerce Advisory Board.

Ben Weprin

Founder & CEO, AJ Capital Partners

Ben Weprin is the Founder and CEO of AJ Capital Partners, a real estate investment manager committed to building timeless, scalable businesses, and branded platforms. Mr. Weprin founded Graduate Hotels in 2014, Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts in 2021, and Memoir Residential in 2023. In 2024, Hilton agreed to pay $210 million to acquire all rights to the Graduate brand worldwide, enter into franchise agreements for all existing and signed pipeline Graduate Hotels, and become responsible for the brand’s future development and growth. AJ Capital will remain the owner of the more than 35 operating and pipeline Graduate properties, each of which will be operated under long-term Hilton franchise agreements.

Mr. Weprin graduated from the University of Tennessee Haslam College of Business in 2001 and earned his MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

Conference Venues

Friday Morning - Old Cabell Hall

A bookend to the University's Rotunda on the south end of the historic UVA Lawn, Cabell Hall was designed by architect Stanford White of McKim, Mead & White. Completed and dedicated in 1898, the building was named in honor of Joseph C. Cabell, a member of both the Virginia legislature and the UVA Board of Visitors and a steadfast ally of Mr. Jefferson as he sought to win state approval and funding for the University. Since 1951, Cabell Hall has housed the Department of Music and the Music Library as well as the University's principal lecture and concert hall. The Old Cabell Hall Auditorium has a seating capacity of 851 and hosts more than 200 public performances and events each year. This historic venue will host our welcome and keynote sessions on Friday morning.

Friday Afternoon - Commerce School Complex

The growing McIntire School of Commerce Complex on the southeast corner of the Lawn features the newly opened Shumway Hall and a reimagined Cobb Hall, along with a host of inviting indoor and outdoor gathering spaces. Cobb Hall, one of many historic UVA structures, stood as a cornerstone of the University’s burgeoning medical and chemistry programs in the early 20th century. Constructed in 1917 as a chemistry building, its Jeffersonian Classical design, crafted by Walter Dabney Blair, symbolized a strategic move to position UVA as a leader in medical education. Shumway Hall was created as a vibrant, student-focused hub to foster innovation, collaboration, and academic excellence. Funded in part by a $25 million gift from The Chris & Carrie Shumway Foundation, the building features a two-story Student Success Center, a flexible Grand Classroom, and light-filled gathering areas designed to enhance the student experience. The conference luncheon, afternoon breakout sessions, and closing reception will take place across the Commerce Complex.

Conference Hotels

Kimpton The Forum Hotel

Kimpton The Forum Hotel is located on UVA's Darden School of Business campus. This grand, Jeffersonian-style hotel offers a unique blend of classic architecture and modern amenities. Click here to reserve your hotel room in our discounted block at Kimpton The Forum Hotel.

This is the venue for our welcome reception on Thursday evening from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Please plan to join us!
We will run a shuttle from The Forum to the conference venue on Friday morning and return to the hotel on Friday afternoon.
Rooms are $209+ tax; guests qualify for $299 rate on Friday and Saturday evenings.
The deadline to book is Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, although the block likely will sell out sooner!

The Graduate Charlottesville

The Graduate by Hilton Charlottesville is located on Main Street steps from the Corner and a few minutes walk to UVA's Central Grounds. Immerse yourself in local history and Cavalier traditions with creative interiors and college nostalgia. Click here to reserve your hotel room in our discounted block at the Graduate.

We will run a shuttle from the Graduate to The Forum for the welcome reception on Thursday evening.
It's approximately a 10-minute walk from this hotel to the conference venues on Friday.
Rooms are $189+ tax; guests will receive discounted parking of $15 per vehicle per day.
The deadline to book is Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, although block likely will sell out sooner!

Our 2025 Corporate Sponsors

Executive Sponsor (Exclusive)

Orange Sponsors

Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities

Corporate sponsorships of the White Ruffin Byron Center for Real Estate's annual conference are available and enable the Center to pursue its mission through foundational programming supporting students and academic programs, investing in research and discovery efforts, and industry engagement events.

Please contact Allison Teweles for more information about sponsoring the event. Sponsorship levels and benefits are described below.

Executive Sponsor

$25,000

Exclusive opportunity available to only one company (CLAIMED)
Ten (10) complimentary conference registrations
Table provided to display materials, giveaways, and your firm-branded banner throughout the Friday conference (location to be discussed with the Center)
Logo displayed prominently on conference materials, conference website, and scroll on screen during the conference
Thank-you post on the Center’s LinkedIn page
Recognition from the podium during the opening remarks
Exclusive student engagement opportunity, to be determined with the Center (e.g., featured speaker event, coffee chats)

Welcome Reception Sponsor

$20,000

Exclusive opportunity available to only one company
Five (5) complimentary conference registrations
Table provided to display materials, giveaways, and your firm-branded banner during the Thursday evening welcome reception
Logo included on conference materials, conference website, and scroll on screen during the conference
Thank-you post on the Center’s LinkedIn page
Exclusive student engagement opportunity, to be determined with the Center (e.g., featured speaker event, coffee chats)

Closing Reception Sponsor

$15,000

Four (4) complimentary conference registrations
Table provided to display materials, giveaways, and your firm-branded banner during the Friday afternoon closing receptions
Logo included on conference materials, conference website, and scroll on screen during the conference
Thank-you post on the Center’s LinkedIn page

Breakfast Sponsor

$10,000

Four (4) complimentary conference registrations
Table provided to display materials, giveaways, and your firm-branded banner during the Friday morning breakfast
Logo included on conference materials, conference website, and scroll on screen during the conference
Thank-you post on the Center’s LinkedIn page

Lunch Sponsor