Monty Bennett

Monty Bennett is a well-known hotel tycoon from Henderson County and Dallas, Texas, who has become a significant player in the U.S. hospitality industry through Ashford, Inc., Ashford Hospitality Trust, and Braemar Hotels and Resorts, which together own, manage, and operate more than 100 hotels across the country. Bennett has expanded the business from six hotels to over 130, making the company public. In addition to his hotels, he and his team operate 13 resort properties in six states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Bennett graduated from Cornell University and grew up in Houston, Texas, as one of seven children. Unlike his siblings, he pursued a career in the hospitality industry. He splits his time between Dallas and Athens, located about an hour southeast of the city, and has been his family's home for over three decades.

Monty Bennett is the founder and chairman of Braemar Hotels & Resorts and Ashford Hospitality Trust, as well as the CEO of Ashford, Inc. Braemar Hotels & Resorts, was founded in 2013 as a subsidiary of Ashford Hospitality Trust and owns 13 properties, including the Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe in Nevada County, California. The company is committed to five guiding principles encompassing ethics, innovation, profitability, engagement, and tenacity.

Ashford Hospitality Trust, which Bennett established in 2003, invests mainly in upscale, full-service hotels. The organization has more than 110 properties, including the Ritz Carlton Atlanta, W Hotel Atlanta, and Renaissance Nashville Hotel. The trust has a long history in the hotel industry, dating back over 50 years. With Bennett's leadership, the trust has gained significant experience and expertise in navigating various hotel cycles and implementing value-added asset management strategies. As a result, the trust has a highly successful transactional track record.

Learn More: The Importance of Outstanding Hospitality Management