Before he became a leader in the hospitality industry, Ben Perelmuter navigated a winding path from a small private school in Queens, NY, to a large high school and eventually to college. “I got a little overwhelmed going from this tiny little private school to a high school with 4,000 students,” he recalled. “I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, and I wasn’t interested in traditional jobs like law or teaching.”
He credits his grandfather with helping him find direction. “He saw that I was social and liked to travel, and he suggested I look into a hotel program at SUNY Plattsburgh,” Perelmuter said. “My eyes lit up. You could go to college to learn how to run hotels. That’s where it took off.”
From there, internships at the Hotel Beverly in Manhattan and the Grand Hyatt in Washington, DC, led to his first full-time role at the Grand Hyatt New York. “I walked right out of school into an apartment and a job,” he said. “From there, it took off.”
Perelmuter reflected on mentors who shaped his career. “Mike Hickey at the Grand Hyatt New York and the Hyatt Regency New Orleans was an original mentor for me,” he said. “Robert Burg at Aimbridge was another strong mentor, and Dave Johnson, cofounder of Aimbridge, really stands out.”
He shared three lessons from Johnson: “One, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Two, hire people you know and trust, even if they’re not in the industry, teach them and be loyal to them. Three, have an absolute blast doing your work, be passionate and enjoy it.”
Perelmuter also acknowledged personal mentors. “My parents taught me to appreciate life, be humble and put family first,” he said.
Today, he carries those lessons into his own mentorship.
“I’ve been a mentor for many people, and I enjoy it,” he said. “I don’t think there’s a day that goes by without checking on them. Some are here at Remington, others are in the industry or at other companies. I pride myself on giving back.”
