Faculty & Research
Ra'anan (Ronnie) Ben-Zur
CEO
French Quarter Holdings, Inc.
Ra'anan (Ronnie) Ben-Zur is the founder and president of French Quarter Holdings, Inc. Bringing a wealth of domestic and international experience to his role, he is responsible for the organizations overall strategy, equity investments, development and financing of properties in the hotel industry.
Since its inception in 1993, French Quarter Holdings has been involved in buying undervalued hotels, renovating and repositioning them while preparing them to be sold. Among such acquisitions was the original French Quarter Suites in Atlanta which was acquired in 1993 and sold in 1997, the Sheraton Key Largo which was sold in 1997 following a comprehensive renovation after less than 12 months ownership, and the DoubleTree JFK Hotel which sold in 2006 after a complete renovation and re-branding as a DoubleTree.
Ben-Zur offers a range of expertise that includes asset management, re-branding, construction/renovation and high-level financial and legal negotiations.
Ben-Zur, who was born in Israel and has called both London and Atlanta home for many years, is currently based in Houston, where the company recently debuted La Torretta Del Lago Resort & Spa. Ben-Zur has personally overseen the two-year, $130-million redevelopment project, which now incorporates 445 luxury accommodations, golf, tennis, a destination spa, a 3.5-acre Aqua Park and 70,000 square feet of premium meeting and event space.
Mr. Ben-Zur is the proud father of six and very proud grandparent of one beautiful grandchild.