The University of Tulsa’s Collins College of Business welcomed Paul Coury, founder and CEO of Coury Hospitality, as the first speaker in the 2025–26 Friends of Finance Executive Speaker Series on Sept. 17. This marks the 41st year of the series, which has brought more than 300 business leaders to campus since its founding.
A proud UTulsa alumnus and Tulsa native, Coury opened his talk by sharing how closely his life has been tied to the university–from selling magazines at UTulsa football games as a child to launching his first entrepreneurial venture as a student. While studying finance at the university, Coury created and sold custom UTulsa license plates to QuikTrip, igniting a passion for business that led to the founding of Coury Properties Inc. in 1986.
After early work at Bank of Oklahoma, Coury struck out on his own, purchasing the 201 Executive Center and later acquiring the historic Mayo Hotel. His portfolio grew to include significant downtown Tulsa properties, but it was the transformation of the Ambassador Hotel that would redefine his career. In 1999, Coury opened the Ambassador as a boutique hotel, long before the concept became mainstream, laying the foundation for Coury Hospitality’s luxury brand.
Today, Coury Hospitality operates and develops boutique hotels across the country in partnership with Marriott’s Autograph Collection. One standout is Hotel Vin in Grapevine, Texas, which was developed through a public-private partnership and now ranks among the top-performing Autograph Collection hotels in the country. With plans to expand Hotel Vin and nearly 50 properties expected by the end of next year, Coury’s company continues to scale with a focus on culture, training and personalized service.
Throughout his remarks, Coury emphasized adaptability and the value of building strong teams. “We feel like our managers are CEOs,” he said, underscoring the importance of leadership in maintaining company culture amid growth.
The next Friends of Finance luncheon will feature Rick Dickson, interim president of The University of Tulsa on Oct. 8.
For more information about the Executive Speaker Series or to register for upcoming events, visit utulsa.edu/academics/business/opportunities/friends-of-finance.