Walter ISENBERG
Walter Isenberg was born on January 24, 1958, in Kansas City. After graduating from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration in 1980, he co-founded Sage Hospitality Group four years later with Zack Neumeyer. Now CEO of Sage Hospitality, Isenberg’s leadership over the last four decades has helped shape and grow Sage into a company known throughout the industry as a leader in hotel and restaurant operations, real estate investment, development, placemaking, strategic design, and brand building.
Isenberg’s career in hospitality includes not only a long history of successfully operating hotels across the country but also dozens of major adaptive reuse projects that have transformed neighborhoods, like the complete renovations of Denver’s historic Union Station, Dairy Block, and McGregor Square. Today, Sage’s four companies: Sage Hotel Management, Sage Restaurant Concepts, Sage Investments, and Sage Studio employ more than 6,000 people nationwide. Isenberg is leading Sage forward into its next chapter with a focus on significant urban mixed-use developments and continuing to build Sage’s brands while furthering the company’s purpose of enriching lives, one experience at a time.
Giving back to the community has been a pillar of Sage Hospitality since Isenberg co-founded the company. Even in their beginnings with little money, he took the time to volunteer and provided non-profits with in-kind support. This legacy still permeates Sage to this day, and Isenberg has been able to pay it forward by giving time and financial support to hundreds of non-profit organizations over the years.
Isenberg is a member of the American Hotel Lodging Association (AHLA) Board of Directors Executive Committee and has served on several brand Owner Advisory Boards. Among his many accolades, he was honored with the 2023 ULI Colorado Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement, the 2020 Most Admired CEO Pinnacle Award by the Denver Business Journal, and the 2017 Hospitality Design Platinum Circle Award. He and his wife Christie received the 2019 Community Enrichment Award from Denver’s Mizel Institute, honoring their many outstanding contributions to the local community. Walter was also inducted into Denver & Colorado’s Tourism Hall of Fame, which is the highest award given by Denver’s travel industry. Passionate about his community and teaching the next generation of great leaders, he currently serves on the boards of VISIT DENVER, the Downtown Denver Partnership, and Colorado Concern.
Isenberg’s career in hospitality includes not only a long history of successfully operating hotels across the country but also dozens of major adaptive reuse projects that have transformed neighborhoods, like the complete renovations of Denver’s historic Union Station, Dairy Block, and McGregor Square. Today, Sage’s four companies: Sage Hotel Management, Sage Restaurant Concepts, Sage Investments, and Sage Studio employ more than 6,000 people nationwide. Isenberg is leading Sage forward into its next chapter with a focus on significant urban mixed-use developments and continuing to build Sage’s brands while furthering the company’s purpose of enriching lives, one experience at a time.
Giving back to the community has been a pillar of Sage Hospitality since Isenberg co-founded the company. Even in their beginnings with little money, he took the time to volunteer and provided non-profits with in-kind support. This legacy still permeates Sage to this day, and Isenberg has been able to pay it forward by giving time and financial support to hundreds of non-profit organizations over the years.
Isenberg is a member of the American Hotel Lodging Association (AHLA) Board of Directors Executive Committee and has served on several brand Owner Advisory Boards. Among his many accolades, he was honored with the 2023 ULI Colorado Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement, the 2020 Most Admired CEO Pinnacle Award by the Denver Business Journal, and the 2017 Hospitality Design Platinum Circle Award. He and his wife Christie received the 2019 Community Enrichment Award from Denver’s Mizel Institute, honoring their many outstanding contributions to the local community. Walter was also inducted into Denver & Colorado’s Tourism Hall of Fame, which is the highest award given by Denver’s travel industry. Passionate about his community and teaching the next generation of great leaders, he currently serves on the boards of VISIT DENVER, the Downtown Denver Partnership, and Colorado Concern.