News

Impact of Philanthropy

Pulte Family Charitable Foundation Plans to Transform Hilton Garden Inn Laramie at UW

Potential Rendering of Laramie’s Hilton Garden Inn

August 4, 2025

Hilton Garden Inn Laramie, a fixture of the University of Wyoming Plaza since it opened in 2008, soon will undergo a complete transformation to become a Graduate by Hilton.

The Pulte Family Charitable Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting humanitarian works worldwide, has announced that the hotel—one of its Humanitarian Hotels—will transform into a Graduate by Hilton property. The renovation will take place in winter of 2026-27, with the newly renovated and rebranded “Graduate by Hilton Laramie” set to be unveiled in spring 2027.

Acquired by Hilton in 2024, Graduate by Hilton is a lifestyle brand with hand-crafted hotels residing in dynamic, university-anchored towns across the United States and United Kingdom. Each hotel is created with a focus on local history and nostalgia—from the design touchpoints to the culinary experiences—capturing the unique spirit of each university and reflecting the cultures and traditions of the communities they are located within.

Graduate Laramie will be among the first post-acquisition conversions in the United States and will undergo substantial renovations to embody the Graduate brand’s signature spirit.  The hotel operates on a long-term ground lease agreement with the university, and it is connected to the UW Conference Center.

Renovations will feature new, Western-themed guest rooms; Wyoming-inspired public spaces; subtle UW and Laramie storytelling throughout the hotel’s design; and a fresh, expanded restaurant concept. Beyond aesthetics, the transformation of the hotel will unlock significant economic benefits, and it will make the UW Conference Center more competitive for regional group business.

Graduate Laramie is one of three Humanitarian Hotels owned by the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation. One hundred percent of net profits from each hotel supports charitable causes around the globe and offers philanthropic programming for employees, guests and local nonprofits.

Kevin Doyle, chief operating officer of the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation, emphasizes that the renovation will elevate the experience for all guests, deepen the property’s integration into campus life and local culture, and directly benefit the community.

“From the moment you walk in the lobby, Graduate Laramie will reflect the community’s spirit and strength and, through our Humanitarian Hotel model, also will directly enhance the lives of people at the University of Wyoming and surrounding Albany County communities,” he says.

The Pulte Family Charitable Foundation has developed a close partnership with UW since taking ownership of Hilton Garden Inn Laramie in October 2023. The foundation has supported a variety of university initiatives, ranging from funding grants to university organizations focused on food insecurity and veterans’ services to creating a new scholarship fund for students of low socioeconomic means.

“This property will tremendously benefit the Laramie community by enhancing our campus hospitality, while also giving us new tools to attract prospective students, engage alumni and host quality events that reflect who we are as a university,” says UW President Ed Seidel. “I’m confident Graduate Laramie will embody our Cowboy spirit and make it truly showcase our university’s rich culture and bold future.”

The hotel also will provide career development opportunities for UW students, which is critical to the state’s future, as tourism is the second-largest industry in Wyoming.

“The new Graduate Laramie hotel will be a launching pad for our students,” says Dan McCoy, director of UW’s Jay Kemmerer WORTH (Wyoming Outdoor Recreation, Tourism and Hospitality) Institute. “By partnering with the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation, with which we already collaborate for internships, we can expand those and other career opportunities, increase the marketability of our students and give our program a competitive advantage as we prepare future leaders.”

In addition to utilizing hotel profits to provide financial support to UW and its students, the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation also has provided grants to local organizations helping community members meet their basic needs, including the Wyoming Hunger Initiative, Laramie SAFE Project and Laramie Interfaith. The hotel also partners with Laramie-based ARK Regional Services to hire individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Graduate by Hilton Laramie will participate in Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest loyalty program for Hilton’s 24 world-class brands. Hilton Honors members can earn points through stays. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount and free standard Wi-Fi. Members also enjoy popular digital tools available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton Honors mobile app.

About the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation’s Humanitarian Hotels

Guided by the belief in the inherent dignity of all people, the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation works to meet the basic human needs of the most marginalized members of the human family, including socioeconomically disadvantaged youth; the aged; persons with physical, emotional and mental disabilities; and those with the fewest material resources. The Pulte Family Charitable Foundation owns three Humanitarian Hotels, where hospitality becomes a force for good. These properties—Saint John’s Resort in Plymouth, Mich.; The Inn at Stonecliffe in Mackinac Island, Mich; and the Hilton Garden Inn Laramie in Laramie—dedicate 100 percent of net profits to charitable causes around the globe. Each property also undertakes philanthropic programming for employees, guests and local nonprofits that represent the foundation’s mission of serving those in need.

About Graduate by Hilton

Graduate by Hilton is composed of hand-crafted hotels located in dynamic, university-anchored towns across the United States and the United Kingdom. Each hotel brings stories and traditions to life through one-of-a-kind experiences, which authentically reflect the unique spirit of each community where they are located. Founded in 2014 by Adventurous Journeys Capital Partners and acquired by Hilton in 2024, Graduate’s portfolio consists of 35 open hotels across the U.S. and U.K. Learn more about Graduate by Hilton at Stories From Hilton and follow the brand on Instagram.