January 30, 2006 - H.P. Rama, Chairman and CEO, JHM Hotels, received
the 2006 ISHC Pioneer Award-US at the America�s Lodging Investment Summit
(ALIS) held in Los Angeles during the week of January 23rd.
The International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) Pioneer
Award-US was established in 1996 in recognition of an individual or organization
for making an outstanding contribution, achievement and/or improvement
in the hospitality industry. ISHC Pioneer Award winners are selected
based on three criteria: active involvement in the industry, contribution
to the industry and personal/organizational attributes and qualities.
.
Hasmukh P. (HP) Rama
Chairman of the Board, C.E.O.
Hasmukh P. (H. P.) Rama, chairman and CEO of JHM Hotels, Greenville,
SC, is Past Chairman of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA),
which is the largest hotel association in the world.
Rama
has been in the lodging industry for almost three decades, beginning with
a 40-room independent property in Pomona, California. His corporation,
JHM Hotels, owns and operates 31 hotels with 4,700 rooms in seven states
with several more under development and scheduled to open in the next year.
JHM also owns and operates a five-star hotel in Surat, India as well.
Rama holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Xavier University,
Cincinnati, Ohio. In May of 1997, Johnson & Wales University
awarded Rama the degree of Doctor of Business Administration in Hospitality
Management, honoris causa.
He was named winner of the "AAHOA Oberoi Award for Excellence" by the
Asian American Hotel Owners Association in 1989, and was selected "Economy
Lodging Person of the Year" in 1993 by AH&LA's Lodging Council.
Rama was named winner of the Entrepreneurial Success Award for 1995 by
the U.S. Small Business Administration and was named a 1996 Entrepreneur
of the Year by Ernst and Young. Hilton Corporation presented the
Industry Service Award to Mr. Rama in 1998. Rama was awarded the
1999 Industry Person of the Year by Michigan State University and was named
South Carolina Hotelier of the Year in 1999. In 2000, Rama
received Marriott's Spirit to Serve Award for outstanding community service.
In 2001, the University of South Carolina School of Hotel, Restaurant and
Tourism Management named Mr. Rama Hospitality Leader of the Year.
In 2002, Mr. Rama was awarded the Arthur Landstreet Award, AH&LA�s
Highest Honor for his Contribution to Education. In addition, JHM
Hotels was presented with the AH&LA Cutting Edge Award in 2002 in recognition
of innovative leadership in the lodging industry. And recently, the
distinguished Rotary International �Paul Harris Fellow� designation was
awarded to Mr. Rama.
In 1998, JHM Hotels presented a $1,000,001 scholarship donation to the
American Hotel Foundation to assist minority students seeking careers in
the lodging industry.
Rama has served as an advisor to a number of hospitality schools including:
board of advisors, Johnson & Wales University, New York University,
University of Houston and the California Polytechnic University.
Rama also served on the Board of the Educational Institute and was Chairman
of the AH&LA�s first Education Summit in 1999 and is currently serving
on the Experience Lodging Task Force of the AH&LA, on the AH&LA's
Millennium Occupancy & Revenue Effort Task Force and Board of Advisory
for the University of South Carolina Conference. Most recently, Rama
has served as Executive Professor in Residence at Cornell Hotel School
educating the graduate students. He now serves as an Industry Advisor
for the University.
Memberships and Affiliations:
Chairman of the Board � American Hotel and Motel Association
Invited into the Society of International Business Fellows Annual Summit
Vancouver British Columbia
Inducted into the Cornell Hotel School Society
Wise Professor at the University of Delaware |
Previous recipients of this award:
(2005) Barry Sternlicht, Executive Chairman, Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Worldwide
(2004) Christel DeHaan, Co-founder, Resort Condominiums International
(RCI)
(2003) Steve Wynn, President and CEO of Wynn Resorts
(2002) Bill Kimpton, founder of The Kimpton Group (awarded posthumously)
� veteran boutique hotel leader
(2001) Johnathan M. Tisch, Chairman and CEO, Loews Hotels
(2000) Michale A. Leven, President and CEO, U.S. Franchise Systems
(1999) Jack Vaughn, Chairman, Opryland Lodging Group
(1998) George Johnson, President, CEO and Co-founder, Extended Stay
America
(1997) Randell A. Smith, Co-founder and Chair, Smith Travel
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JHM Hotels, headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, has developed,
acquired, owned and operated hotels throughout the United States for almost
thirty years. These years of growth have earned the company rich
and varied experience in every sphere and facet of modern hotel development,
ownership and management. It is among the top 50 hotel management
companies in the world.
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