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