ATLANTA, December 12, 2016—The Atlanta Hospitality Alliance (AHA), the premier peer-to-peer learning and networking organization for current and future hospitality investment leaders in Atlanta, today announced the election of Adi Bhoopathy, principal and executive vice-president of Noble Investment Group, as the group’s president for 2017 during its Winter Session held at the recently renovated Doubletree Suite by Hilton.

The organization also issued two scholarship grants, one for Georgia State University’s Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality and a second to the Michael Leven School of Hospitality at Kennesaw State University. AHA also became the first hospitality organization to provide underwriting to the Castell Project, a newly formed organization dedicated to advancing diversity within the hospitality industry.

“Alongside Washington, D.C., and Manhattan, Atlanta has become one of the top three leading hospitality leadership markets in the United States, home to leading hotel brands, ownership groups, operators, developers, lenders, brokers, consultants and other influencers,” Bhoopathy said. “AHA has grown with the hospitality industry here, and our goal in 2017, our 8th as an organization, is to focus on giving back to the industry. The future of our industry depends on nurturing the next generation of hoteliers, and these scholarships and support for the Castell Project are strong symbols of our commitment.”

In his role as principal and executive vice-president of investment management for Noble Investment Group, Bhoopathy’s primary responsibilities include capital market relationships, asset dispositions and transaction management. Additionally, he leads contract documentation and closing related to new acquisitions, development and financing for all investments. A 17-year hospitality veteran, he has participated in more than $1.9 billion of real estate transactions since joining Noble in 1999. Bhoopathy received his Bachelor of Science from the Cornell University School of Hospitality and is a member of the Urban Land Institute.

AHA has committed over $25,000 in scholarships to date and earmarked an additional $3,500 to the Castell project.