CHCI NextOpp | Provider Opportunity List

The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF) is building tomorrow's hotel industry -- and the talent to fuel it. In our increasingly complex business, research and education are crucial to ensuring the lodging industry continues to thrive.

The Foundation's mission is to identify, cultivate, and support the human talent, research, and initiatives most vital to the progress and prosperity of the lodging industry. We achieve this through:

Scholarships - Since its inception, AH&LEF has invested more than $9.5 million in scholarships, both for students and professionals seeking to advance their skills.
Funding Essential Research - Our research addresses critical issues such as room tax, ADA, and technology advancement, and we award grants to make these studies happen.
School-to-Career/Workforce Development Initiatives - Since 2003 more than $2.75 million has been expended to encourage career interest in the lodging field through programs such as the new high school program curriculum, Hospitality and Tourism Management Program (HTMP), and the entry-level training program, Skills, Tasks, and Results Training (START).

Current Opportunities for American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AHLEF)

AH&LEF Graduate Scholarship

Opportunity Type: Scholarship
Application Deadline: May 01, 2024
Description: After receiving many requests for graduate scholarships, AH&LEF began offering a scholarship exclusively for graduate students in 2008. The program is open to hospitality management graduate students, as well as graduate students who have an undergraduate hospitality management degree, or at least four years employment in the industry.

American Express Scholarship

Opportunity Type: Scholarship
Application Deadline: May 01, 2024
Description: Founded by American Express in 1994, this program is designed specifically for current lodging employees and their dependents. Endowed with more than $500,000, the fund has awarded $318,000 in scholarships to 281 students and professionals.

Ecolab Scholarship

Opportunity Type: Scholarship
Application Deadline: May 01, 2024
Description: This program was established by Ecolab in 1996 as a commitment to the lodging industry and to support the development of its future leaders. To date, more than $354,000 has been awarded to 240 hospitality management students.

Incoming Freshman Scholarship

Opportunity Type: Scholarship
Application Deadline: May 01, 2024
Description: In 2008, AH&LEF created a scholarship exclusively for incoming freshman to encourage enrollment in hospitality-related undergraduate programs and attract more students to the lodging industry. The program is being funded from scholarship monies set aside from AH&LEF's last major capital giving fundraising initiative, the New Century Campaign.

Arthur J. Packard Memorial Scholarship

Opportunity Type: Scholarship
Application Deadline: May 01, 2024
Description: This scholarship honors Arthur J. Packard, who never waited for the lodging industry to ask him to volunteer his time and boundless energy. A third-generation hotelier, his work for AH&LA extended over 30 years -- one of the longest on record. The Packard Competition provides scholarships to the most outstanding student of lodging management and to two runners-up through an annual competition among Foundation affiliated four-year programs.

Joseph McInerney Scholarship

Opportunity Type: Scholarship
Application Deadline: May 01, 2024
Description: This scholarship was created to commemorate Joseph McInerney’s 50-plus year hospitality career, the last twelve heading the American Hotel & Lodging Association. In his many travels, Joe made hundreds of visits to colleges and universities around the globe to champion the industry and its merits. In appreciation of Joe’s efforts and to continue his good work, his colleagues and friends donated more than $155,000 to permanently endow a scholarship in his honor.

Pepsi Scholarship for Hospitality High School Graduates

Opportunity Type: Scholarship
Application Deadline: May 01, 2024
Description: The PepsiCo Foundation made a $250,000 contribution to the Foundation's New Century Fund Campaign, creating the Pepsi Scholarship Fund to benefit graduating seniors from the Hospitality High School in Washington, D.C. This endowed gift provides perpetual scholarships to graduates of the Hospitality High School who are enrolled in undergraduate hospitality-related degree programs. To date 45 students have received scholarships totaling $103,000.

Rama Scholarship for the American Dream

Opportunity Type: Scholarship
Application Deadline: May 01, 2024
Description: JHM Hotels, Inc. established the Rama Scholarship for the American Dream with a $1,000,001 endowment. The five Rama brothers, principals in the company, emigrated from India to pursue their American Dream. It began with the ownership of one lodging property and grew into a successful operation of 35 properties and more than 1,500 associates. The fund, established on the 25th anniversary of the brothers' first hotel purchase, encourages others to create their own American Dream. Since its inception in 1998 the Rama Scholarship Fund has awarded $666,300 in scholarships to 406 recipients.

Hyatt Hotels Fund for Minority Lodging Management Students

Opportunity Type: Scholarship
Application Deadline: May 01, 2024
Description: Self-nominated means that students do not have to attend a particular school or be nominated by their respective schools. Applicants must complete sections 1-8 of the AH&LEF scholarship application, including any additional sections as noted. AH&LEF academic scholarship applications are only accepted from January 1 to May 1 each year. Please note that any applications received from May 2 through December 31 will not be reviewed because the information provided will be outdated for the next school year.

In 1988, Hyatt established this fund to provide financial aid to minority students pursuing a degree in hotel management. Since 1988, approximately 312 minority students have received $624,000 through this scholarship. Scholarship Award Scholarship winners receive a $2,000 award, and a plaque Application Process Applicants must complete sections 1-8 of the AH&LEF scholarship application.