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AH-July-2024

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05

News

www.asianhospitality.com

July 2024 | Issue 227

AHOA Past Chairman Manhar P.

“MP” Rama passed away Sunday

at age 74. Rama was a co-founder

with his brothers of JHM Hotels that

later became Auro Hotels in Greenville,

South Carolina.

Rama was born in Africa and raised

in India, according to Auro Hotels.

He completed high school in Gurukul

Supa, Navsari, and graduated from M.S.

University of Baroda with a degree in

civil engineering. In 1973, he came to

the U.S. and attended California State

Polytechnic University in Pomona,

California, where he earned a master’s

degree in engineering. He worked with

the city of Pomona before entering the

hotel business.

“In the teachings of Sri Aurobindo, we

learn that life is a journey of the soul,

and my brother, M.P., lived this journey

with unwavering devotion, love, and

integrity,” said HP Rama, Founder of

JHM/Auro Hotels. “His contributions to

our family and the hospitality industry

are immeasurable. We will honor his

memory by continuing to embody the

values he held dear. M.P.’s spirit will

remain a guiding light for all of us.”

MP Rama served as AAHOA chairman

from 2005 to 2006, according to a

statement from the association. His

brother is AAHOA founder HP Rama and

AAHOA past chairman Jayanti P. “JP”

Rama, who passed away in February

2022.

At AAHOA’s 2022 Convention & Trade

Show in Baltimore, Maryland, Rama

received the Cecil B. Day Community

Service Award. At that time, he said,

AAHOA allowed him to develop himself

“professionally and as a person,” and

gave me an opportunity to expand my

skills and the ability to think ahead and

handle more responsibilities.”

"I've known MP Uncle for many years

now, and he's always been a very big

advocate for young professionals,

providing me personally with guidance

in my journey at AAHOA,” said AAHOA

Chairman Miraj Patel. “On behalf of

the AAHOA Board and leadership, we

extend our sincere condolences to the

family and all who knew and loved him."

Rama is survived by his wife, Surekha,

and children, Sima and Vinay Rama,

along with his two brothers, HP and

Raman “RP” Rama, and his sisters,

Madhu Vivek, Hansa Deva, Pushpa Lala

and Pravina Thakor.

He also served as president of the

Vedic Center of Greenville, according to

Auro Hotels, and was an active member

of the advisory council of Marriott and

the board of directors at the University

of Central Florida Foundation.

Rama served on the advisory council

of Hampton Inn by Hilton, the board of

directors of the Greenville Convention

and Visitors Bureau and the board

of directors of the South Carolina

Hospitality Association. He received the

“Entrepreneur Success Award” from the

U.S. Small Business Administration in

1995.

Rama’s funeral was held July 13 at

Faith Assembly on Curry Ford Road in

Orlando.

Former AAHOA Chairman MP

Rama passes away

The 74-year-old co-founded Auro Hotels with his brothers

Manhar P. “MP” Rama, AAHOA past chairman and co-founder of JHM Hotels that later became

Auro Hotels in Greenville, South Carolina, passed away Sunday at age 74.

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