07
News
www.asianhospitality.com
July 2025 | Issue 238
URO Hotels launched its $2 million
Rama Legacy Scholarship endowment
for employees' children, continuing
a tradition started by company co-founder
H.P. Rama. Several students received
scholarships in this inaugural year, reflecting
the company’s view that its success depends
on its people.
As founding chairman of AAHOA and
past chairman of the American Hotel
and Lodging Association, Rama believes
the hospitality industry’s strength lies
in developing its people, Auro said in
a statement. He established the first
scholarship under his family’s name in 1998.
The Rama Scholarship for the American
Dream began through AHLA, where a $1
million commitment has supported more
than 700 hospitality students, the statement
said. In 2008, the Rama Memorial Scholarship
Fund for the Greenville City Fire Department
was established and has provided more than
$110,000 to more than 120 students.
Rama established AURO University in
Surat, Gujarat, India, in 2011. Since then, the
university has graduated more than 2,200
students across more than 30 undergraduate,
postgraduate and doctoral programs.
Through industry engagement and practical
training, AURO prepares students for careers
in hospitality and other fields.
“The Rama Legacy Scholarship is more
than financial assistance—it is an investment
in the future of the hospitality industry,” the
company’s statement said. “By supporting
employees' children, Auro Hotels is creating
opportunities for the next generation
to achieve their educational and career
aspirations.”
For Rama, these scholarships link his
company’s success to its responsibility to
the community that made it possible. As
the hospitality industry changes, he shows
that success includes supporting others and
helping secure their futures.
Based in Greenville, South Carolina,
with offices in Atlanta and Surat, India,
Auro Hotels has developed, owned, and
operated hotels for more than 50 years. It
runs 37 hotels with over 6,700 guestrooms
in the United States and India under
brands including Marriott, Hilton, and
Hyatt. H.P. Rama, with brothers M.P. and
J.P. Rama, founded JHM Hotels that later
became Auro Hotels in Greenville. Both
M.P. and J.P. Rama.
Auro launches $2M scholarship
for employees’ children
Company founder H.P. Rama launched the first family-named scholarship in 1998
Auro Hotels launched its $2 million Rama
Legacy Scholarship endowment for employees'
children, with several students receiving
support in the first year.