Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Today, the AHLA Foundation, the philanthropic branch of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, unveiled its initiative to broaden its educational scholarship program in collaboration with historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). This expansion aims to enhance connections between HBCU scholars and the real estate investment trust (REIT) sector, enabled by a significant 2023 contribution from the Nareit Foundation’s Dividends Through Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DDEI) Initiative.
“HBCUs are an incredible, yet underestimated, resource for talent” said AHLA Foundation President Anna Blue. “Travel scholarships are an important tool for fostering inclusion at the earliest stages and help to increase exposure to the different parts of industry, including hotel and lodging REITs.”
Initiated in 2023, the AHLA Foundation’s scholarship program strives to unveil the myriad career opportunities within the hospitality sector to students by facilitating their participation at pivotal industry gatherings. These include the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS), the 2024 ForWard Conference, the Lodging Conference, and the Hospitality Show. Bolstered by an $85,000 donation from the Nareit Foundation, Nareit’s charitable entity, this program specifically supports HBCU students in attending events that focus on REIT and investment, like the Hunter Hotel Investment Conference and the NYU International Hospitality Industry Conference.
The scholarship is accessible to students from a selection of schools associated with the AHLA Foundation, such as Bethune-Cookman University, Howard University, Morgan State University, North Carolina Central University, the University of the District of Columbia, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and Virginia State University. Eligible schools are invited to nominate students who exhibit leadership qualities and a dedicated interest in pursuing careers within the hotel and lodging sector, following specific selection criteria.
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
