AHLA Academic Scholarships

Students can apply directly to AHLA Foundation to compete for the Hyatt Minority, American Express, Ecolab, Incoming Freshman, Banks Brown Graduate and Opening Doors to Opportunity Scholarships. Students do not have to be attending AHLA Foundation affiliated schools nor do they need to be nominated by their schools.

All hospitality students, regardless of where they attend school, have access to more than $500,000 in scholarships offered through the Foundation's self-nominated scholarships:

• Banks Brown Graduate Scholarship
• American Express
• Ecolab
• Hyatt Hotels Fund for Minority Lodging Management Students
• Incoming Freshman
• Opening Doors to Opportunity

School-nominated – requires school affiliation with the AHLA Foundation.

For the Academic Scholarship Program, Community College Scholarship Program, Arthur J. Packard, and Rama Scholarships, the school selects the recipient. Students receiving these scholarships must be attending specific schools that have applied for and been approved for AHLA Foundation affiliation.

School-nominated students are encouraged to also apply for self-nominated scholarships. Our generous donors have also created a number of scholarship funds administered under the Annual Scholarship Grant Program.

How much is available?

In 2023, AHLAF distributed more than $1 million in scholarships to nearly 300 students and hospitality professionals. Since its inception, AHLA Foundation has disbursed more than $16 million in academic scholarships. The Foundation can accomplish these initiatives through the donations of industry leaders and companies that have given back to the industry.

This year, the Foundation will disburse over $1 million through its ten hospitality management scholarship programs for students ranging from first-year students to graduate students. Some scholarships are reserved for current hotel employees or minorities. Others are open to full-time or part-time students. Award amounts range from $500 to $7,500.

Who is eligible?

Applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate hospitality-related degree-granting program, with the exception of the Rama and Graduate scholarships, at a U.S. college or university.

Qualifying majors include programs such as hotel/restaurant management, culinary arts, travel/tourism, and hotel administration. Each scholarship has additional requirements as well, so be sure to read them all before deciding which ones to apply for.