THE AHLA FOUNDATION has introduced a scholarship application platform for U.S. hospitality students. The platform features a built-in eligibility
assessment tool, ensuring students can easily access all qualifying foundation-hosted opportunities. Meanwhile, the foundation, supported by individual donors
and corporations, has contributed almost $17 million to eligible students across the U.S. to date.
"The AHLA Foundation has been committed to supporting hospitality students for 70 years," said Anna Blue, AHLA Foundation president. "Increasing access to
resources and opportunities is a critical investment in the future talent of our industry."
The new system will allow students to apply for multiple scholarship opportunities in one application, the AHLA foundation said in a statement. This new portal
allows AHLA Foundation to manage eight other scholarship opportunities as well:
THE AHLA FOUNDATION recently expanded its travel scholarship program with historically Black colleges and universities supported by a 2023 grant from
the Nareit Foundation's Dividends Through Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Giving Campaign. The foundation also announced its 2024 officers and board of trustees,
further diversifying the board's representation of industry segments, AHLA Foundation said in a statement.
"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."
The $85,000 grant from the Nareit Foundation, Nareit's philanthropic arm, will facilitate HBCU students' attendance at REIT- and investment-focused events,
including the Hunter: Hotel Investment Conference in March and the NYU International Hospitality Industry Conference in June, the statement said.