The AHLA Foundation has awarded $817,000 in academic scholarships to 256 hospitality students for the 2026–2027 academic year. The awards average roughly $3,200 per student and reach recipients enrolled at 78 colleges and universities nationwide, including 52 AHLA-affiliated schools and 26 non-affiliated institutions.

Nearly 95% of this year's recipients come from historically underrepresented communities. The figure signals the widening reach of the Foundation's scholarship pipeline at a time when hotel operators face persistent labor shortages and rising competition for management-track talent.

The Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), funds the program through grants and charitable contributions from individuals and organizations. It awards the scholarships annually to students enrolled in hospitality management and related degree programs. Selection criteria include academic performance, extracurricular engagement, school or work recommendations, and financial need.

"The strength of our industry depends on the leaders we are developing today," said Kevin Carey, President & CEO of the AHLA Foundation. "These scholarships help cultivate the next generation of hospitality professionals by opening doors to education, industry experiences, and career opportunities. By investing in talented students across the country, we are helping ensure our industry remains innovative, resilient, and strong for years to come."

The program functions as a workforce-development tool as much as a tuition-assistance mechanism. By targeting students already committed to hospitality degrees, the Foundation aims to move graduates directly into hotel and lodging careers, addressing an industry-wide challenge in filling management and skilled positions.

One recipient, Lydia Rengering, a student at The University of Alabama, said the award will reduce her reliance on loans and other funding sources. "This scholarship will help ease the financial burden of tuition and educational expenses, allowing me to focus more fully on my studies, professional growth, and hands-on experiences within the hospitality industry," Rengering said. "I am passionate about building a career where I can make a positive impact."

The Foundation has published the full list of institutions represented among the 2026 recipients at ahlafoundation.org/scholarships. The organization describes its broader mission as supporting the hotel and lodging industry's workforce by connecting employees, employers, and their communities.

For hoteliers and hospitality educators, the scholarship program represents a continued, funded channel for developing the management bench the sector will need as it confronts elevated labor costs and turnover. The Foundation's next annual award cycle will determine whether the share of recipients from underrepresented communities holds near the 95% mark.