H.P. is the Chairman of the Board for Auro Hotels, LLC. Auro Hotels is the successor to JHM Hotels. He founded JHM Hotels in 1973. He obtained his MBA from Xavier University and now concentrates on strategic planning, finance and banking, and acquisitions and sales. The American Hotel and Motel Association has designated H.P. Rama as a Certified Hotel Administrator. He is the founding Chairman of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) and has served as Past Chairman of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), which is the largest hotel association in the world. He is also the Founder and President of Auro University of Hospitality and Management in Surat, India.

Additionally, many honors have been awarded to H.P. including:

• “Glorious India Award” Awarded by Praveg Communications Limited


• “Lifetime Achievement Award” Awarded by The Americas Lodging Investment Summit


• “Honorary Alumnus of the Year Award” Awarded by The School of Hospitality Business Alumni Association Michigan State University


• “Outreach Award for Philanthropy Award” Awarded by Asian American Hotel Owners Association • “Heroes Salute Visionary Award” Awarded by The Nashville Connection Heroes Salute


• “Above and Beyond Humanitarian Award” Awarded by The Lodging Conference


• “Pioneer Award” Awarded by the International Society of Hospitality Consultants


• “International Business Person of the Year” Awarded by Columbia International Festival Committee • “Nelson B. Mullins Business Person of the Year – Nominee” Awarded by Greenville Magazine


• “Arthur Landstreet Award”, AH&LA’s Highest Honor for his Contribution to Education


• “Cutting Edge Award” Awarded by AH&LA in recognition of innovative leadership in the lodging industry • “Hospitality Leader of the Year” Awarded by the University of South Carolina, Greenville, SC


• “Marriott Spirit to Serve” Award for outstanding achievement in community service


• “Industry Leader of the Year” Awarded by Michigan State University


• “South Carolina Hotelier of the Year” Awarded by the Hospitality Association of South Carolina


• “Industry Service Award” presented by Hilton Corporation


• Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration in Hospitality Management, honoris causa by Johnson & Wales University


• South Carolina’s “Entrepreneur of the Year for Real Estate Services” Awarded by Ernst and Young


• “Entrepreneurial Success Award” by the U.S. Small Business Administration in recognition of the entrepreneurial spirit


• "Economy Lodging Person of the Year" Awarded by the Economy Lodging Council of the American Hotel & Motel Association


• “Chairman’s Award” presented by Asian American Hotel Owners Association


• AAHOA Oberoi Award for Excellence by the Asian American Hotel Owners Association


• Paul Harris Fellow Award for Exceptional Service by Rotary International