AHLA Foundation Bridges Higher Education and Industry Commitment Through Strategic Partnerships with ICHRIE and ACPHA

The AHLA Foundation today announced partnerships with the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education (ICHRIE) and the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA) designed to strengthen opportunities for young people seeking professions in the industry. Building on the Foundation’s legacy of scholarship support for hospitality students, these strategic alliances represent an evolution of the Foundation’s talent pipeline mission—bridging the gap between higher education institutions and industry workforce needs. 

“We’re not just funding education—we’re investing in the alignment between academic learning and professional readiness,” said Kevin Carey, AHLA Foundation President and CEO. “These partnerships give us the insights needed to support students and programs that effectively prepare graduates to enter the evolving hospitality industry.” 

ACPHA, the national and global accrediting body for hospitality programs, will provide annual reports on participating schools’ data to support the Foundation’s strategic planning and resource allocation. This data helps ensure that the Foundation’s resources reach programs that demonstrate strong accountability for curriculum relevance and alignment with current industry realities.  

“This partnership is an excellent example of academia and industry working in concert to the benefit of hospitality-focused students,” said Thomas Kube, the incoming ACPHA Executive Director. 

Building on a longstanding relationship, the enhanced partnership with ICHRIE supports the Foundation’s comprehensive landscape analysis of its affiliated school programs, deepens on-campus engagement through access to more than 40 Eta Sigma Delta Honor Society chapters nationwide, and elevates faculty professional development to help hospitality educators stay current and maintain industry connections.  

“Together, we are strengthening pathways to academic excellence, professional development, and industry engagement—ensuring that the next generation of hospitality leaders is empowered, supported, and inspired,” said Dr. Donna Albano, Chair, ICHRIE Eta Sigma Delta Board of Governors. 

These collaborations mark a new chapter in hospitality education, where academic rigor meets industry relevance through strategic partnerships and a shared commitment to student success.

About AHLA Foundation 

The AHLA Foundation, the charitable arm of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, works to support the hotel and lodging industry’s greatest asset—our people. By connecting employees, employers, and their communities, we seek to continuously nurture a culture of professional growth and belonging. When the people who work in our industry thrive, the industry thrives along with them. The Foundation is funded by grants and charitable contributions from generous individuals and organizations who want to support individuals seeking opportunities to thrive in the hotel and lodging industry. Learn more at www.ahlafoundation.org. 

About ICHRIE 
The International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (ICHRIE) provides programs and services to continually improve the quality of global education, research, service and business operations in the hospitality and tourism industry. An inclusive, collegial association, ICHRIE values creative, ethical and progressive action and improvement of global hospitality and tourism education and research. Learn more at www.chrie.org.  

About ACPHA  

Founded in 1989, the mission of the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA) is the quality assessment and the quality enhancement of Hospitality Management Education programs at the associate and bachelor’s degree level, in the US and internationally. It is the only CHEA-recognized accrediting body for hospitality programs. Learn more at https://www.acpha-cahm.org/.