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In Brief: A lasting scholarship fund has been established in honor of Deborah Herman’s contributions to NEWH, aiming to support education and professional development in the hospitality industry.
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Deborah Herman – Image Credit NEWH
NEWH has announced the establishment of the Deborah Herman Memorial Scholarship, a permanent scholarship fund in memory of Deborah Herman.
NEWH has established the Deborah Herman Memorial Scholarship, a permanent fund to continue the educational legacy of Deborah Herman, who passed away on March 15 in Coral Gables, Florida. Herman was a member of NEWH for 37 years, joining at age 29.
Herman contributed more than $130,000 in scholarship funding to NEWH, donating $10,000 or more annually for over a decade. She presented awards, mentored recipients, and supported student debt relief initiatives. In 2015, she received the ICON of Industry Award from NEWH, becoming the youngest recipient of the honor.
NEWH will self-fund the Deborah Herman Memorial Scholarship in 2026 to ensure there is no gap in scholarship giving in the year of her passing. The scholarship will continue in her name as a permanent, community-held commitment. NEWH has invited industry members, companies, and partners to contribute to the fund in her memory.
Herman held a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Brigham Young University and began her hospitality career in 1982 with her family’s company, Fabric Innovations. She became President of the company, which was acquired by Covington Fabric & Design in 2024. As of 2015, Fabric Innovations was a preferred bedding and drapery vendor for hotel brands including Westin, Aloft, Element, and Virgin Hotels, as well as Delta Air Lines, where it became the largest-volume supplier owned by a woman in the airline’s history.
Herman’s career distinctions include Certified WBENC Women’s Business Enterprise, 2006 South Florida Business Woman of the Year, 2006 NEWH Award of Excellence, 2007 Small Business of the Year from the National Congressional Council for Small Business, and the 2015 NEWH ICON of Industry Award. She served on the board of ASFONA, the Association of Starwood Franchisees & Owners, and on the Cornell Hospitality Advisory Board.
