H.P. Rama is the Founder of JHM Enterprises. He founded the business 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. 

H.P. Rama, CHA, is the Chairman of the Board of Auro Hotels, a hospitality company renowned for hotel development, acquisition and management affiliated with the Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt brands. In addition, HP 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), the largest hotel association in the world. 

H.P. Rama is also the Chairman of Gujarat JHM Hotels Ltd., which owns and manages both the Marriott and Courtyard by Marriott, in Surat, as well as the Founder and President of the AURO University in Surat, Gujarat. AURO University was founded by the Rama Family, inspired by the vision and teachings of Sri Aurobindo Ghosh and The Mother. It is a top-rated bachelor’s and master’s degree university in Surat, established under the Gujarat Private Universities Act 2011. Since opening in 2011, there have been 1,900+ graduating students, 35+ programmes, and 50+ collaborations. 

Throughout his entire life, HP has devoted much of his time serving Sri Aurobindo and the Mother as a devotee and seeker. H.P. Rama founded the Sri Aurobindo Integral Learning Centre “La Grace” in 2017 in the USA, which is a Corporate Retreat Centre in integral development, and planned to be an international centre in the US.

He has also developed La Grace Retreat Centre in Pondicherry, which is a summit for individuals with the intent to evolve aptitudes and exhibit progressive transformation. It provides mentorship for conscious collaboration with inner awakening. 

As his commitment to their philosophy of life, HP is developing the Sri Aurobindo Integral Life Center (SAILC) at AURO University, Surat, to realize the divine consciousness at individual as well as community level, to become a perfect instrument of their manifestation.  

His vision and contribution to society have been recognized at the State and National levels where he was appointed to the Chief Ministerial and Prime Ministerial committees to organize to celebrate the 150th Birth Anniversary of Sri Aurobindo.  He is also an international advisory council member of the Auroville Foundation.

Mr. Rama has demonstrated great commitment and passion to humanity and society, which is evidenced through his services to various causes and through social action. Through his positive attitude and passionate approach to life, he has created positive social change that is of benefit to the wider community which is reflected in the many social activities he has pioneered and the social impact these activities have made in the community.

Additionally, many honours have been awarded to H.P. including

• Lamhe 2023” Legacy Awards for Meaningful Humanitarian Efforts conferred conjointly by the Rotary Club of  Gandevi and Bakersfield California.
• 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

• Excellence and Inspiration Award” Awarded by Hunter Hotel Investment 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