Ed Brock is an award-winning journalist who has worked for various U.S. newspapers and magazines, including with American City & County magazine, a national publication based in Atlanta focused on city and county government issues. He is currently senior editor at Asian Hospitality magazine, the top U.S. publication for Asian American hoteliers. Originally from Mobile, Alabama, Ed began his career in journalism in the early 1990s as a reporter for a chain of weekly newspapers in Baldwin County, Alabama. After a stint teaching English in Japan, Ed returned to the U.S. and moved to the Atlanta area where he returned to journalism, coming to work at Asian Hospitality in 2016.
DURING HIS LIFE and career, Jayanti P. “J.P.” Rama touched a lot of lives and inspired people on all levels of the hospitality industry. Below are tributes from some of Rama’s many friends and colleagues, as well as two of his brothers, following his death on Thursday.
Hasmukh “H.P.” Rama, brother
“My bother JP was man of principle and in his own way he pursued what he strongly believed in.
He was man of tremendous courage and stood up for a number of causes, many of which he made his life’s mission. He was, like a coconut : from outside he appeared tough but inside was very soft and willing to accommodate anyone and do the right thing at the right time.
He was a great entrepreneur who willingly learned all trades of the hospitality business, be it technology, understanding all aspects of the construction process or absorbing or financial information.
He was passionate about his active engagement to make AAHOA great. His entrepreneurial spirit shone through early, starting a business at the age of 18 in Malawi Africa after which he joined me in the motel business in 1974 in Pomona California where we grew the business owning multiple hotels in the South East. Despite his huge success, no task was beneath him and he was never shameful to make beds or conduct repairs in our hotels. He had a canny ability to grasp and understand all aspects of the business, even those he is not earlier exposed to.’
Raman “R.P.” Rama, brother
“It is difficult to fill the void my brother has left behind in our lives, but we surely will cherish the memories he has left behind. We are helpless in the hands of God's will and have to face such crude realities of life. Death is so very certain for everyone, but it comes at so uncertain times that we sometimes feel regrets of not being able to do what we wanted to do. With that, we learn that in our lives, we have to live in the present moment and fulfill our duties and responsibilities. Also, we must enjoy the fruits of our hard work but not lose our quality time with those close to us.
Please pray for the departed soul of my brother. He was hard like a coconut from outside but very soft like the pulp inside. He loved meeting people and would find one or the other social connection. He had a very good network. God Speed.”
Fred Schwartz, past AAHOA president, chief sales officer, Creative Lending Solutions Corp.
“When I joined AAHOA in 1996, J.P. Rama was the incoming AAHOA chairman who welcomed me. Very soon after, J.P. and I were invited by Stephen Bollenbach, CEO of Hilton Hotels Corp., to visit the Hilton headquarters in Beverly Hills, California. Mr. Bollenbach was excited for us to view the soon to be launched prototype of the Hilton Garden Inn. He spoke with great pride of the design of his new product, and asked J.P. for his input. J.P., in his humble but insightful and knowledgeable way, mesmerized Mr. Bollenbach with numerous design suggestions. I often think of how impressed Mr. Bollenbach was by J.P.’s suggestions, and how I am still impressed by the talent, humility and gifts that J.P. possessed.
Fred Schwartz, past AAHOA president, chief sales officer, Creative Lending Solutions Corp., said J.P. Rama “connected with and urged young people to follow in their parents’ footsteps” and was a strong promoter of AAHOA.
J.P. worked diligently to build AAHOA. He shared AAHOA’s vision with so many people. He traveled constantly to AAHOA meetings, and communicated with current and future stakeholders of AAHOA, to help build and strengthen the association. He worked with pride and tireless efforts to build AAHOA’s membership. He was always busy raising AAHOA’s awareness in the vendor and franchisor community, educating them about the dynamism of AAHOA and its membership. He connected with and urged young people to follow in their parents’ footsteps, to bring the hotel journey of entrepreneurship to an even more impressive level.
I will miss our industry icon, and a man I was proud to call my friend.”
Mit Shah, CEO of Noble Investment Group, and Bharat Shah, former AAHOA chairman
“On a warm August day in 1995, my dear friend, D.J. Rama, and I were l sitting together when we saw our fathers walking toward us. At the time, Dad and J.P. uncle were helping lead a brand new AAHOA. Most kids would agree that having your fathers approach you with such purpose is more than a little intimidating, and so D.J. and I both immediately stood up with attention. J.P. Uncle proceeded to put his arms around the both of us and, with his wry smile and warm embrace, looked at these two eager, impressionable young men and said, ‘Guys, you make us very proud. You are our future.’
What J.P. Uncle was really saying was that he hoped that the hard work and sacrifices of their generation would lead to tremendous opportunity for ours.
Mit Shah, CEO of Noble Investment Group, right, and Bharat Shah, former AAHOA chairman, left, said Rama was “a man of family, faith, industry, and purpose.”
Today, D.J., me, and an entire community and industry made up of sons and daughters stand here on the shoulders of giants like J.P. Uncle.
I had the honor of having Maya Angelou as my college professor. One of her most important messages was that people will always remember how you made them feel. J.P. Uncle will be remembered by all of us who loved him as a man of family, faith, industry, and purpose. But for me, on that summer day many, many years ago and throughout my life’s journey, I will always treasure the way I felt in J.P. Uncle's presence. God bless his beautiful soul. Jai Shree Krishna.”
Danny Patel, CEO, PeachState Hospitality
“A father figure to an industry, a pioneer of perseverance, and a humanitarian of the highest quality, J.P. Rama led an incredible life. Those of us fortunate enough to know him are blessed in more ways than one. His guidance and vision have inspired countless, in and around the hospitality industry. During my tenure at AAHOA I was able to see first-hand the legacy that J.P. was leaving. The decisions he made and the actions he took at a time when the industry and the Asian American community needed it the most, continues to define a generation of hospitality leaders.
Danny Patel, CEO, PeachState Hospitality took action at a time when the hospitality industry and Asian American community most needed it.
His impact on the industry will surely last the test of time however his work and passion for education will bear fruits for many generations to come. Over the years I was able to see the growth and momentum of Auro University and what it has become. The lives that JP has helped change, myself included, owe a great deal to him and the work he has done. I am saddened of the loss of J.P. but am comforted with knowing the work he did and the life he lived will carry on. Thank you, J.P. and the entire Rama Family, for all that you have done and given. JP, may you rest in peace and harmony.”
Mitch Patel, president and CEO, Vision Hospitality Group
“J.P. Rama’s story is one of the American Dream and an inspiration to all. J.P. Rama and his family are pioneers in the Asian American community. They were one of the first in our community to enter the hotel business in the Southeast with the purchase of a small independent motel. Within decades they took that small business and created a hotel empire and in doing so, showed many what this community is capable of with determination and hard work. He and his family have inspired and assisted so many others.
Later, when J.P. Uncle was the chairman of AAHOA, I was a 27-year-old dreaming about starting my own hotel company. I looked up to him as an idol, and I know many others that have gone on to lead successful entrepreneurial careers did as well. He was always so personable, generous, and supportive of young people starting out in the industry.
Mitch Patel, president and CEO, Vision Hospitality Group, with J.P. Rama, far right, Patel’s father Ishwarlal Patel, far left and H.P. Rama, left, and others at Auro University in Surat, India, that the Rama family built. They are joined by J.P.’s grandson Satya, left front, and Patel’s son Arjun.
His passing invokes many of those memories and his legacy of how he touched and inspired so many will live on. D.J. is one of my closest friends and J.P. Uncle’s passing hits especially close to home. Our family is sending our thoughts, prayers, and love to the Rama family.
A quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson embodies what I feel J.P. Uncle’s impact was, and what his legacy will be: ‘Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.’ Thank you, J.P. Uncle, for having the strength and courage to blaze a trail for so many others to follow. You will be missed as one of the greatest leaders and individuals that this generation has ever known.”
Ravi Patel, president of Hawkeye Hotels
“When I think of J.P. Rama, I remember not only a visionary, titan of industry, and cultural leader, but also a helper whose good deeds most certainly kept him close to the Divine.
Ravi Patel, president of Hawkeye Hotels said Rama was “an example for us all and he embodied some of the highest virtues.”
When I was just starting out in the hospitality business, J.P. took some time to visit with me personally. He talked about how proud he was of my generation, how proud he was to see us carrying on family legacies, growing successful businesses and elevating our people into a privileged class here in America. But he left me and my peers with a most important charge: to ensure that as we experience such fortunate growth, we measure our success against our service to others. Our financial gains would never be more important than our investments in others, especially in those who are less fortunate. That was the thing he really wanted me to understand.
He was an example for us all and he embodied some of the highest virtues. His life was a masterclass on how to treat everyone with respect, how to care for one another, as we care for ourselves, and how to plant seeds of hope into future generations. There is no hand to catch time. We must all leave this earth one day. While we’re here, may we strive to emulate JP’s legacy of generosity, fierceness of heart, and strength of vision.”
Marriott launches Outdoor Collection and Bonvoy Outdoors platform.
First two brands are Postcard Cabins and Trailborn Hotels.
Platform features 450+ hotels, 50,000 homes and activities.
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL RECENTLY launched the brand “Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy” and introduced “Marriott Bonvoy Outdoors,” a digital platform that lets travelers plan trips by destination or activity. The first two brands in the Outdoor Collection are Postcard Cabins and Trailborn Hotels.
Outdoor Collection offers stays such as cabins near national parks and hotels on cliffs, providing access to nature along with basic guest needs, including beds, running water and restrooms, Marriott said in a statement.
The Marriott Bonvoy Outdoors platform includes 450 hotels, 50,000 homes and villas, and tours and activities, the statement said. Postcard Cabins has 1,200 cabins across 29 U.S. locations within two hours of major cities and Trailborn Hotels offers properties in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Grand Canyon, and Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.
“We built Marriott Bonvoy Outdoors to help people, whether that’s cresting a mountain trail, catching the perfect wave, or simply finding quiet under the stars,” said Peggy Roe, Marriott's executive vice president and chief customer officer. “Travel is at its best when it speaks to who we are and what we love. It’s about reconnecting with yourself and the people you love in the places that inspire you most. With the new Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy, our curated Marriott Bonvoy Moments and activations like the Drop Pin Challenge with Dylan Efron, we’re not just offering places to stay, we’re opening doors to experiences that inspire, connect and stay with you forever.”
Marriott Bonvoy partnered with Dylan Efron on the Drop Pin Challenge, a treasure hunt across 20 U.S. and Canadian locations with 10 million points at stake. Travelers can visit marriottbonvoyoutdoors.com for rules and locations and the first 50 eligible participants to scan each pin earn 10,000 points. The platform is also partnering with Outside Interactive to offer Marriott Bonvoy Moments that connect guests with nature and activities.
By clicking the 'Subscribe’, you agree to receive our newsletter, marketing communications and industry
partners/sponsors sharing promotional product information via email and print communication from Asian Media
Group USA Inc. and subsidiaries. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the
unsubscribe link in our emails. We will use your email address to personalize our communications and send you
relevant offers. Your data will be stored up to 30 days after unsubscribing.
Contact us at data@amg.biz to see how we manage and store your data.
Peachtree adds six hotels to third-party platform.
Five are owned by La Posada Group, one by Decatur Properties.
Third-party portfolio totals 42 hotels.
PEACHTREE GROUP’S HOSPITALITY management division added six hotels to its third-party management platform. Five are owned by La Posada Group LLC and one by Decatur Properties Holdings.
La Posada’s hotels include Fairfield Inn Evansville East in Evansville, Indiana; Fairfield Inn Las Cruces and TownePlace Suites Las Cruces in Las Cruces, New Mexico; and SpringHill Suites Lawrence Downtown and TownePlace Suites Kansas City Overland Park in Kansas, Peachtree said in a statement.
It also assumed management of Decatur Properties’ Hampton Inn in Monahans, Texas.
“Our third-party management business is experiencing growth and these six hotels demonstrate the trust owners are placing in our team,” said Vickie Callahan, president of Peachtree’s hospitality management division. “We have experience managing hotels and managing operations for partners who have entrusted us with their assets. We are committed to protecting asset value, driving results for partners and delivering a strong guest experience.”
The division manages hotels across brands and markets nationwide, the statement said. It operates 115 hotels across 29 brands with 14,212 rooms in 27 states and Washington, D.C. The additions bring its total third-party operations to 42 hotels.
Callahan said the team uses scale, operating systems and brand relationships to optimize revenue, control costs and improve guest satisfaction.
Atlanta-based Peachtree is led by Greg Friedman, managing principal and CEO; Jatin Desai, managing principal and CFO and Mitul Patel, principal.
AHLA Foundation distributed $710,000 in scholarships to 246 students.
Nearly 90 percent of recipients come from underrepresented communities.
The foundation funds students pursuing education and careers in the lodging sector.
AHLA FOUNDATION DISTRIBUTED $710,000 in academic scholarships to 246 students at 64 schools nationwide for the 2025–2026 academic year. Nearly 90 percent of recipients are from underrepresented communities, reflecting the foundation’s focus on expanding access to hospitality careers.
The foundation awards academic scholarships annually to students in hospitality management and related programs, it said in a statement.
“Our scholarship program is helping ensure the next generation of talent has the resources to pursue careers in the hospitality industry,” said Kevin Carey, AHLA Foundation's president and CEO. “We’ve invested millions of dollars over the last several decades to recruit and support future leaders who will strengthen our industry.”
It provides funding to help students pursue education and careers in the lodging sector, the statement said. Award decisions are based on applicants’ academic performance, extracurricular involvement, recommendations and financial need.
In September, AHLA Foundation, the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education and the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration announced plans to expand education opportunities for hospitality students. The alliance aim to provide data, faculty development and student engagement opportunities.
The U.S. government shut down at midnight after Congress failed to agree on funding.
About 750,000 federal employees will be furloughed daily, costing $400 million.
Key immigration and labor programs are halted.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT shut down at midnight after Republicans and Democrats failed to agree on funding. Disputes over healthcare subsidies and spending priorities left both sides unwilling to accept responsibility.
“A shutdown is a wholly preventable blow to America’s travel economy—costing $1 billion each week—and affecting millions of travelers and businesses while straining an already overextended federal travel workforce,” Freeman said. “While Congress recently provided a $12.5 billion down payment to modernize our nation’s air travel system and improve safety and efficiency, this modernization will stop in the event of a shutdown.”
USTA said that halting air traffic controller hiring and training would worsen a nationwide shortage of more than 2,800 controllers and further strain the air travel system.
About 750,000 federal workers are expected to be furloughed each day at a cost of about $400 million, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Essential services to protect life and property remain operational, CNN reported. The Department of Education said most of its staff will be furloughed, while the Department of Homeland Security will continue much of its work. Agencies released contingency plans before the deadline.
Immigration services are directly affected. Most U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services operations continue because they are fee funded, but programs relying on appropriations—such as E-Verify, the Conrad 30 J-1 physician program and the special immigrant religious worker program—are suspended. Houston law firm Reddy Neumann Brown said employers must manually verify I-9 documents if E-Verify goes offline, though USCIS has historically extended compliance deadlines.
The Department of Labor will halt its Office of Foreign Labor Certification, freezing labor condition applications for H-1B visas, PERM applications and prevailing wage determinations, India’s Business Standard reported. Its FLAG system and related websites will also go offline. Immigration lawyers warn of ripple effects, since USCIS depends on DOL data. The Board of Alien Labor Certification Appeals and administrative law dockets will also pause.
Visa and passport services at U.S. consulates generally continue because they are fee funded. If revenue falls short at a post, services may be limited to emergencies and diplomatic needs.
Reuters reported that the disruption could delay the September jobs report, slow air travel, suspend scientific research, withhold pay from active-duty U.S. troops and disrupt other government operations. The funding standoff involves $1.7 trillion in discretionary agency spending—about one-quarter of the $7 trillion federal budget, according to Reuters. Most of the rest goes to health programs, retirement benefits and interest on the $37.5 trillion national debt.
According to The New York Times, unlike previous shutdowns, Trump is threatening long-term changes to the government if Democrats do not concede to demands, including firing workers and permanently cutting programs they support.
The U.S. led global travel and tourism in 2024 with $2.6 trillion in GDP, WTTC reported.
India retained ninth place with $249.3 billion in GDP.
The sector supported 357 million jobs in 2024, rising to 371 million in 2025.
THE U.S. LED global travel and tourism in 2024, contributing $2.6 trillion to GDP, mainly from domestic demand, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. Europe accounted for five of the top 10 destinations, while India ranked 9th.
WTTC opened its 25th Global Summit in Rome with research showing investment reached $1 trillion in 2024, led by the U.S., China, Saudi Arabia and France.
“These results tell a story of strength and opportunity,” said Gloria Guevara, WTTC interim CEO. “The U.S. remains the world’s largest travel and tourism market, China is surging back, Europe is powering ahead, and destinations across the Middle East, Asia and Africa are delivering record growth. This year, we are forecasting that our sector will contribute a historic $2.1 trillion in 2025, surpassing the previous high of $1.9 trillion in 2019. As Italy hosts this year’s Global Summit, its role as a G7 leader showcases the importance of tourism in driving economies, creating jobs and shaping our shared future.”
The U.S. kept its top position, but international visitor spending is expected to fall by $12.5 billion in 2025, limiting growth to 0.7 percent. China, the second-largest market, contributed $1.64 trillion in 2024 and is forecast to grow 22.7 percent this year. Japan, the fifth-largest market, is expected to rise from $310.5 billion to nearly $325 billion.
Italy, which hosted the summit and is a G7 member, contributed $248.3 billion in 2024, driven by international visitors and the meetings and events sector. Germany, the third-largest market, contributed $525 billion. The UK generated $367 billion despite a fall in international visitor spending, while France and Spain added $289 billion and $270 billion. Europe’s growth was supported by both cultural and modern sectors.
India contributed $249.3 billion in 2024. In June, WTTC reported international visitors spent $36.09 billion in India in last year, up 9 percent from 2019.
Jobs on the rise
Travel and tourism supported 357 million jobs in 2024 and is expected to reach 371 million in 2025, increasing its share of global employment, the WTTC report found. By 2035, the sector is projected to support one in eight jobs worldwide, adding 91 million positions—most in Asia-Pacific—and accounting for one in three new jobs globally.
Uncertainties over trade tariffs and geopolitical tensions could limit sector growth in 2025, the report said. Travel and tourism’s GDP contribution is forecast to rise 6.7 percent, returning toward pre-pandemic averages but still outpacing the 2.5 percent growth projected for the global economy.
The sector is expected to contribute $11.7 trillion, or 10.3 percent of global GDP and add 14.4 million jobs, bringing total employment to 371 million, or 10.9 percent of global jobs. International visitor spending is projected to fully recover, rising 8.6 percent above 2019 levels to nearly $2.1 trillion, while domestic visitor spending is expected to rise 13.6 percent to $5.6 trillion. Annual growth for 2025 is forecast at 10 percent for international and 5.1 percent for domestic spending.
In May, WTTC projected the U.S. stood to lose $12.5 billion in international travel spending this year, falling to under $169 billion from $181 billion in 2024. The council said U.S. needs to do more to welcome international visitors rather than “putting up the ‘closed’ sign.”