USA Scholarships
Hyatt Hotels Fund Minority Lodging Scholarship 2027
The Hyatt Hotels Fund for Minority Lodging Management Students is a national self-nominated scholarship run by the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) Foundation. Each winner receives $3,000 toward a baccalaureate degree in hospitality or hotel management at an accredited US institution. Hyatt created the fund in 1988, and since then hundreds of students have received support through the programme. Applicants must be at least juniors in a four-year hospitality programme, enrolled in 12 or more credit hours for the upcoming academic year, and members of an eligible minority group. US citizenship or permanent residency is required. The Foundation evaluates academics, work experience, activities, financial need, and essay responses. No letters of recommendation are required. Submit the full AHLA Foundation application online by March 15, 2027 unless the Foundation announces a different date for the cycle.
What is the Hyatt Hotels Fund for Minority Lodging Management Students?
Hyatt put money behind this scholarship long before diversity statements became standard corporate language. In 1988 the company created the Hyatt Hotels Fund through the AHLA Foundation so minority students training for hotel management careers could afford to stay in school. Today the award is still $3,000, still self-nominated, and still aimed at juniors and seniors who already chose hospitality as a major rather than at exploratory freshmen.
The application lives on the AHLA Foundation website alongside other lodging-industry scholarships. You will not mail paper forms or chase faculty signatures unless the Foundation changes its process. Recommendation letters are not part of the Hyatt fund, which lowers the barrier if your professors are swamped but means your transcript, work history, and essays must carry the full picture. Selection criteria published by the Foundation include academics, related work experience, extracurricular involvement, financial need, honors, and personal attributes.
Because the scholarship is national, your state does not matter; what matters is that you are enrolled in an accredited US programme and meet the minority eligibility categories the brochure lists. If you are building a hospitality aid stack, compare this award with other partial scholarships on our partial funding listings and confirm the live deadline each winter on the AHLA Foundation self-nominated scholarships page.
Eligibility
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✓Junior or senior hospitality management majorYou must be at least a junior in a baccalaureate hospitality or hotel management programme at an accredited US college or university for the fall term you list on the application.
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✓Full-time enrollment (12+ credits)Register for at least 12 credit hours for the upcoming fall and spring terms, or only fall if you graduate in December.
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✓Eligible minority statusThe competition is open to African American, Hispanic, Native American or Alaskan, and Asian or Pacific Islander students as defined by the AHLA Foundation brochure.
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✓US citizen or permanent residentDocument citizenship or permanent residency as requested in the Foundation portal.
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✓Minimum 2.0 cumulative GPAMaintain at least a 2.0 overall GPA. Stronger academic records help in selection but the published floor is 2.0.
Benefits
- Cash scholarship $3,000
- Commemorative recognition Plaque for winners (per Foundation materials)
- Recommendation letters Not required
- Full tuition and fees Not covered by $3,000 alone
- Graduate study Undergraduate juniors and seniors only
Document checklist
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✓AHLA Foundation online applicationComplete every section of the self-nominated scholarship form on ahlafoundation.org, including the Hyatt Hotels Fund programme.
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✓Unofficial or official transcriptUpload current college transcripts showing your hospitality major and GPA.
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✓Resume or work historyList hospitality-related jobs, internships, or leadership roles; work experience is an explicit evaluation factor.
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✓Essay responsesAnswer Foundation prompts about your goals in lodging management and financial need if requested.
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✓Proof of enrollment or credit loadBe ready to show registration for at least 12 credits when the Foundation verifies your file.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
How much is the Hyatt Hotels Fund scholarship?
Each recipient receives $3,000. The fund is one of several self-nominated scholarships on the AHLA Foundation site, and amounts differ for other programmes.
Who can apply for the Hyatt Hotels Fund for Minority Lodging Management Students?
Minority juniors and seniors in accredited US baccalaureate hospitality programmes who enroll in at least 12 credits, hold a 2.0 GPA, and are US citizens or permanent residents.
Does the Hyatt scholarship require recommendation letters?
No. The AHLA Foundation states that no letters of recommendation are required for the Hyatt Hotels Fund application.
When is the Hyatt Hotels Fund application deadline?
The annual deadline is March 15. For the 2027 cycle, plan to submit by March 15, 2027 and confirm the date on ahlafoundation.org when the portal opens.
Is the Hyatt Hotels Fund limited to Hyatt employees?
No. It is a national competition among eligible hospitality students. You do not need a Hyatt job or a nomination from your school.
What majors qualify for the Hyatt Hotels Fund?
You must be in a baccalaureate hospitality management or hotel management programme. Related business majors without a hospitality focus usually do not qualify.
Can permanent residents apply for the Hyatt Hotels Fund?
Yes. The Foundation accepts US citizens and permanent US residents for this scholarship.
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