Kennesaw State University and AURO University Partner to Shape Global Hospitality Leaders

Kennesaw State University and AURO University Partner to Shape Global Hospitality Leaders

By Author

Published on October 5, 2023

The global hospitality industry is poised for significant growth by 2027, but it also faces a severe staffing shortage. To tackle this challenge head-on, Kennesaw State University in Atlanta, Georgia, has joined hands with India's AURO University. Together, they aim to equip students with the skills needed to meet the global demands of the hospitality sector.

Recently, Kennesaw State and AURO University formalized their partnership with an agreement. This collaboration will involve faculty and student exchanges between the hospitality management programs at both institutions throughout the year. These exchanges will offer students from India and the U.S. valuable international insights into the hospitality industry, fostering cross-cultural awareness.

Robin Cheramie, Dean of the Michael J. Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State, emphasized the global nature of the hospitality industry, stating, "Almost any organization our students work for will have international guests and clients or will operate in multiple countries. Partnering with AURO means our students will be better able to compete in the global marketplace."

Leaders from both universities gathered at Kennesaw State to formalize this partnership. Among them were H.P. Rama, Founder and President of AURO University, Suresh Mathur, AURO's Chief Operating Officer, and Leonard Jackson, Director of Kennesaw State's Hospitality Management program.

AURO University, established in 2011 by H.P. Rama, who is also the founding chairman of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association and current chairman of Auro Hotels, has earned a global reputation for producing quality hospitality professionals. AURO students in the hospitality program already undertake a one-year internship in the U.S. as part of their studies. With this partnership, these students will spend part of their time at Kennesaw's campus, interacting with peers, faculty, and gaining insights into the Metro Atlanta hospitality industry.

H.P. Rama highlighted the significance of this partnership, emphasizing that it goes beyond academic knowledge. He stated that students and faculty from both institutions would gain a deep understanding of cross-cultural values and diverse experiences. He also mentioned that the collaboration extends to Auro Hotels in the United States and India.

This partnership is a two-way street, allowing Kennesaw State students to visit India. The hospitality management faculty is planning an education abroad experience to India for Spring 2024. During this program, students will visit AURO's campus in Gujarat, Surat, and explore the surrounding region.

In addition to student exchanges, the agreement includes faculty exchanges. Both institutions are developing virtual and in-person exchanges, where faculty will share ideas on incorporating global perspectives into their teaching. Furthermore, there is interest in expanding these exchanges to include students and faculty from other disciplines.

With the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India projecting a shortage of 150,000 skilled workers in the luxury hotel market alone by 2029, and the American Hotel & Lodging Association reporting that 81 percent of hotel owners struggle to fill open positions, there's a bright future for well-trained, globally-focused hospitality professionals. The partnership between Kennesaw State University and AURO University positions students from both institutions to excel as leaders in this thriving industry.

AURO University, Surat, is one of the fastest-growing universities in Gujarat, inspired by the vision and teachings of Sri Aurobindo Ghosh and The Divine Mother. It offers programs in Business, Hospitality Management, Law, Information Technology, Design, Journalism & Mass Communication, Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, and Sri Aurobindo Integral Life Centre (SAILC). For more information, please visit AURO University's website.


Carnival Cruise Line Taps Cantaloupe to Power Cashless Dining at Celebration Key

Carnival Cruise Line Taps Cantaloupe to Power Cashless Dining at Celebration Key

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on May 12, 2025

Carnival Cruise Line has announced a new partnership with Cantaloupe, Inc., a global provider of self-service commerce technology, to enhance guest experiences at Celebration Key, Carnival’s exclusive upcoming destination on Grand Bahama, opening July 19, 2025. The collaboration brings self-service kiosks powered by Cantaloupe to the island, enabling cashless, quick, and seamless ordering at all food and beverage outlets.

Using Cantaloupe’s advanced point-of-sale (POS) solutions, guests can simply scan their Sail & Sign cards, extending Carnival’s onboard cashless payment system to this new off-ship location for the very first time. This move is aimed at creating a frictionless and familiar environment for travelers, allowing them to enjoy the destination without the hassle of cash or physical credit cards.

“Cantaloupe is excited to power this experience by providing a frictionless, technology-driven solution that will simplify guests’ dining and service experiences,” said Tom Lapham, Senior Vice President of Cheq at Cantaloupe, Inc. He noted that the technology is designed to handle high volumes of transactions with real-time updates, ensuring reliable and efficient service even during peak demand.

Celebration Key, designed as a premier cruise destination, will feature multiple dining and beverage venues where Cantaloupe’s kiosks will be installed, giving guests complete control over their food and beverage purchases.

Richard Morse, Senior Vice President of Food and Beverage at Carnival Cruise Line, shared, “Our collaboration with Cantaloupe is critical to making Celebration Key a destination that is full of fun and takes the worry out of carrying cash for our guests. Through this partnership, we’re able to offer an experience that extends the ease and familiarity of onboard dining to our exclusive destination.”

Cantaloupe’s POS solutions are already known for their high performance in high-traffic venues. With this partnership, the company is marking a significant step in its expansion into the travel and hospitality sectors, reaffirming its commitment to delivering world-class digital and self-service solutions tailored for large-scale operations.

As guests explore the vibrant offerings at Celebration Key, they can now do so with greater freedom and ease, thanks to this strategic technology-driven alliance.


Hotelogix Integrates AI to Empower Hotels with Smart Automation

Hotelogix Integrates AI to Empower Hotels with Smart Automation

By Nishang Narayan

Published on May 8, 2025

Taking a major leap toward smarter hospitality, Hotelogix, a global leader in cloud-based hospitality technology, has announced the integration of advanced AI features into its trusted Hotel Property Management System (Hotel PMS). This move is set to empower hotels across the world with automation, real-time intelligence, and sharper decision-making, enabling them to deliver more efficient operations and elevated guest experiences.

With AI now woven into the fabric of its platform, Hotelogix is helping properties unlock value across every touchpoint of hotel management. From optimizing metasearch bids and web content for better conversions, to enabling smart inventory tracking, demand forecasting, and resource optimization in F&B operations — the platform is designed for operational excellence.

For revenue management, hotels can now use AI to analyze booking patterns, competitor rates, and market shifts to dynamically adjust pricing — leading to better occupancy and profitability. Reputation management also gets a boost, with AI-driven tools helping hotels analyze guest reviews, understand sentiment, and respond promptly and meaningfully across online platforms.

Marketing and guest engagement go a step further, with tools for personalized upselling, automated WhatsApp campaigns, multilingual websites, and dynamic room upgrades — all driven by intelligent algorithms and data.

Speaking on the innovation, Aditya Sanghi, CEO of Hotelogix, said,

“Imagine a small hotel with a multilingual AI concierge offering 24/7 support and personalized recommendations in the guest's native language. It’s not just about convenience — it’s a smarter, more efficient way to deliver exceptional hospitality.”

According to industry projections, AI adoption in hospitality is set to grow 60% annually through 2033, and Hotelogix is positioning itself as a key enabler of that change — especially for mid-sized and independent hotels looking to compete with larger brands using agile, precise, and scalable technology.

With a presence in 100+ countries and the trust of over 12,000 hotels, Hotelogix is already known for helping hotels transition to the cloud. Now, it’s taking that expertise further.

“We’re working on integrating PMS data-driven agentic AI next,” Aditya added. “This will allow hotels to scale with intelligence, boost yield, and deliver hyper-personalized guest experiences.”

From distribution and revenue to guest services and marketing, Hotelogix’s AI-backed solutions mark a major shift in how hotels will operate in the coming decade — with intelligence at their core.


OYO Launches In-House Kitchens and QSR Carts to Enter F&B Sector

OYO Launches In-House Kitchens and QSR Carts to Enter F&B Sector

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on May 5, 2025

OYO, the global hospitality technology brand, has officially stepped into the food and beverage sector with the launch of in-house kitchens and quick service restaurant (QSR) carts across its company-serviced hotels in India. This move is part of a broader plan to enhance the guest experience, particularly at Townhouse by OYO-branded properties.

The initiative began with a pilot program in January 2025 across 100 hotels in cities like Delhi, Gurugram, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. Encouraged by its success, OYO now plans to expand the offering to 1500 company-serviced hotels across India in FY26.

Guests can now conveniently order meals through online platforms, including OTAs and the OYO app, by selecting the "Kitchen Services" option. The kitchens will range from full-scale commercial setups offering extensive menus to simpler pantries based on each hotel’s profile and infrastructure.

To meet varied dining needs, OYO is also introducing QSR carts and lobby stores under the brand name ‘Townhouse Cafe’. These will offer quick, ready-to-eat food options designed to cater to snacking, late-night cravings, and meals on the go—without the wait associated with traditional restaurants. The menu will include well-priced meals with both regional and continental options.

The decision to enter the F&B segment came in response to consistent guest feedback requesting more in-room dining options. The company expects this initiative to boost customer satisfaction and generate an additional 5-10% in hotel-level revenue once fully stabilized.

“This initiative aims to enhance the in-hotel dining experience for guests by offering fresh, convenient, and quality meal options across our network,” said Varun Jain, Chief Operating Officer at OYO. To support this rollout, OYO is also developing a network of trusted F&B experts in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Indore, Kolkata, Jaipur, and Lucknow.

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