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.


The First Group Hospitality Partners with Inntelo AI to Elevate Guest Experiences with AI-Powered Innovation

The First Group Hospitality Partners with Inntelo AI to Elevate Guest Experiences with AI-Powered Innovation

By Hariharan U

Published on October 16, 2025

The First Group Hospitality has announced a strategic partnership with Inntelo AI, a next-generation guest experience and operations platform, to introduce AI-native technology across its expanding portfolio of hotels. The collaboration aims to redefine how guests interact, communicate, and experience hospitality through advanced artificial intelligence.

Following a successful implementation at TRYP by Wyndham Dubai, The First Group is now set to integrate Inntelo AI across all its properties including the much-anticipated Ciel Dubai Marina – Vignette Collection by IHG, which is soon to claim the title of the world’s tallest hotel.

Through this integration, guests can look forward to a seamless digital concierge experience. From ordering room service and making restaurant bookings to scheduling local excursions or requesting amenities, everything can be done effortlessly via phone, WhatsApp, or voice commands in over 40 languages. This platform merges convenience, personalisation, and innovation, giving guests more control over their stay.

The collaboration aligns with The First Group Hospitality’s broader vision of embedding AI-driven intelligence throughout its business operations. The company already uses AI tools for revenue forecasting, rate optimisation, restaurant reservations, team scheduling, and guest satisfaction monitoring. This partnership with Inntelo extends that innovation into real-time service delivery and operational insights, connecting guest needs directly to hotel teams.

The First Group has always been at the forefront of innovation, carefully evaluating and implementing the latest solutions; having worked with Inntelo AI over recent months, we are incredibly excited and ambitious about how this cutting-edge AI technology sets us apart in the hotel management field,” said Tom Stevens, Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations, The First Group Hospitality. “This partnership with Inntelo AI will ensure every guest interaction, from arrival to departure, is powered by intelligence, efficiency, and personalisation.”

Echoing this sentiment, Asif Alidina, Co-Founder and CEO of Inntelo AI, added, “We are delighted to partner with the team at The First Group Hospitality, who truly understand the value of being a first mover in this space using an AI-native platform. This project future-proofs their operations and positions them to rapidly leverage the power of agentic and conversational AI across their portfolio long before many of their competitors. Our platform doesn’t just enhance service; it transforms how hotels operate, think, and scale.”

The First Group Hospitality and Inntelo AI’s partnership represents more than just a technology upgrade — it signals a new phase for the hospitality sector where data-driven insights and personalisation work hand-in-hand to elevate the guest journey.


BWH Hotels Launches AutoClerk Atlas to Redefine Property Management

BWH Hotels Launches AutoClerk Atlas to Redefine Property Management

By Hariharan U

Published on October 11, 2025

BWH® Hotels, the global hospitality group behind WorldHotels™, Best Western® Hotels & Resorts, and SureStay® Hotels, has introduced AutoClerk® Atlas, a next-generation Property Management System (PMS) developed in partnership with HotelKey.

This marks a major milestone in BWH Hotels’ technology journey, aimed at transforming hotel operations, improving guest experiences, and driving efficiency across its worldwide network.

AutoClerk Atlas is a reimagined version of the long-standing AutoClerk system, combining BWH Hotels’ expertise with HotelKey’s modern cloud-based platform. The collaboration brings together scalability, reliability, and smart automation to create a PMS that’s simple, powerful, and ready for the future of hospitality.

AutoClerk Atlas marks a pivotal step forward in our journey to reimagine both the guest and hotel team experience. Through partnering with HotelKey, we're introducing a world-class Property Management System that's scalable, intuitive, and future-ready,” said Bill Ryan, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, BWH Hotels.

Built to address today’s operational challenges, AutoClerk Atlas delivers, One-day onboarding with built-in training modules for quick adoption, Automated payments and reconciliation to streamline daily tasks, Actionable guest insights that empower teams to offer personalized service, Deep integration with existing and third-party systems for seamless connectivity.

Aditya Thyagarajan, Co-Founder and President of HotelKey, said, “We are excited to bring AutoClerk Atlas powered by HotelKey to BWH Hotels, driving operational excellence and delivering a seamless, elevated guest experience.”

Fareed Ahmad, Co-Founder and CEO of HotelKey, added, “Our partnership with BWH Hotels reflects a shared commitment to innovation and long-term success. We’re focused on delivering a smooth transition and giving hotel teams the tools they need to thrive in an evolving industry.”

With AutoClerk Atlas, BWH Hotels continues to invest in technology that supports growth, enhances guest satisfaction, and simplifies operations for its vast network of nearly 4,300 hotels worldwide.


RBS WinCloud PMS: Transforming Hotel Operations with Cloud-Native Hospitality Solutions

RBS WinCloud PMS: Transforming Hotel Operations with Cloud-Native Hospitality Solutions

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on October 6, 2025

RBS WinCloud, a global leader in cloud-based Property Management Systems (PMS), proudly introduces its next-generation PMS solution to the global hospitality industry. Designed to support hotels across all segments from boutique stays to luxury resorts, WinCloud PMS brings together over 25 years of hospitality technology expertise to help hoteliers streamline operations, improve efficiency, and deliver world-class guest experiences.

Today, WinCloud powers more than 2,000 properties in 35+ countries, managing upwards of 100,000 rooms worldwide. With its robust, cloud-native architecture, the solution equips hotels with agility, scalability, and real-time insights that are critical in today’s dynamic travel and tourism landscape.

Why Hoteliers Are Choosing RBS WinCloud PMS

Seamless Cloud Digitization

WinCloud simplifies the digital shift by unifying front office, housekeeping, F&B, banqueting, and finance operations into a single, intuitive platform.

Fast Property Onboarding & OTA Integration

The system enables rapid deployment and seamless integration with leading online travel agencies (OTAs) and channel managers, helping hotels maximize visibility and revenue.

Empowering Local Brands

As international hotel groups expand in India, WinCloud PMS levels the playing field for homegrown hotel chains, giving them access to sophisticated yet cost-effective tools that drive competitiveness both locally and globally.

High Impact Returns

With its flexible model and minimal IT overhead, WinCloud enables hoteliers to reinvest in enhancing guest experiences rather than infrastructure upkeep.

Actionable Insights for Smarter Decisions

Equipped with real-time dashboards and analytics, WinCloud helps managers and owners make faster, data-driven decisions across all aspects of operations.

Trusted for Usability and Support

WinCloud PMS is consistently praised for its user-friendly interface, responsive customer support, and impressive return on investment, earning recognition as one of the most dependable platforms in hospitality technology.

Driving Growth in Indian Hospitality

“As the global hospitality sector continues its rapid growth, we see a tremendous opportunity to empower hotel brands with technology that is both powerful and easy to use,” said the CEO of RBS. “Our PMS is built to help hotels of all sizes embrace digital transformation, stay competitive, and create exceptional guest journeys.”

Visit the RBS Wincloud website.

For more information, visit www.rbsgo.com or contact sales@rbsgo.com 

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