Bio Profile
Shri Hasmukh P. (H.P.) Rama
Hasmukh P. (HP) Rama is the founder and Chairman of Auro Hotels. 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. In addition, Mr. Rama is the Chairman of Gujarat JHM Hotels Ltd., which owns the Marriott Surat and the Courtyard by Marriott in Surat. Rama has served on the board of various Universities, including Johnson & Wales University, Cornell Hotel School, University of South Carolina, New York University, University of Houston, California Polytechnic University.
HP’s commitment to excellence has won him a number of awards, including the “Lifetime Achievement Award” by The Americas Lodging Investment Summit, “Outreach Award for Philanthropy Award” by Asian American Hotel Owners Association, “Above and Beyond Humanitarian Award” by The Lodging Conference, “Excellence and Inspiration Award” by Hunter Hotel Investment Conference, “the Pioneer Award” by the International Society of Hospitality Consultants, “the Arthur Landstreet Award,” AH&LA’s Highest Honor for his Contribution to Education, “the AAHOA Oberoi Award” for Excellence by Asian American Hotel Owners Association. He would be an excellent choice for this award as well.
HP has demonstrated great commitment towards bettering humanity, evidenced through his service and social action. Perhaps, H.P.’s greatest contribution to the welfare of society has been in the form of education. He is the Founder and President of the AURO University in Surat, Gujarat. The University was inspired by the vision and teachings of Sri Aurobindo Ghosh and The Mother with the purpose of transforming learners into leaders through integral and holistic education. The university is non-profit, established with personal funding. In addition, HP and his family established the Rama Scholarship for the American Dream through the AH&LA. Since its inception the fund has awarded over $1.2 million in scholarships to more than 650 students, helping them realize their own American Dream.
Further, HP has worked steadily in India on initiatives that have been transformative to the welfare of society there. For instance, in Sarona, Gujarat, HP’s native village, he led projects that improved physical infrastructure like roads, running water, power and drainage, and arranged for free healthcare for needy patients in rural areas. He helped develop and fund over 120 restroom facilities for underprivileged women in Surat. To honor his brother, D.P. Rama, since his passing in 2006, HP donates hundreds of uniforms to the visually impaired students of the Andhjan School in Surat every single year. During the pandemic, the Gujarat JHM Hotels team, under his direction, stepped in to help by supplying over 250 meals per day for over 120 days to law enforcement officials, health care workers, and first responders.
Finally, throughout his entire life, HP has devoted time serving Sri Aurobindo and the Mother as a devotee and seeker. As his commitment to their philosophy of life, HP has developed the Sri Aurobindo Integral Life Center (SAILC) at AURO University and the LaGrace Center in Greenville, SC, whose mission is to invest in current and future carriers of the Integral Yoga teachings and connect a global community of Integral Yoga practitioners.
HP obtained his Master of Business Administration from Xavier University, Cincinnati, and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration degree in Hospitality Management, by Johnson & Wales University.
HP enjoys being in nature, wildlife, travel and reading.
Professor Parimal H. Vyas
Professor Vyas has a distinguished career in academia and administration. He served as Vice Chancellor/Provost at Auro University and previously held the position of Vice Chancellor at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (MSUB), Vadodara. He also worked as a Professor of Commerce & Business Management at MSUB and was honored as a Joint/Dual Professor of Management Studies at the Faculty of Management Studies, MSUB.
Throughout his career, Professor Vyas has guided 18 Ph.D. and M.Phil. research scholars, with several of their research contributions earning recognition and Best Paper Awards at international and national conferences. He successfully conducted five major research projects funded by the UGC, New Delhi, and received 14 'Best Research Papers' Awards. He has published 132 research papers/articles, authored 12 reference/textbooks, and presented 108 papers/articles at international and national conferences, seminars, workshops, and symposiums.
Professor Vyas has been invited as a keynote speaker, chairman of technical sessions, resource person, and expert panel member at various prestigious international and national conferences and institutions. He has served on search committees for appointing Vice Chancellors in various state universities and chaired NAAC peer teams and UGC committees. He was also a member of the 'General Council & Executive Council' of the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) and the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR). Furthermore, he served as a UGC representative on the Board of Management of the Delhi Technological University and was a member of the Academic Advisory Board of the Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh.
Professor Vyas is dedicated to improving the quality of teaching and research, fostering integrity, promoting accessibility to higher education, and upholding Indian values and traditions in education.
Professor Amreesh Misra
Professor Amreesh Misra is an accomplished academic leader currently serving as a distinguished Professor and Registrar at AURO University, Surat. With a rich and diverse career spanning various prestigious institutions and organizations, he has consistently demonstrated his commitment to excellence. His career includes roles such as Learning and Development Manager at Accor Hotels and ITC Hotels. His expertise further developed as Dean and Program Head for Hospitality and Tourism programs at Amity Dubai, Sushant University, and Lovely Professional University.
In addition, Professor Misra was among the founding faculty at Banarsidas Chandiwala Institute of Hotel Management, GGSIPU, Delhi, and MM Institute of Hotel Management, MMU, Mullana. His visionary leadership has left an indelible mark on these institutions.
On the international stage, he has collaborated with Amity University, Dubai Zayed Military Hospital, and Bin Haider Hospitality Group, UAE. In his capacity as Group Learning and Development Manager and Director of HR, he played a role in enhancing the professional development and welfare of employees across three hotels operating under its banner at various locations throughout the UAE.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Professor Amreesh Misra is an avid reader and an enthusiastic traveler, demonstrating a commitment to personal growth and exploration.
Mr. Nayan Banker
In his role as Managing Director of Gujarat JHM Hotels in India, Nayan Banker oversees hotel operations at the Marriott Surat and Courtyard Marriott Surat, as well as the company’s financial performance, investments, and new ventures, in addition to ensuring company policies and legal guidelines are communicated and implemented. He provides strategic advice and guidance to the board of directors and ensures that policies are in place to meet the company's mission and comply with all regulations. He is also an active member of the Board of Governors, Board of Management and Board of Academic Council of Auro University.
Nayan is an accountant with over 30 years of professional experience in corporate planning, budgeting, financial & resource management, strategic planning, and operations support. Prior to his role as managing director, he was Manager of Accounts and Chief Financial Officer.
Nayan is a practical and down-to-earth team player who relishes travel and new experiences. His curiosity about science and the universe drives his avid reading and exploration of audiovisual programs.
Ms. Prerna Dahiwade
Miss Prerna Dahiwade, working as Controller of Examinations at AURO University, Heads the examination department. She has completed her M. Tech in Energy management system and MTech in Electronics.
With a passion for education and a keen eye for the academic assessment, she leads a team dedicated to maintaining the highest standard in examination procedures and ensuing fair evaluation for all students. She brings 19 years of experience in the field of education. Her expertise lies in designing and implementing rigorous examination procedures, digitization of all examination process, ensuring exam integrity and leveraging the data analysis to gain valuable insights for continuous improvement in teaching and learning process.
