OUR FOCUS
The California Hotel & Lodging Association Hospitality Foundation (CHLAHF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening California’s lodging industry by investing in its future workforce. Through scholarships, educational initiatives, and industry partnerships, the Foundation helps students and hospitality professionals develop the skills and opportunities needed to build successful careers in hospitality.
Today
CHLAHF serves as the charitable arm of the California Hotel & Lodging Association (CHLA), supporting the next generation of hospitality leaders across the state.
Each year, the Foundation awards scholarships to students pursuing careers in hotel management, tourism, and culinary arts at accredited California colleges and universities. In addition to scholarship support, CHLAHF works with educators, industry partners, and hospitality professionals to advance workforce development, promote career pathways, and strengthen California’s hotel industry for generations to come.
The Foundation is governed by an independent Board of Directors comprised of respected hospitality and tourism leaders committed to investing in the future of our industry.
Our Heritage
The Foundation proudly carries forward the legacy of the Hotel & Restaurant Foundation (HARF), whose roots date back to the 1940s. For decades, HARF helped advance hospitality education through scholarships and philanthropic support for students pursuing careers in the industry.
In 2017, HARF and the California Hotel & Lodging Association Education Foundation joined together to create a stronger, unified foundation dedicated to serving hospitality students throughout California. Today, CHLAHF continues that tradition by expanding educational opportunities and investing in the future workforce of California’s lodging industry.
About CHLA
For more than 130 years, the California Hotel & Lodging Association (CHLA) has been the leading voice for California’s lodging industry, representing thousands of hotels and hospitality businesses across the state.
Through advocacy, education, industry resources, and workforce development, CHLA works to protect the interests of hotel owners and operators while helping ensure a vibrant future for California hospitality. The California Hotel & Lodging Association Hospitality Foundation extends that mission by investing in the people who will lead our industry in the years ahead.