New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez and Secretary of Tourism Rebecca Latham announced a gift of $20,000 will be provided to New Mexico students and continued learners in the field of hospitality and tourism.

The New Mexico Hospitality Association will receive $10,000 for it’s Hospitality and Tourism Scholarship Fund, powered by the Albuquerque Community Foundation, and the Greater Albuquerque Innkeepers Association will receive $10,000 for it’s own scholarship fund.

“This donation reflects Governor Martinez’s commitment to hospitality and tourism and to building a stronger New Mexico workforce. We were happy to be able to make this contribution, knowing that it will provide support for education in this vital industry,” said Tourism Secretary Rebecca Latham.

“We’re thrilled to receive these funds to build on our existing endowment fund and that allows us to support students looking for careers in hospitality and tourism. We want to thank Governor Martinez for her commitment to tourism and her support of future leaders in the industry,” said New Mexico Hospitality Association CEO Kathy Komoll.

The Hospitality and Tourism Scholarship Fund is an endowed fund that provides a $1,000 scholarship for hospitality and tourism students in New Mexico each year. From 2015-17, the New Mexico Hospitality Association built the scholarship fund into a self-sustaining state, and was able to award its first-ever scholarship at the 2017 Top HAT Awards Gala to the School of Hotel, Tourism, and Restaurant Management at New Mexico State University.

NMHA raised a total of $8,000 for the Hospitality and Tourism Scholarship Fund in 2018 through its Annual Golf Tournament and proceeds from the Top HAT Awards Gala.

NMHA members and industry professionals can contribute to the Hospitality and Tourism Scholarship Fund through our online donation system or by participating in the Annual Hospitality Golf Tournament.