Hospitality Asset Managers Association (HAMA)

What Hospitality Asset Managers Association (HAMA) does

HAMA (Hospitality Asset Managers Association) is a U.S.-headquartered, non-profit professional membership association founded in 1991 for individuals who serve as practicing hospitality asset managers on behalf of hotel ownership groups. The association's approximately 200 members collectively oversee more than 3,200 lodging assets and 760,000 rooms, and represent institutional owners including private equity investors, REITs, insurance companies, national pension funds, and individual owners. Membership is by application, requires sponsorship by an active member, and is governed by strict fiduciary and experience criteria (2+ years of asset management practice, regular hotel visitation, and a three-meetings-in-three-years attendance rule).

HAMA's core offerings are professional development and community products rather than technology products. The flagship is the Certified Hotel Asset Manager (CHAM) program, launched in 2012, which is described as the world's only advanced certification for hotel asset managers and comprises a 200-question exam across six knowledge domains (asset management process, hotel operations, real estate, contracts/legal, financial analysis/benchmarking, and investment decision). Other products include two invitation-only bi-annual conferences (Spring and Fall), an industry education webinar series, the HAMA Speaks content platform, an annual Asset Management Achievement Award co-sponsored with Questex Hospitality and HotStats, a member directory and job listing service, and the ISHC CapEx Study published in partnership with the International Society of Hospitality Consultants. The organization also runs Collegiate HAMA Clubs at Cornell, Michigan State, Penn State, and University of Denver, plus an annual student competition.

HAMA's revenue mechanics are diversified across four small streams: a one-time $375 non-refundable application fee, recurring annual membership dues (HAMA Asia Pacific benchmarks at S$375 per year with a S$150 first-time registration fee), CHAM certification fees of $750 for members and $950 for non-members, and publication/event-related revenue from conference sponsorships and CapEx Study sales. Distribution is primarily direct, supplemented by five international affiliates (HAMA Europe, Japan, Asia Pacific, China, and Middle East & Africa) that localize membership and events in their respective regions.

Name

Hospitality Asset Managers Association (HAMA)

Legal name

Hospitality Asset Managers Association

Website

https://hamagroup.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Non-profit professional membership association founded in 1991 for hospitality asset managers, with approximately 200 members managing over 3,200 hotels globally; offers the CHAM certification, bi-annual conferences, and industry research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services for Hospitality Asset Management

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAJAMAE

Hospitality (Hotels & Resorts) Asset Management

Business & Public Services/Real Estate Services (Brokerage, Property Management)/Real Estate Asset & Portfolio Management

Keywords

• Hospitality asset management
• Professional certification programs
• Hotel industry associations
• Industry networking events
• Professional membership organization

Headquarters

HQ city

N. Scituate

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues and Application Fees: HAMA charges a $375 non-refundable application processing fee for new members. Annual membership dues support the organization's operations and programs.
2. CHAM Certification Fees: The CHAM certification program charges $750 for HAMA members and $950 for non-members to take the certification exam. This covers the comprehensive examination and certification process.
3. Event Registrations: HAMA hosts two 2-day meetings per year (Spring and Fall conferences) which are invitation-only to members and their guests. The Fall 2026 conference is scheduled for Scottsdale, AZ.
4. Publications and Research: HAMA, in partnership with ISHC, publishes the ISHC CapEx Study (A Study of Capital Expenditures in the Hotel Industry), the industry's exclusive resource on hotel capital expenditures. Revenue generated from sales of these publications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

HAMA is a non-profit professional membership association that serves practicing hotel asset managers worldwide. Its core offerings include the CHAM (Certified Hotel Asset Manager) advanced certification, semi-annual educational conferences, a member directory and networking platform, a job listing service, and the HAMA Speaks content platform. The association operates five international affiliates (Europe, Japan, Asia Pacific, China, and Middle East & Africa) and co-publishes the ISHC CapEx Study.

Product overview

HAMA (Hospitality Asset Managers Association) is a professional membership organization, not a software product company. The organization offers a portfolio of services including the CHAM (Certified Hotel Asset Manager) professional certification program, bi-annual conferences, the HAMA US Asset Management Achievement Award, member directory access, job listing services, HAMA Speaks content platform, and student competitions. HAMA also maintains five international affiliate organizations: HAMA Europe, HAMA Japan, HAMA Asia Pacific, HAMA China, and HAMA Middle East & Africa, all dedicated to enhancing hospitality asset management standards globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CHAM (Certified Hotel Asset Manager): The world's only advanced certification available to accomplished hotel asset management professionals, launched in 2012 under HAMA's guidance to establish industry-wide standards of excellence.

Products and services

• HAMA Membership Annual membership in the pre-eminent professional association for practicing hospitality asset managers worldwide. Membership is by application only, requires sponsorship by an active member, and grants access to bi-annual conferences, member directory, job listing service, and industry research. Annual dues plus a one-time $375 non-refundable application fee.
• CHAM (Certified Hotel Asset Manager) Certification The world's only advanced certification for hotel asset management professionals. Candidates must have seven years of lead hotel asset management experience, two letters of recommendation, and a passing score on a 200-question multiple-choice exam covering six knowledge domains. Available to HAMA members for $750 and non-members for $950.
• HAMA Bi-Annual Conferences (Spring and Fall) Two 2-day invitation-only meetings per year, held in Spring and Fall at rotating locations. Agendas feature curated educational topics, productive discussion forums, and the latest industry communications relevant to increasing hotel asset values. Complementary for active members.
• HAMA Job Listing Service Job posting service distributed to the entire HAMA membership for hospitality investment firms seeking qualified asset management talent. Provides access to a credentialed peer community.
• HAMA Speaks Content Platform Monthly online publication featuring articles and interviews with HAMA members, covering topics relevant to the hospitality asset management profession.

Quantifiable outcome

• HAMA members manage over 3,200 hotels with 760,000 rooms
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• HAMA EuropecoreOthers · 1 January 2014International affiliate established to enhance hospitality asset management profession in Europe. Represents platform for professional Asset Managers to foster exchange of best practices and experiences.
• HAMA ChinacoreOthers · 1 January 2014International affiliate established to serve hospitality asset managers in China. Supports efforts to strengthen partnerships within hotel management, lodging real estate, and finance industries.
• HAMA Middle East & AfricacoreOthers · 1 January 2014International affiliate established to serve hospitality asset managers in the Middle East and Africa region. Provides professional platform for exchange of best practices and industry communications.
• HAMA JapancoreOthers · 1 January 2010International affiliate established to represent and serve hospitality asset managers in Japan. HAMA Japan supports professional exchange of best practices and trends as the profession continues to mature.
• HAMA Asia PacificcoreOthers · 1 January 2010International affiliate serving the Asia Pacific region. HAMA Asia Pacific provides intense annual forums and industry communications. Their membership includes representation from individual owners, REITS, sovereign funds and pension fund advisors.
• Questex HospitalityflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuestex Hospitality is the co-sponsor of the HAMA US Asset Management Achievement Award along with HotStats. The award ceremony is a key moment at the NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum (NYU IHIF).
• HotStatsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHotStats is the co-sponsor of the HAMA US Asset Management Achievement Award. They work with shortlisted candidates to provide key benchmarking data for project submissions.
• NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum (NYU IHIF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYU IHIF hosts the HAMA US Asset Management Achievement Award ceremony. The 2026 conference runs from May 31-June 2, 2026 in New York City.
• ISHC (International Society of Hospitality Consultants)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISHC, in partnership with HAMA, has published the ISHC CapEx 2023: A Study of Capital Expenditures in the Hotel Industry, the industry's exclusive resource on hotel capital expenditures.
• HSMAI (Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International)coreTechnology or IntegrationHAMA has partnered with HSMAI to offer an online exam option for the CHAM certification. HSMAI also provides the CHAM Online Assessment Tool as a diagnostic tool to help candidates prepare for the exam.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves12 records

Broad incumbents

• Urban Land Institute: A global real-estate and land-use membership organization connecting developers, investors, owners, and public-sector leaders. ULI's research, events, and cross-sector network make it a broad incumbent comparator for HAMA's industry networking and asset-value mission.
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors: A global professional standards body for land, property, construction, and real-estate management. RICS is comparable through professional credentials, education, ethics, and a global network serving real-estate asset professionals.
• NAIOP: A commercial real-estate development association serving developers, owners, investors, and related professionals. NAIOP overlaps with HAMA's owner and investor audience, research, and event model, but is not hospitality-specific.
• American Hotel & Lodging Association: The principal U.S. lodging-industry trade association represents hotel owners, operators, and employees. It is a broad incumbent comparator because it serves overlapping hospitality-owner and professional constituencies through advocacy, education, and industry representation.
• Asian American Hotel Owners Association: A membership and advocacy organization for hotel owners, particularly Asian American hotel owners and operators. AAHOA shares HAMA's hotel-owner network and education ecosystem, while its ownership focus is broader and more U.S.-centric.

Emerging players

• International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education: A global association for hospitality and tourism education connecting academics, students, and industry practitioners. CHRIE is relevant to HAMA's student competitions, university partnerships, and development of the future asset-management talent pipeline.
• Appraisal Institute: A professional association and credentialing body for real-estate appraisers and valuation experts. It is adjacent through real-estate education, standards, networking, and participation in investment decision-making, though valuation is its core offering.
• Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International: A hospitality professional association offering education, certification, events, and commercial intelligence. HSMAI overlaps with HAMA's professional-association and credentialing model, although its core focus is sales and marketing rather than hotel asset management.
• Institute of Real Estate Management: A professional association for real-estate managers offering education, certification, networking, and property-management standards. IREM is adjacent to HAMA through its property and asset-management focus and recurring professional-membership model.

Direct peers

• International Society of Hospitality Consultants: A global professional association for hospitality consultants, ISHC is directly comparable through its research, networking, education, and industry-representation activities, which convene senior hospitality decision-makers similarly to HAMA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hospitality-asset-managers-association-hama

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hospitality Asset Managers Association (HAMA)