News
06
www.asianhospitality.com
May 2024 | Issue 225
t the 2024 AAHOA Convention &
Trade Show held in early April
in Orlando, Florida, history was
being made at the same time it was
being recalled. Miraj Patel assumed
his role as the youngest chairman
the association has had, while his
predecessor Bharat Patel and AAHOA
President and CEO Laura Lee Blake
spoke on the legacy that led to the
association’s current success.
AAHOACON24, the 35th national
conference for the association, saw
more than 7,000 registered attendees
and 524 exhibitors at the Orange
County Convention Center, blocks
away from Disneyworld and Universal
Studios. Event revenue was 6 percent higher
than 2023 and 31 percent higher than in
2022. The tradeshow sprawled over more
than 84,500 square feet of exhibit space.
In a speech during the first general
session, Bharat presented his theory on
what led to AAHOA’s current status.
“Because AAHOA is forever growing
and improving for our association and our
members, success is an ongoing journey, a
journey that will take us to greater heights
and major milestones,” Bharat said. “We're
all familiar with the financial concept
of compound interest. So, let me offer a
new take on an old idea called compound
success.”
Blake began her general session
presentation by also highlighting the idea
that AAHOA is defined by its members
struggle to realize the American dream. She
pointed out that AAHOA’s original purpose
was to combat racism against Indian
Americans that was rampant in the industry
at that time. As the association’s attorney,
she played an active role in that fight.
“I recall a period only 10 years ago, when
‘American owned’ signs started popping
up across this country to distinguish and
degrade AAHOA member owned hotels,”
Blake said. “It was a practice that implied
that these hotels were somehow better than
those hotels owned by immigrants and was
a threat to their livelihood. Again, I saw the
strength and unity of AAHOA as we lobbied
and educated the world that our members
are loyal Americans who have achieved the
true American dream.”
Marriott returns
Last year, Marriott International severed its
support for AAHOA over the association’s
12 Points of Fair Franchising and support
for franchise reform legislation in New
Jersey. At AAHOACON24, the company
reestablished contact via an appearance by
Liam Brown, Marriott International’s group
president for the U.S. and Canada.
Brown did not elaborate on Marriott’s
exact status with AAHOA but implied that
negotiations were still ongoing. He said
“the door with Marriott is always open” and
there are many other challenges facing the
hotel industry.
“I really, really believe that by keeping
the lines of communication open and
leveraging our collective expertise, we can
overcome these challenges together and be
a real force for good in our industry,” Brown
said. “We should be focused on ensuring
the long-term success of this industry that
has given all of us so much. We do that by
talking to one another and engaging with
one another.”
At a press conference with AAHOA
officers during the convention, Bharat
clarified that, in fact, AAHOA and Marriott
are still in negotiations.
“Marriott wants to see show that there
is a relationship still with AAHOA and we
have some key differences,” Bharat said.
“We're trying to work through those
key differences and make sure that the
two organizations are on a similar page
moving forward.”
Youngest chairman
takes charge
At 26, Miraj Patel became the
youngest person to take on the
AAHOA chairmanship. He is a
second-generation hotelier who
began his career in hospitality at a
young age, growing up in his family’s
first 30-room independent property.
He served as an AAHOA committee
member for several years and joined
the AAHOA board of directors in 2019
after being elected as young professional
director Western Division.
“Serving as the youngest chair in the
association's history further demonstrates
AAHOA’s commitment to fostering the
growth and success of the next generation,”
Miraj said. “I’m always encouraging young
professionals not to let age determine
success. Many times, people may say you’re
too young, but that is absolutely not true.
There are so many folks who are young but
still do whatever it takes to find success. If
you never try, you’ll never know what you’re
capable of achieving.”
Also during AAHOACON24, Pinal Patel
was elected secretary.
Pinal’s parents bought their first
independent hotel in 1991, and he is a
second-generation hotelier even after
graduating flight school at Embry Riddle
in Daytona Beach, Florida, before buying
his first franchise property. Previously,
he has served as an AAHOA ambassador
and as AAHOA’s director at large Eastern
Division.
“Hard work definitely pays off,” Patel said.
“I'm going to make sure we do what's right
for the association and for the members.
I promise to all my supporters, my family,
and my fellow members that I will not
let you down. I will do what's best for the
association's interests."
See more pictures from AAHOACON24 on
p. 18.
AAHOACON24 sees new
chairman, speeches on history
The event also saw the return of Marriott and election of a new secretary
Miraj Patel, AAHOA’s new chairman, on stage at
AAHOACON24.