December/January 2025 | Volume 25 #232
The Voice of Asian American Hoteliers
Hotels prepare for
presidential transition
Incoming Trump administration offers ‘challenges and
opportunities’ for hotel industry
Health away from home
Health-conscious dining moves from niche
to mainstream
Hotel companies in the news include:
Peachtree Group, HRI Hospitality, C.B. Ragland Co., Shreem Capital and NewcrestImage
A year of change
Trump’s re-election and Choice’s
bid to buy Wyndham among the
year’s top stories
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A MARKETPLACE OF
OPPORTUNITIES
MYRTLE BEACH CONVENTION CENTER
MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA
The Perfect Place to Mix Business with Pleasure!
SERVING THE ENTIRE SOUTHEASTERN HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
DRIVABLE RESORT LOCATION
HIGH QUALITY OF EXHIBITORS
ON THE SHOW FLOOR DEALS
LOW COST OF ATTENDING
FREE ADMISSION TO INDUSTRY
PARTNERS
To be successful in today's marketplace,
one must stay current with the
knowledge of the latest products and
services available. This Show annually
provides you the opportunity to maximize
your business opportunities, minimize
your expenses, and to improve your over-
all operations.
hmrsss.com
843.448.9483
Contact Us
A MARKETPLACE OF
OPPORTUNITIES
MYRTLE BEACH CONVENTION CENTER
MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA
The Perfect Place to Mix Business with Pleasure!
SERVING THE ENTIRE SOUTHEASTERN HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
DRIVABLE RESORT LOCATION
HIGH QUALITY OF EXHIBITORS
ON THE SHOW FLOOR DEALS
LOW COST OF ATTENDING
FREE ADMISSION TO INDUSTRY
PARTNERS
To be successful in today's marketplace,
one must stay current with the
knowledge of the latest products and
services available. This Show annually
provides you the opportunity to maximize
your business opportunities, minimize
your expenses, and to improve your over-
all operations.
hmrsss.com
843.448.9483
Contact Us
A MARKETPLACE OF
OPPORTUNITIES
MYRTLE BEACH CONVENTION CENTER
MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA
The Perfect Place to Mix Business with Pleasure!
SERVING THE ENTIRE SOUTHEASTERN HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
To be successful in today's marketplace, one must stay current
with the knowledge of the latest products and services
available. This Show annually provides you the opportunity to
maximize your business opportunities, minimize your expenses,
and to improve your over-all operations.
As Donald Trump starts his second term as
president, the hotel industry prepares for a
time of “challenges and opportunity.”
Cover Story
News
2024 Wrap Up
Design
Product Feature
20 | Hotels prepare for presidential
transition
Incoming Trump administration offers
‘challenges and opportunities’ for
hotel industry
5 | Oyo finalizes G6 deal, replaces CEO,
eyes expansion
Sinha is the new CEO, while Burnett remains
chief development ofÏcer
6 | Federal Court halts Corporate
Transparency Act
Opponents of the act say the government is
likely to seek a stay of the injunction
7 | FTC finalizes rule for hotel ‘junk fees’
The rule takes effect 120 days after its Federal
Register publication
8 | Report: Global tourism on track for
full year-end recovery
UN agency forecasts a ‘full recovery’ by year-
end despite economic, geopolitical
and climate challenges
SiteMinder: International travelers boost
U.S. Christmas bookings
The top five markets driving this growth are
Canada, Germany, the UK, France and Italy
9 | Report: Hospitality sector to add
822,700 jobs by 2033
Accommodation employment is expected to
increase by 124,700 jobs
10 | Wahrlich named BWH Hotels board
chairman
Viral Patel and Rajesh Patel elected
vice-chairman and secretary-treasurer
respectively
15 | A year of change
Trump’s re-election and Choice’s bid to buy
Wyndham among the year’s top stories
18 | The buzz in the Beehive State
Peachtree Group’s recently acquired AC Hotel
Park City in Utah gives ‘small-town lodge’ vibe
26 | Health away from home
Health-conscious dining moves from
niche to mainstream
30 | Gujarati translation of top stories
begins
On the cover
AAHOA’s Blake, Neal Patel named top
lobbyists by The Hill
The list recognizes individuals who have
advanced their industry's interests
11 | Survey: ‘Technology is important, but
so is the human touch’
The study highlights areas where travelers
prefer human interaction
12 | Peachtree crosses $1 billion mark in
CPACE financing
The company's CPACE financing is driven by
hospitality, comprising 45 percent
of the portfolio
14 | Whitepaper: Indian mid-segment
hotels competitive with international
peers
Homegrown mid-market brands grow faster
in smaller cities where international
brands struggle
COMING
NEXT ISSUE:
Hotels’ survival guide to
natural disasters
Contents
06
08
10
11
14
18
05
www.asianhospitality.com
December/January 2025 | Issue 232
ISSN 1938-8837
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Time on our side
nce upon a time, humans had a different concept of time
itself.
For example, we once measured time with sundials,
which were imprecise but at least gave us a concept of
hours. When we were mostly agrarian cultures (I’m
skipping the hunter/gatherer phase of history because who knows what
cavemen thought about time), this measure of time was enough. The pace
of life was slower, more concerned with lunar cycles that signaled times
for planting and times for harvest.
More urbanized societies, including Egypt, Babylon and China were
the first to invent more precise mechanisms, such as the water clock.
Mechanical clocks showed up in Italy in the 14th century but weren’t
much better than sundials. In the 17th century, harmonic oscillators,
a.k.a. pendulums, were invented leading to more precise time keeping.
Eventually, we ended up with electric wristwatches with multiple
functions. Today, computers track the days of our lives down to the
millisecond. This is important in our technology advanced, fast-paced
society where live with what’s called a “linear-active” perception of time.
Schedules must be kept or all hell breaks loose. Having lived in Japan
for two years, I’ve learned to live by that doctrine.
So, here we are in a new year, another year of time to do what must
be done. Another year of meeting deadlines, keeping appointments and
catching trains, planes and, sometimes, automobiles.
We have four more years of living under the new Trump administration,
hopefully for the best. Should be interesting if nothing else.
Speaking of deadlines, I need to wrap this up and get this issue in. I’ve
nothing else to say about time, anyway, except I hope it passes well for
all of you.
Happy New Year!
Edward J. Brock, Senior Editor
Follow Asian Hospitality online...
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Editor's Letter
04
www.asianhospitality.com
December/January 2025 | Issue 232
05
News
www.asianhospitality.com
December/January 2025 | Issue 232
ndia-based Oravel Stays, parent
company of travel technology firm
Oyo, completed the previously
announced $525 million acquisition of G6
Hospitality from Blackstone Real Estate.
The company is also restructuring G6’s
leadership, replacing President and
CEO Julie Arrowsmith and other top
executives.
In September, Oravel Stays agreed to
acquire G6 Hospitality from Blackstone
Real Estate for $525 million in an all-cash
deal. On Dec. 17, Oyo named Sonal Sinha
as CEO, with Tina Burnett continuing as
chief development ofÏcer, the company
said in a statement. G6’s chief financial
ofÏcer, chief brand ofÏcer, general counsel,
chief information ofÏcer and chief human
resources ofÏcer also are being replaced.
“We will continue to invest in skills
that are unique and critical to the
G6 business, such as supply, account
management, corporate sales, brand
standards, ofÒine marketing and safety
and security," said Gautam Swaroop, OYO
International's CEO. "Over the years, OYO
has successfully leveraged capabilities
developed in India in technology, revenue
management, e-commerce, procurement,
legal, finance and HR and will extend
these to the G6 business as well.”
The company plans to add 150 hotels to
the Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands next year
and accelerate G6 Hospitality's growth
through technology integration, property
upgrades, and market expansion.
Encouraging brand
growth
OYO said it will maintain and strengthen
the Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands, which
have strong recognition and a loyal
customer base built over decades. The
company will honor all existing franchise
agreements, including exclusivity rights,
and ensure current franchise teams
continue operations without disruption.
Oyo, known for its fast-growing
international hotel portfolio, plans
upgrades to enhance guest experience
and operational efÏciency. The company
will deploy its 300-strong team of
product specialists, including software
engineers, product managers, and
designers, to develop and implement
digital solutions, including a mobile and
web booking experience and dynamic
pricing capabilities to optimize rates
across room types year-round.
Meanwhile, the company plans to
reduce reliance on OTAs, expand its
network of distribution partners and
strengthen direct booking channels and
corporate demand.
Corporate restructuring
As part of the acquisition, Oyo
restructured the G6 executive team, the
statement said. Those leaving G6, include
Adam Cannon, chief brand ofÏcer; Farah
Bhayani, general counsel and chief
compliance ofÏcer; Perry Ping, CFO; Mary
Fregia, chief human resources ofÏcer and
Brent Haines, CIO.
New appointments include Nishant
Boorla and Anuj Ladha to lead brand
performance, Manas Mehrotra as head
of central operations and Subhankar
Choudhary as head of revenue,
e-commerce, and sales.
Oyo also announced leaders in its
global capacity center supporting G6:
Rakesh Prusti as group general counsel,
Dinesh R as group CHRO, Rakesh Kumar
as group CFO, Shashank Jain as group
CTO, Nitin Thakur as head of global
strategic alliances and communications
and Aparna Rathore as global
procurement head.
The company plans to hire primarily
for franchisee-facing roles while
consolidating and streamlining functions
to enhance organizational synergies, the
statement said. Franchise development,
support, and safety and security teams
remain fully intact. As part of the
integration, OYO and G6 will merge select
corporate operations with OYO’s global
excellence teams.
SoftBank is Oyo’s largest shareholder
with 46.62 percent, while founder Ritesh
Agarwal owns 33.15 percent. Founded in
India in 2012 by Agarwal, the company
quickly expanded domestically before
entering Europe, the U.S., and other
parts of the Americas in 2019. The G6
acquisition further supports Oyo's growth
in the Americas over the past decade.
Oyo finalizes G6 deal, replaces
CEO, eyes expansion
Sinha is the new CEO, while Burnett remains chief development ofÏcer
Oravel Stays completed its $525 million acquisition of G6 Hospitality, restructured G6’s leadership and
plans to add 150 hotels to the Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands next year. It also plans to promote growth
through tech integration, property upgrades and market expansion.
News
06
www.asianhospitality.com
December/January 2025 | Issue 232
A
nationwide preliminary
injunction issued by the U.S.
District Court for the Eastern
District of Texas on Dec. 3, halting
enforcement of the Corporate
Transparency Act and its regulations,
has been reinforced. AAHOA called the
original decision a significant victory
for small business owners, including its
members.
The CTA, aimed at enhancing
corporate ownership transparency,
faced criticism for imposing heavy
compliance burdens on small
businesses. The act, which became
effective Jan. 1, required nearly 33
million U.S. businesses classified as
"reporting companies" to disclose
their beneficial owners to the
Treasury Department’s Financial
Crimes Enforcement Network by Jan.
1, 2025.
"This decision is a monumental win
for small business owners, including
AAHOA members, who were facing
unnecessary regulatory burdens under
the CTA," said Miraj Patel, AAHOA
chairman. "AAHOA stands firmly with
its members in advocating for fair
regulations that promote business
growth. We commend the court's
ruling and will continue to monitor
developments to ensure our members'
voices are heard."
Judge Amos Mazzant III ruled the
CTA exceeded Congress's authority
to regulate interstate and foreign
commerce, describing the legislation
as "quasi-Orwellian" and raising
concerns about government overreach.
On Dec. 23 a motions panel of the 5th
Circuit overturned the injunction, then
the day after Christmas another 5th
Circuit panel reinstated it, according
to JDSupra.com. The court will hear
arguments on March 25 with briefings
set for February.
“The CTA has faced significant
constitutional challenges, leaving
Reporting Companies in a state of
uncertainty,” JDSupra said. “While
compliance obligations are currently
on hold, the CTA’s requirements could
once again be reinstated by future court
rulings.”
Law firm Foley & Lardner LLP also
pointed out that the injunction is not a
final decision.
“The order temporarily halts
enforcement of the CTA but could
be overturned on appeal or if the
government ultimately prevails on the
merits,” Foley & Lardner said.
Laura Lee Blake, AAHOA president
and CEO, also supported the injunction.
"The CTA's reporting requirements
were set to impose an overwhelming
administrative and financial burden on
small businesses, potentially affecting
millions," Blake said. "This injunction
provides relief to our members, who
already face complex operational and
regulatory challenges. We remain
committed to supporting their success
and will continue advocating for fair
policies."
AAHOA emphasized that the
injunction is preliminary and could be
reconsidered or overturned on appeal.
"Companies are not required
to comply with the CTA's filing
requirements at this time," the
association said. "AAHOA will continue
to monitor developments and
encourage members to reach out with
questions or for additional resources."
Federal Court halts Corporate
Transparency Act
Opponents of the act say the government is likely to seek a stay of the injunction
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued a nationwide preliminary injunction
halting enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act, aimed at enhancing corporate ownership
transparency. AAHOA called the injunction a major victory for small business owners.
www.asianhospitality.com
07
News
December/January 2025 | Issue 232
he Federal Trade Commission
finalized a rule Dec. 17 requiring
industries, including hotels, to
disclose all fees upfront in advertised
prices. The rule bans hotels from
excluding resort fees, often labeled "junk
fees," from advertised rates for short-
term lodging. It takes effect 120 days after
publication in the Federal Register.
The rule mandates businesses to
prominently display the total price to
prevent "bait-and-switch tactics, such as
drip pricing and misleading fees," the FTC
said in a statement. Outgoing President
Joe Biden said he has always prioritized
families and hardworking Americans
and urged his administration to focus on
lowering costs.
“Today, the FTC is doing just that by
banning hidden junk fees when you book
a hotel or purchase event tickets,” Biden
said. “We all know the experience of
encountering a hidden fee at the very last
stage of checkout—these junk fees sneak
onto your bill, and companies end up
making you pay more because they can.
Those fees add up, taking real money out
of the pockets of Americans.”
Miraj Patel, AAHOA chairman,
emphasized that transparency builds trust
between hoteliers and guests and praised
the FTC’s action.
“By requiring upfront disclosure of total
pricing, this rule empowers consumers to
make informed decisions and ensures a
fair, competitive environment for hoteliers
who have always practiced honest pricing,”
he said.
The rule also applies to vacation rentals,
including Airbnb, and tickets for live
events, such as shows and sports, the FTC
said. It requires businesses to prominently
disclose the total price, including all
mandatory fees, whenever they advertise
services, displaying it more prominently
than other pricing information.
“People deserve to know upfront what
they’re being asked to pay—without
worrying they’ll later be saddled with
mysterious fees they haven’t budgeted
for and can’t avoid,” said Lina Khan, FTC
chairwoman. “The FTC’s rule will put
an end to junk fees around live event
tickets, hotels, and vacation rentals,
saving Americans billions of dollars and
millions of hours in wasted time. I urge
enforcers to continue cracking down
on these unlawful fees and encourage
state and federal policymakers to build
on this success with legislation that bans
unfair and deceptive junk fees across the
economy.”
Rosanna Maietta, AHLA president
and CEO, said AHLA has long advocated
for a single federal standard on lodging
fee display to ensure transparency for
consumers, regardless of how they book.
“We believe the fee-transparency
provision in the continuing resolution is
the best way to establish clear federal fee-
display rules across the lodging industry,”
Maietta said. “AHLA appreciates the
steadfast support of Sens. Klobuchar and
Moran, as well as Reps. Kim and Castor,
for their leadership on this important issue
and their efforts to secure this significant
win for guests in the CR. We are also
grateful to the FTC for incorporating much
of AHLA’s perspective into its final rule,
released today.”
“We firmly believe that one national
standard is the right approach for
consumers and businesses, and the
legislation included in the continuing
resolution best accomplishes that goal,”
she said.
The FTC estimates the rule will save
Americans up to 53 million hours annually
on pricing searches, equating to over $11
billion in savings over a decade. It takes
effect 120 days after publication in the
Federal Register, expected in April 2025.
Laura Lee Blake, AAHOA president and
CEO, called the ruling a win for consumers
and businesses.
“Uniform and transparent pricing
practices ensure clarity and fairness,
allowing guests to budget confidently
while protecting the integrity of our
industry,” Blake said. “AAHOA is proud
to support measures that foster trust and
improve the guest experience.”
In anticipation of the FTC rule, Hilton,
Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott already disclose
fees upfront in booking, The Points Guy
reported.
"IHG's channels already display
all mandatory fees in the total price
advertised to consumers, so IHG-branded
hotels are prepared for this ruling," an IHG
spokesperson was quoted as saying.
"We know consumers prioritize
transparency, and in 2023, Hilton made
proactive changes to our technology to
further enhance the display of mandatory
fees upfront on all Hilton websites and
apps,” a Hilton spokesperson told The
Points Guy. “We continue to advocate for
the upfront display of fee-inclusive pricing
across all booking platforms that sell our
inventory."
AHLA’s latest data shows that only 6
percent of hotels nationwide charge a
mandatory resort, destination or amenity
fee, averaging $26 per night.
FTC finalizes rule for hotel ‘junk fees’
The rule takes effect 120 days after its Federal Register publication
The Federal Trade Commission finalized a rule on Dec. 17 requiring industries, including hotels, to
disclose all fees upfront in advertised prices, banning hotels from excluding resort fees, often called
"junk fees," from advertised rates.
News
08
www.asianhospitality.com
December/January 2025 | Issue 232
nternational tourism recently reached
98 percent of 2019 pre-pandemic levels
with approximately 1.1 billion tourists
traveling internationally in the first nine
months of 2024, according to the United
Nations tourism agency. The Americas
recovered 97 percent of pre-pandemic
arrivals, down 3 percent from 2019.
In its “World Tourism Barometer” report,
the Madrid-based UN Tourism forecast a
"full recovery" by year-end despite economic,
geopolitical and climate challenges.
International tourist arrivals grew
due to strong post-pandemic demand in
Europe, solid performance from major
source markets and the ongoing recovery
of destinations in Asia Pacific, the agency
said. Tourist arrivals in the Middle East,
Europe and Africa exceeded 2019 levels,
with increases of 29 percent, 1 percent and
6 percent, respectively.
By September, international tourist
arrivals in the Americas reached 97 percent
of 2019 levels, the agency found. The Asia-
Pacific region reached 85 percent of 2019
levels, an increase from 66 percent in 2023.
Growth in international arrivals has been
accompanied by a rise in tourism revenue in
the first three quarters of 2024. In the first
eight to nine months of 2024, 35 of 43 countries
with available data on receipts surpassed pre-
pandemic levels, many reporting double-digit
growth compared to 2019.
The U.S., the world’s top tourism
earner, reported 7 percent growth through
September, UN Tourism said.
Spain, the world’s second-largest tourist
destination, saw a 36 percent rise. Other
strong performers in Europe include the
UK, with a 43 percent growth in earnings,
France with 27 percent, and Italy with 26
percent.
“The strong growth seen in tourism
receipts is excellent news for economies
around the world,” said Zurab
Pololikashvili, UN tourism secretary-
general. “The fact that visitor spending is
growing even more strongly than arrivals
has a direct impact on millions of jobs
and small businesses and contributes
decisively to the balance of payments and
tax revenues of many economies.”
International tourist arrivals are
expected to reach 2019 levels in 2024, while
international tourism receipts nearly
reached pre-pandemic levels in 2023,
the report said. While many destinations
exceeded pre-pandemic arrival numbers
in 2023 or have done so in 2024, there is still
room for recovery in several subregions
and destinations.
Despite strong overall results, the
tourism sector faces ongoing economic,
geopolitical and climate challenges, the
agency said. Inflation in travel, including
high transport and accommodation
prices, as well as volatile oil prices, remain
key issues. Ongoing conflicts and global
tensions continue to affect consumer
confidence, while extreme weather events
and staff shortages also pose significant
challenges to tourism performance.
Report: Global tourism on track for
full year-end recovery
UN agency forecasts a ‘full recovery’ by year-end despite economic,
geopolitical and climate challenges
.S. hotel bookings for Dec. 21 to
25 were up 22 percent from last
year, according to SiteMinder, a
hotel distribution and revenue platform.
The growth is driven by international
bookings, which now account for 32
percent of total bookings, up from 28
percent during the same period in 2023, a
more than 15 percent annual increase.
The top five markets driving this
growth are Canada, Germany, the
UK, France and Italy, SiteMinder data
showed.
“It’s pleasing to see that U.S. hotels
will be enjoying their share of Christmas
cheer this year," said Trent Innes,
SiteMinder’s chief growth officer.
"Increased bookings, driven by the strong
return of international travel and continued
confidence among domestic travelers, are
also leading to longer stays and extended lead
times. These positive trends present both an
opportunity and a call to action for American
hoteliers to provide tailored, seamless
experiences this festive season, maximizing
revenue while fostering loyalty and positive
reviews.”
SiteMinder is led by Sankar Narayan
as CEO.
Hotel bookings are rising alongside
year-on-year increases in length of stay
and booking lead time during Christmas
week, the report said. The average stay at
U.S. hotels is set to grow 5 percent, from
2.51 to 2.63 days, while booking lead time
will increase over 4.5 percent, from 77.08 to
80.62 days.
SiteMinder’s “Changing Traveller
Report 2025” found that 65 percent of
travelers globally are now more likely to
travel for an event, with family reunions
and celebrations topping the list.
While 46 percent plan to book a standard
room, the majority will splurge on extras,
with 87 percent willing to spend on options
such as breakfast, chosen by 47 percent; room
size, preferred by 30 percent; and views, selected
by 28 percent. Four in five also intend to seek
experiences onsite at their accommodation.
SiteMinder: International travelers boost U.S. Christmas bookings
The top five markets driving this growth are Canada, Germany, the UK, France and Italy
U.S. hotel bookings for Dec. 21-25 are up 22 percent from last
year, driven by international bookings, which now account for 32
percent of total bookings, up from 28 percent in 2023—a more
than 15 percent increase, according to SiteMinder.
www.asianhospitality.com
December/January 2025 | Issue 232
09
News
ne in eight new jobs created
over the next nine years will be
in the hospitality and leisure
sector, according to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics. The U.S. hospitality industry
is projected to add about 822,700 jobs
between 2023 and 2033.
This growth marks the third-largest
increase among all major sectors,
following business services and
healthcare and social assistance.
“As of 2023, leisure and hospitality
recovered all jobs lost during the
pandemic in 2020,” BLS stated in a blog
post. “Employment is projected to grow
from 16.6 million today to 17.4 million
by 2033. The sector comprises three
main industries: accommodation; food
service and drinking places; and arts,
entertainment, and recreation.”
Accommodation employment is
expected to grow by 124,700 jobs, driven
by increased leisure travel demand.
Most of these roles will be in hotel,
motel and resort desk clerks and food
service positions such as cooks.
More than 200 hoteliers from more
than 30 states attended the American
Hotel & Lodging Association's 'Hotels
on the Hill' event on May 18 to lobby
Congress for an H-2B Returning
Worker Exemption. The association
also released an economic analysis
showing that U.S. hotels support
8.3 million jobs, or nearly one in 25
American jobs.
Report: Hospitality sector to add
822,700 jobs by 2033
Accommodation employment is expected to increase by 124,700 jobs
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that one
in eight new jobs created over the next nine years
will be in the hospitality and leisure sector, with
the industry expected to add about 822,700 jobs
between 2023 and 2033.
News
10
www.asianhospitality.com
December/January 2025 | Issue 232
he BHW Hotels board of directors
elected Steve Wahrlich as board
chairman for 2025. In addition,
the board elected Viral “Victor” Patel as
vice- chairman and Rajesh “Raj” Patel as
secretary-treasurer.
Wahrlich, a former vice-
chairman under previous
chairman Phil Payne, brings
decades of hospitality
experience and over 40 years
as a BWH Hotels owner to his
role as chairman, BWH said in a
statement.
“I am pleased to announce
Steve Wahrlich as our new
board chairperson,” said
Larry Cuculic, BWH Hotels’
president and CEO. “Steve
has been a valued and trusted
hotelier for many years. His
deep understanding of BWH
Hotels, combined with his extensive
industry experience, makes him the
ideal leader to help direct our board and
broader organization. His leadership
will be instrumental in advancing our
strategic vision, strengthening our
market position, and creating lasting
value for our hoteliers and guests.”
Wahrlich has owned and operated BWH
Hotels properties since 1977, the statement
said. His portfolio includes the Best
Western Plus Clocktower Inn in Billings,
Montana, part of the brand
since 1966, which has received
the TripAdvisor Travelers’
Choice Award for seven
consecutive years. He also owns
the Best Western Plus Hilltop
in Redding, California, a BWH
Hotels property since 1977.
Wahrlich called it a
tremendous honor to be
selected as chairman.
"Having been part of this
extraordinary company
for many years, I’ve had
the privilege of witnessing
our evolution into a global
hospitality powerhouse. BWH
Hotels has an incredibly rich legacy, and I
am looking forward to working alongside
our dedicated leadership team and fellow
directors to continue advancing our
portfolio with an unwavering commitment
to delivering exceptional guest
experiences."
In addition to his work with BWH Hotels,
Wahrlich is vice-chair of RiverStone
Health, Montana’s largest community
health center, and he serves on the board
of the Montana Lodging & Hospitality
Association. He also has contributed to
local initiatives as a board member for
the City of Billings Tourism Improvement
District, the Downtown Billings Tax
Improvement District and other regional
organizations.
New vice-chairperson Viral Patel,
previously secretary-treasurer, joined
the BWH board of directors in 2021,
representing hotel owners in Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan,
Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ontario,
Canada. He currently owns and
operates the Best Western Corbin Inn in
Kentucky.
Rajesh Patel joined the BWH board
of directors in 2022, representing hotel
owners in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee and
Puerto Rico. He is the owner, president,
and CEO of Apsilon Hotels, which owns
two BWH properties: Best Western Plus
Atlanta Airport-East and Best Western Plus
Fairburn-Atlanta Southwest.
Wahrlich named BWH Hotels board chairman
Viral Patel and Rajesh Patel elected vice-chairman and secretary-treasurer respectively
aura Lee Blake, president and CEO of
AAHOA, and Neal Patel of Patel Partners
were among The Hill’s Top Lobbyists of
2024 for their leadership in advocating for the
hotel industry amid legislative and political
challenges. The list recognizes individuals
who have effectively advanced their industry's
interests in a changing political landscape.
Blake and Patel's inclusion comes as the
hospitality sector faces ongoing legislative
and regulatory challenges, AAHOA said in a
statement.
AAHOA Chairman Miraj Patel congratulated
Blake and Neal Patel on the recognition.
"Their dedication and efforts on behalf of
our industry continue to make a meaningful
impact,” Patel said. “We are fortunate to have
such strong advocates representing AAHOA and
our industry.”
This is another recognition for Blake and Neal
Patel, who have received this distinction before,
AAHOA added. Blake called it an honor to be
recognized alongside other advocates.
"This achievement would
not be possible without
the engagement and
contributions of thousands
of AAHOA members, whose
voices inspire and drive our
efforts,” she said. “We remain
committed to advancing the
interests of hotel owners
and will continue working
to strengthen advocacy at
every level of government to
address industry challenges
and ensure its continued
success."
Patel said he is honored
to represent AAHOA's hotel
owners.
"These remarkable
individuals are not only
great entrepreneurs and
job creators but also the foremost example of
the American Dream in action,” he said. “This
recognition reflects the
dedication of AAHOA and its
members to advocating for
meaningful change."
In 2024, AAHOA expanded
its advocacy efforts to
address labor shortages,
access to capital, and
regulatory reform, the
statement said. Earlier
this year, the association
marked a milestone with the
introduction of the Loans
in Our Neighborhoods Act,
its first direct involvement
in introducing federal
legislation.
The association said that
the achievement highlights
its growing influence and
commitment to solutions
benefiting its members and the hospitality
industry.
AAHOA’s Blake, Neal Patel named top lobbyists by The Hill
The list recognizes individuals who have advanced their industry's interests
AAHOA President and CEO Laura Lee
Blake, pictured far left at the association’s
2023 Fall National Advocacy Conference
along with Chairman Miraj Patel and
past Chairman Bharat Patel, was among
The Hill’s Top Lobbyists of 2024 for her
leadership in advocating for the hotel
industry amid legislative and political
challenges. Neal Patel of Patel Partners,
not pictured, also was named one of the
Top Lobbyists.
The BWH Hotels board
of directors elected
Steve Wahrlich as
chairman for 2025.
Viral “Victor” Patel was
elected vice-chairman
and Rajesh “Raj” Patel
as secretary-treasurer.