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| September 26, 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
AAHOA News
 Why It Matters: With 468 seats in the U.S. Congress (33 Senate seats and all 435 House seats) and the U.S. presidency up for grabs this November, the stakes have never been higher for the hotel industry. This year's AAHOA (Asian American Hotel Owners Association) Fall National Advocacy Conference (FNAC) underscored hoteliers' critical role in shaping policies impacting their businesses and the broader hospitality sector.
What Happened: On September 18 and 19, some 200 AAHOA Members and leaders came together in Washington, D.C., to spotlight the most urgent issues impacting hotel owners across the country. During nearly 200 meetings with Senate and House members and their staff, hoteliers had the chance to advocate for their key policy priorities, many of which were discussed face-to-face with U.S. senators and representatives. Featured Quote: "As hotel owners, we understand our businesses and the industry better than anyone," AAHOA Chairman Miraj S. Patel said. "It's crucial that the voices of AAHOA Members are heard and their realities are taken into account when policymakers are making decisions that affect their livelihoods and businesses."
 What Happened: AAHOA welcomes OYO's recent acquisition of G6 Hospitality, which includes Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands. This acquisition signals a new chapter in the U.S. hospitality landscape. With an estimated 98% of G6 Hospitality properties owned by AAHOA Members, this landmark deal marks a promising opportunity for continued growth, collaboration, and innovation in the budget hotel sector.
Why It Matters: OYO's acquisition of the Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands from Blackstone for $525 million positions the India-based hotel company for significant expansion in the U.S. market. "AAHOA looks forward to building a robust relationship with OYO, ensuring the continued success of the Motel 6 and Studio 6 franchise network," said Chairman Miraj S. Patel. "Our members have always valued the strong partnerships we've developed with G6, and we expect this new chapter with OYO to strengthen those ties. Together, we can continue to innovate and deliver high-quality experiences for guests." OYO’s acquisition presents new opportunities for shared success, given its plans to maintain Motel 6/Studio 6 operations while infusing fresh ideas.  What Happened: The Washington DC Area Hotel Owners Conference & Trade Show was a tremendous success! Under the leadership of Regional Director Deepak Patel and with the support of our dedicated Ambassadors, we welcomed 160 attendees and raised nearly $50,000 for PAC —a fantastic accomplishment for the DC region!
Deeper Dive: We were honored to hear from guest speakers, including Delegate Kannan Srinivasan, Ryan Touhill, director of Arlington Economic Development, and Cindy Estis Green, CEO and founder of Kalibri Labs, who all delivered valuable insights. Regional Director Deepak Patel and Purnima Patel, Women Hoteliers Director for the Eastern Division, led a roundtable HOC Talk focused on OSHA concerns impacting AAHOA Members in the Washington DC region.
Thank you to everyone who participated and played a part in making this event a great success!
 Register now for next month's AAHOA North Texas Charity Golf Tournament!
Date: Monday, October 14
Location: Cowboys Golf Club What's Happening: Join us for a day of golf at the renowned Cowboys Golf Club, the only NFL-themed golf club in the world! Network with fellow professionals while enjoying the top-notch course and vibrant atmosphere. All proceeds will benefit local charities, making this event a winning combination of business and community support.
Are you interested in becoming a sponsor? Contact at sales@aahoa.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities and how you can make a significant impact.
 What Happened: Vimal (Ricky) Patel, who serves on the AAHOA Board of Directors, has been appointed to the Louisiana Economic Development Corporation Board (LEDC). Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry made the appointment.
Deeper Dive: Patel currently serves as regional director for AAHOA's Gulf Region, which encompasses Louisiana and Mississippi. Professionally, he is president/CEO of DIVI Hospitality, a hospitality company in Louisiana with hotels in Broussard, Port Allen, and Gonzales, and one on the way in Baton Rouge.  Advocacy isn't just a choice—it's a necessity for independent hotels navigating a landscape dominated by franchised properties.
Unlike big-brand hotels with corporate lobbying power, independent properties face unique challenges and must navigate complex laws, regulations, and policies to thrive.
In the latest issue of Today's Hotelier, Vic Ragha, AAHOA Ambassador for the North Texas Region, dives into why advocacy is crucial for independents and how they can carve their own path to success.
AAHOA Advocacy in Action
Featured Content
 Exciting news for all young hospitality professionals! Get ready for the AAHOA HYPE (Helping Young Professionals Evolve) Conference 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico! 🌸
📅 February 6-7, 2025 – Mark your calendars for two days of powerful networking, learning, and growth opportunities. This is your chance to connect with industry leaders and other aspiring professionals in an inspiring and vibrant setting.
Stay tuned for more details—let's make 2025 the year of growth and ownership!
 What's Happening: AAHOA is proud to announce its participation at The Lodging Conference, taking place October 7-10 at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa. This premier industry event brings together hospitality leaders for networking, learning, and collaboration.
Hear from Present and Past Leaders: AAHOA Officers Chairman Miraj S. Patel, Vice Chairman Kamalesh (KP) Patel, Treasurer Rahul Patel, and Secretary Pinal Patel will be featured speakers, sharing their insights on the future of hospitality. Additionally, past Chairs Bharat Patel (2023-2024), Vinay Patel (2021-2022), and Jagruti Panwala (2019-2020) will join them as speakers, highlighting AAHOA's continued leadership and expertise in the industry.
Reception: Take advantage of the opportunity to connect with AAHOA at the conference! Join us for a VIP reception hosted by AAHOA on Tuesday, October 8, from 5:30-7 p.m. in the Isle of Capri room at the JW Marriott. Network with industry professionals and learn more about AAHOA's initiatives in hospitality.
See you in Phoenix!
What You Need to Know
Time Is Running Out - Act Now!
The claim deadline has been extended! Don't miss out on your opportunity to receive funds from a $5.54 billion settlement reached with Visa and Mastercard for merchants who used their credit card services between January 1, 2004, and January 31, 2019.
AAHOA Education
AAHOA in the News
Featured Club Blue Member
AAHOA Members get up to 25 percent off ADP payroll and tax compliance services. Companies with fewer than 50 employees get the first month free and no set-up fees! ADP serves 585,000 clients, from the smallest to the largest businesses worldwide. Our services can help you manage your risk of tax penalties, improve your cash flow, and take advantage of available tax credits. Contact Thomas Bell (thomas.bell@adp.com) or call 973-712-3290 today to obtain a free, no-obligation quote!
Featured Member Benefit
AAHOA is proud to collaborate with Kennesaw State University to establish the Michael Leven and Lee Dushoff AAHOA Scholarship for Compassionate Leadership. This annual scholarship will support students seeking an undergraduate degree in hospitality management. For more on the qualifications and how to apply, please call 470-578-2206. To make a tax-deductible contribution to the scholarship endowment, please click here.
Featured Platinum/Silver Partner
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts makes travel possible for all. From big cities and small towns to beachfront resorts and highway hotels, our 24 iconic brands bring a diverse perspective to the travel experience. With friendly service, thoughtful amenities, and a range of options for the everyday traveler, Wyndham will be there to welcome you wherever you go.
Industry News
Though bookings have fluctuated a fair amount and costs have skyrocketed this year, RevPAR remains high overall as hoteliers continue to experience relatively strong performances.
(Source: HospitalityNet) After the recent interest-rate cut by the Federal Reserve, industry leaders are largely optimistic of the far-reaching effect this much-anticipated step will have on the market.
(Source: Hotel Business)
Today's Hotelier
In the Market
As Truist Securities wrote, “Overall U.S. RevPAR was +2.5% y/y for the week ending 9/21/2024, per STR/ CoStar, above the prior week's result of -1.4% y/y and above the trailing 10-week average of +1.2%. Holiday calendar shifts of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur likely resulted in a net neutral impact to last week’s results. Last year, Rosh Hashanah occurred Friday 9/15 - Sunday 9/17 and Yom Kippur took place Sunday 9/24 – Monday 9/25, neither of which we believe had much of an impact on last week’s comparable results. These holidays will fall in October this year which will make for a difficult y/y comparison at that time. Upscale RevPAR: +1.9% y/y; Upper Midscale RevPAR: +2.5% y/y.”
Upcoming Events
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POSTPONED: AAHOA Georgia Town Hall | Savannah, GA
