Hotelier Weekly
October 10, 2024
Champion PTAC, LLC
AAHOA News
RECAP: AAHOA at The Lodging Conference 2024
What Happened: AAHOA congratulates The Lodging Conference for an outstanding event. 3,000 attendees converged at the JW Marriott Phoenix Ridge Resort & Spa for a sold-out conference.
 
Why It Matters: The commitment to bringing together the who's who of the industry for learning and collaboration is truly appreciated, and AAHOA is grateful for the opportunity to participate in such an impactful gathering. Another special thank you to Harry Javer, CEO and Founder of The Lodging Conference, for his partnership and friendship.
 
Deeper Dive: We also want to thank everyone who attended AAHOA's VIP reception! As Chairman Miraj S. Patel said, the theme for AAHOA this year is unity. Thank you for coming together to celebrate the successes of AAHOA and the industry.
 
It was an honor to see AAHOA officers participate in insightful sessions, covering key topics like:
  • Brands, Owners, and Third-Party Management Strategies for 2025 Growth
  • Tech Solutions that Make Sense for Your Hotel Portfolio
  • A General Session on the CEO's Perspective
  • New Construction: Getting a New Build Off the Ground 
AAHOA looks forward to The Lodging Conference next year!
 
Vijay Patel of A-1 Hospitality Earns Lifetime Achievement Award
What's Happening: AAHOA Member Vijay Patel will be honored on November 7 at the Washington Hospitality Association Conference as this year's recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
 
Deeper Dive:
  • Vijay Patel began his life journey in Uganda before moving to India for his education and then to London to start a career in his family’s retail operations, managing grocery stores and retail chains throughout London. 
  • After moving to the United States with his family in 1993, he took over the management of a family-owned motel in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Vijay found his calling in hospitality, so in 1997, he and his wife Mita started A-1 Hospitality Group and purchased their first hotel property in Eastern Oregon.
  • A-1 Hospitality Group and Columbia Hotel Management now own and manage eight hotels throughout Oregon, Washington, and Texas. Vijay and his team, including his daughter, Preena, and son, AAHOA Northwest Regional Director Taran Patel, have managed several properties in receivership at the request of banks and investor groups.
 
AAHOA Chairman Miraj S. Patel Named Businessperson of the Year by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston
What Happened: AAHOA congratulates Chairman Miraj S. Patel on being named Businessperson of the Year by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston. Patel is the youngest person in the organization's history to receive the award.

Deeper Dive: The award was presented at the Chamber's September 21 Gala and Awards Banquet, celebrating its 25th anniversary. The Chamber noted that Patel is the youngest chairman of AAHOA, whose 20,000 hotel owners own more than 60% of hotels in the United States.

Why It Matters: Patel 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. Today, he is President of Wayside Investment Group, a Texas-based company specializing in investing in the lodging and hospitality real estate sector.

Featured Quote: "I am honored to receive the Businessperson of the Year award from the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston," said Chairman Miraj S. Patel. "It's a privilege to be recognized by an organization that champions the entrepreneurial spirit and supports the growth of our community. This award reflects the hard work and dedication of everyone at AAHOA, and I am grateful to be part of such an incredible network of leaders. I look forward to continuing to work alongside the Chamber to promote the success of our businesses and our industry."
 
Stay Protected During Natural Disasters
What Happened: In the wake of natural disasters, safeguarding your investments is more important than ever. A recent 60 MINUTES segment has highlighted the rise of insurance fraud, especially targeting property owners in disaster-prone areas.
 
Why It Matters: As hoteliers, your properties are at the heart of your livelihood, and unfortunately, the risk of being misled or exploited during these challenging times is very real. At AAHOA, we're committed to helping our members protect their investments. From consulting with trusted legal and financial advisors to thoroughly vetting insurance claims adjusters, it’s vital to stay informed and protect your interests after unexpected events.
 
Stay proactive. Stay protected. If you haven’t yet watched the segment, we encourage you to do so and let’s work together to ensure our community stays prepared and resilient.
 
Coming Up: The AAHOA North Texas Charity Golf Tournament!
Register now for next week'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 sales@aahoa.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities and how you can make a significant impact.
 
Draco Hygienic Products Inc.
PayRange
AAHOA Advocacy in Action
Read the Latest Edition: AAHOA In Your Corner Advocacy Brief
AAHOA's In Your Corner Advocacy Brief is an essential monthly resource that's designed to keep you informed and engaged with our ongoing efforts to advocate for the hospitality industry. 
 
Staying active and engaged in AAHOA is crucial. This newsletter will provide the latest updates on our advocacy efforts, opportunities to get involved, and stories of how members are making an impact.
 
Click the link below to read the September 2024 issue of In Your Corner, featuring a FNAC recap, the most recent state and local advocacy alerts, and much more.
AAHOA  joined forces with industry leaders and organizations on Wednesday, October 9, at New York City Hall to rally against the proposed Safe Hotels Act (Int. No. 991-B). The act, introduced by the New York City Council, has drawn widespread criticism for what many see as an attempt to impose unionization on the hotel industry. This rally follows a similar demonstration last month, which drew over 1,500 attendees in opposition.
 
The proposed act would require hotels to obtain an additional operating license and prohibit the use of subcontractors for core functions such as housekeeping, front desk services, and security—restrictions that many hoteliers believe would negatively impact small, minority-owned businesses.
 
Key voices included AAHOA Northeast Regional Director Preyas Patel, AAHOA Past Chairwoman Jagruti Panwala (2019-2020), former AAHOA Young Professional Director Eastern Division Purvi Panwala, and Mitesh Ahir, an AAHOA Member from New York who all addressed the New York City Council following the event.
Women Hoteliers Come Together at LA City Council Meeting About Minimum Wage for Hotel Workers
What Happened: On Tuesday, October 8, dozens of women hoteliers converged at Los Angeles City Hall to address the flaws in the recently released economic impact study. This study incorrectly concluded that our industry can afford to pay $30 + $8 per hour in minimum wages.
 
Deeper Dive: The study completed by Beacon Economics overlooked the smaller, limited-service hotels and failed to account for their financial challenges. A sudden increase to $30 + $8 per hour would jeopardize our hotels' financial stability. Limited-service hotels cannot absorb such a significant wage hike, making it unrealistic to meet payroll.
 
Why It Matters: The support and camaraderie of women hoteliers made a significant impact at this L.A. City Council Meeting. With women being the hospitality industry's backbone, it's crucial to listen to the voices of women hoteliers who often run hotel operations and see the direct impact this wage hike would make.
 
Featured Content
SAVE THE DATE! HYPE Conference 2025
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!
 
HerOwnership
October is National Women's Small Business Month!
National Women's Small Business Month is celebrated every October to recognize women-owned businesses and their contributions to the economy. The month also aims to encourage more women to pursue entrepreneurship.
 
Fun Facts:
  • The month of October was chosen to commemorate the signing of the Women's Business Ownership Act in 1988. Before this act, women needed a male relative to co-sign their business loan applications.
  • The number of women-owned businesses in the U.S. has grown exponentially since 1972, when there were just over 400,000. Today, there are more than 13 million women-owned businesses in the U.S.
  • The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers resources for women entrepreneurs, including the ability to apply for and maintain certification as a women-owned business.
AAHOA's HerOwnership Initiative aims to uplift, empower, and educate women in hospitality and give them the confidence to pursue hotel ownership. Let's continue to encourage women in all industries to follow their dreams of entrepreneurship!
 
American Pride Bank
Charter Communications Operating, LLC
AAHOA Education
Mark Your Calendars for These Upcoming October AAHOA Webinars!
  • Union Organization: How It Works, What to Know, and What You Can and Cannot Do as an Owner
  • Smart Hotels of the Future: Spoiler Alert -- The Future is Here!
    • Date: Wednesday, October 30, 2024
    • Company: Macrotech
    • Registration Link
    • Stay tuned for further details
 
Decorative Ceiling Tiles, Inc.
Red Roof Inn
Featured Club Blue Member
LOWE'S PRO
  
AAHOA Members, get 5 percent off all your everyday purchases when you use the Lowe’s LAR business credit card. There’s no annual fee, and you can make purchases by phone, fax, or at lowes.com/l/Pro/AAHOA. You’ll also be able to take advantage of exclusive cardholder promotions and receive discounted delivery on your purchases! Click here for more details, then contact Julie Patel (julie.patel@lowes.com) to get started.
DISH Business
Condair Ltd.
Featured Member Benefit
NO VACANCY
  
No Vacancy with Glenn Haussman is the travel industry’s most exciting podcast. It's a fun, fast-paced, genre-bending program that peels back the veneer of the travel business. Click here to subscribe to the No Vacancy Podcast. Visit novacancynews.com for more information.
Featured Platinum/Silver Partner
BOOKIT N GO
  
Our mission at Bookit N Go is to make affordable travel services to customers and to deliver pleasurable travel experiences that are seamless from end to end. We offer hasssle-free travel services from the moment you start planning your vacation. We made the search and booking process simpler and stress-free as it ought to be.
Naylor Association Solutions
Cox Business
Industry News
New STR Survey Reveals Top Hospitality Industry Challenges and Strengths
Hoteliers remain buoyed by the ongoing combination of business and leisure travel, as nearly 33% of respondents to a recent survey indicated they're continuing to see steady "bleisure" bookings.
(Source: Travel Daily News)
Sustainability and AI Top the List of Hotel Trends Heading Into 2025
As the industry heads toward the busy holiday travel season, hoteliers are already looking forward to 2025, with several key industry trends top of mind.
(Source: CoStar)
The Future of Hospitality Lies in the Balance Between Data and Service
Despite the continued evolution of tech-based solutions for hospitality providers, service is still king, but many forward-thinking hoteliers are finding success in merging the two.
(Source: PhocusWire)
Naylor Association Solutions
Naylor Association Solutions
Today's Hotelier

Igniting empowerment

In mid-September, women hoteliers from across the nation converged at AAHOA’s annual HerOwnership Conference, a dynamic two-day event crafted by women for women in the hospitality industry. Centered around the empowering themes of executive presence, hotel ownership, and mental health and wellness, the conference inspired attendees to connect, lead, and thrive in an industry where their voices and leadership are more important than ever.

With approximately 300 in attendance, the event marked the third annual HerOwnership Conference for AAHOA.

Read more
In the Market
U.S. RevPAR -7.7% y/y Last Week; Soft Results Due to Rosh Hashanah Holiday Calendar Shift
  
As Truist Securities wrote, “Overall U.S. RevPAR was -7.7% y/y for the week ending 10/5/2024, per STR/CoStar, below the prior week's result of +10.2% y/y and below the trailing 10-week average of +1.1%. Last week's results were negatively impacted by a difficult y/y comparison due to the holiday shift of Rosh Hashanah, which took place from Wednesday 10/2 to Friday 10/4 in 2024. A midweek holiday understandably impacts business travel, particularly corporate/association groups. Group RevPAR last week was -21.0% y/y. In 2023, Rosh Hashanah took place from 9/15-9/17. Upscale RevPAR: -7.3% y/y; Upper Midscale RevPAR: -3.6% y/y.”
 
For more, read the full report here, and read the China/Europe report here.