Just when I think AAHOACON can’t get any better, it does! Last week in Los Angeles was nothing short of amazing, and I’m still recovering from all the excitement. It’s hard to believe it’s over after months of preparation and anticipation. Thank you to the AAHOA Staff, who went above and beyond to put on a great convention and trade show – none of this would have been possible without you. I want to express my sincerest thanks to everyone who attended, exhibited, sponsored, spoke, volunteered, or helped in any way to make AAHOACON23 a reality and success.

As of AAHOACON23, I’m honored to have assumed the role of AAHOA Chairman – and I promise to get to work right away to ensure my year at the helm of this great association is one to remember. I’m here to do my very best to serve all of you and ensure that advocacy is front and center of AAHOA’s mission and vision.

I plan to work alongside the 2023-24 AAHOA Board of Directors and my fellow Officers to continue to improve the member experience, focus on young professionals and the next generation, and reinvent AAHOA’s strategic plan.

AAHOA is the foremost advocate and resource for America’s hotel owners and will continue to maintain that reputation throughout my Chairmanship.

Thank you all for helping make last week in Los Angeles one to remember. See you next year in Orlando for AAHOACON24!

Bharat Patel, CHO, CHIA
AAHOA Chairman (2023-2024)

AAHOACON23 marked the culmination of numerous campaigns, as one Officer position and 10 Board seats were up for election. Participants were able to cast their votes electronically and were not required to be physically present at the event. Thank you to everyone who ran for office and to those who voted for candidates they believe will make AAHOA stronger.

2023-2024 AAHOA Secretary: Rahul Patel of Bradenton, FL

AAHOA Members also elected the following 10 members to the Board of Directors:

• Arkansas Regional Director: Danny (Chintu) Patel
• Florida Regional Director: Chetan (Chris) Patel
• Georgia Regional Director: Vikesh (Vik) Zaver
• Greater Los Angeles Area Regional Director: Naresh (ND) Bhakta
• North Central Regional Director: Bhavesh N. Patel
• North Pacific Regional Director: Ankit Panchal
• North Texas Regional Director: Dhiren Masters
• Director at Large Western Division: Nalin (Neil) Patel
• Young Professional Director Eastern Division: Dylan Patel
• Women Hoteliers Director Eastern Division: Purnima Patel

The AAHOA Board of Directors also elected the following three members to serve as Industry Partners on the AAHOA Board:

• Amir Ahmed, Executive Vice President, DISH Business
• John Houghtaling, Managing Partner and Majority Owner, Gauthier Murphy & Houghtaling, LLC
• Abraham Tieh, Director of National Commercial Property Tax, O’Connor & Associates

“Congratulations to our new AAHOA Secretary, Rahul Patel, and all of our newly elected
board members. It is truly encouraging to see so many members volunteering to serve
America’s hotel owners,” said AAHOA Chairman Bharat Patel. “Together, we are
continuing to showcase the value and importance of AAHOA, the largest hotel owners
association in the world, and I am thrilled to start working alongside the new AAHOA Officers,
our Board of Directors, and the entire AAHOA Team.”

“Congratulations to Rahul Patel and to all our newly elected board members. These
individuals are excellent additions to the Board of Directors of America’s premier hotel
owners association,” said AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake. “I am thankful for their
dedication to our members and to the hospitality industry, and it is truly an honor to work
with our Officers, Board of Directors, and the entire AAHOA team as we continue to lead this
industry as the largest hotel owners association in the world.”

Please join us in congratulating our new Board members, and be sure to check out the full 2023-2024 AAHOA Board of Directors list here.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in Los Angeles for AAHOACON23 to make it such an amazing success and one we won't soon forget.

Start resting up now, because AAHOACON24 will be here before you know it. We'll convene in Orlando April 2-5, 2024, for another fantastic installment of this can't-miss event and build on the momentum we created last week in Los Angeles.

And, while we're still almost 11 months away from AAHOACON24, initial feedback has been overwhelming. Currently, 164 exhibiting companies representing 414 booths are already signed up for AAHOACON24, with more to follow. We may be breaking records again, so you won't want to miss the experience.

Please make plans to join us. It will be a time to remember, and we hope to see you there!

During the final day of AAHOACON23, on the General Session stage, AAHOA recognized achievements and excellence in the hospitality industry with its annual awards. Listed below are the eight honorees. For more information and a full description of the awards, be sure to read the press release here.

AAHOA Award of Excellence
Mahesh Ratanji, CEO, Ratan Management Group LLC, AAHOA Lifetime Member, Northeast Region
and
Jayesh Patel, CEO, Athena Hospitality Group, AAHOA Member

Cecil B. Day Community Service Award
Chandrakant (Chan) Patel, CEO, State Bank of Texas, AAHOA Lifetime Member, Dallas, TX

Outreach Award for Philanthropy
Harold Daniels, General Manager, EAS Graceland LLC, AAHOA Member, Memphis, TN

Outstanding Woman Hotelier of the Year Award
Nimisha Patel, Partner, Vue Hotels, AAHOA Lifetime Member, San Antonio, TX

Outstanding Young Professional Hotelier of the Year Award
Rickesh (Ricky) Patel, Vice President, Premier Hotels KC, AAHOA Ambassador and Committee Member (Education & Professional Development), Central Midwest Region

Political Forum Award For Advocacy
Danny Gaekwad, CEO, Danny Gaekwad Developments & Investments, AAHOA Government Affairs Committee Chairman

IAHA Independent Hotel of the Year Award
The Metric Hotel, Jagubhai Patel, Co-Founder, AAHOA Lifetime Member, Greater Los Angeles Area Region

“Congratulations and thank you to all the award recipients for your commitment and dedication to ensure our membership, association, and the hospitality industry continue to thrive,” said AAHOA Chairman Bharat Patel. “Without you, none of this would be possible. Your contributions today are helping create generational success for years to come.” “This year’s AAHOA award recipients worked hard each and every day to achieve these accomplishments,” said AAHOA President & CEO Laura Lee Blake. “I cannot think of anyone who deserves these awards more than these individuals. Congratulations to every award recipient on a job well done.”

We certainly got our steps in last week after exploring 90,000 square feet of exhibit space, plus navigating to and from meals, education sessions, masterclasses, the Block Party, the Welcome Reception, the Gala Reception, and so much more.

Throughout the event, AAHOACON23's Trade Show hall was packed with exhibitors and attendees looking for new solutions to old problems, not to mention the brand new AAHOA Garage. Here's a small selection of highlights from the Trade Show floor, but the only way to get a true idea of this event's scope is to experience it firsthand. (That's your cue to start planning to join us next year in Orlando for AAHOACON24!)

• AAHOA Holds All-California Hoteliers’ Meeting As Part of AAHOACON23
• Entertainment Takes Center Stage at AAHOACON23
• AAHOA Kicks Off Annual Convention with Record Numbers
• 2023 AAHOA Convention & Trade Show Kicks Off in Los Angeles
• AAHOA Announces New Foundation to Support Disaster Relief, Charitable Initiatives Across the Country
• Welcome to AAHOACON23: Updates From the Show
• Business Begins: AAHOACON23 Opens Tradeshow Floor
• Trade Talk: Hotel Industry Leaders Discuss Challenges and Changes at AAHOACON23
• At Convention, AAHOA Launches Charitable Foundation
• Virdee Wins Annual Tech Pitch Competition at AAHOACON23
• AAHOACON23 Mixes Business and Entertainment

Thank you to everyone who tweeted, posted, shared, and celebrated on social media their #AAHOACON23 experience. It was an amazing week, and we enjoyed getting to see your photos and observations throughout the event.

Here's a quick roundup of just a few of our favorites. Thank you for sharing your experience with us and those who weren't fortunate enough to have joined us in Los Angeles.

AAHOA would like to thank all our valued sponsors for their support, partnership, and participation at AAHOACON23! You were a vital part of making this event possible. We couldn’t have done it without you.